TOUCH!

Every Tuesday many children from local schools are out on the beloved grass playing touch rugby, I as one of those children wanted to know if you, the reader knew how to play this fast moving game.
if the answer was no here's how...

Games are 12.5 minutes each way, with a one minute half time break.
Teams may have a minimum of four and a maximum of six players on the field, with unlimited substitutions. Maximum of twelve players per team.
Teams are mixed: Must have at least two people of each gender on the field at all times
An all female’s side will gain only one point per try.

Players must be 14 years or over.
No watches or other jewellery to be worn during play.
Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. No metal studs and no bare feet or jandels.

SCORING

A touchdown will be awarded when a player places the ball on or over the score line prior to being touched.
A touch down will be worth one point for males and two points for females. The Dummy Half is not permitted to score touchdowns.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Teams may inter change players at any time.
Players coming on to the field may not do so until the player being replaced has come off.
Substitutions must only be made from the halfway line.

POSSESSION OF THE BALL
A change of possession shall occur when:
a) The ball goes to ground.
b) The Dummy Half is touched while in possession.
c)  The Dummy Half places the ball in the touch down zone.
d) The 6th Touch occurs.
e) The player in possession steps on or over the boundary of the field of play.
f) A roll ball is performed incorrectly.
g) A tap is performed incorrectly.
h) At a change of possession play is restarted with a roll ball.

PASSING
A player may pass, knock, throw or otherwise deliver the ball to any onside player in the attacking team.
Passing forward is not permitted.
A knock on results in a turn-over.

THE TAP
The tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground on the mark, releasing the ball from both hands, tapping the ball with the foot a distance of not more than one metre and retrieving the ball cleanly.
Any player from the attacking team may take the tap.

THE PENALTY
When a player / team is penalised the non offending team shall restart play with a tap.
The tap is taken at the mark and the defending team must retire ten metres from the mark until the ball has been tapped.
Play restarts with a tap when the following infringements occur:

a) Forward pass.
b) Touch and pass.
c) Rollball performed off the mark.
d) Performing a rollball prior to a touch being made.
e) Defenders offside at the rollball (5 metres).
f) Defenders offside at the tap (10 metres).
g) Deliberately delaying play.
h) More than six players on the field.
i) Falsely claiming a touch.
j) Using more than the minimum force to make a touch.
k) Misconduct

ROLL BALL
A means of restarting play.
Players must perform the roll ball on the mark while facing their opponent’s defending score line and rolling the ball backwards between their legs a distance of not more that one metre.
No overstepping is allowed.
Players must not delay performing the roll ball.

THE TOUCH
Players from both teams are permitted to effect the touch.
A touch is contact with any part of the body, ball, clothing or hair.
A minimum of force is to be used at all times.
The team in possession is entitled to 6 touches.

TOUCH AND PASS
A player is not to pass the ball after a touch has been made.

THE DUMMY HALF
The dummy half is the person who picks up the ball after a team-mate has performed a roll ball.

OFFSIDE / ONSIDE
After a touch has been made all defending players must retire 5 metres from the mark.
Defenders cannot move forward until the dummy half has touched the ball.
In a 5 metre play, the defending team must go behind the score line.
Once the ball is in play the defending team must all move out from behind the line.

SIDELINE
If a player with the ball touches or crosses the sideline s/he is deemed to be out of play and a change of possession occurs.
Play restarts with a roll ball 5 metres in from where the player went out.
If a touch is made before the player goes out, the touch counts.

OBSTRUCTION
Players of the attacking team are not to obstruct defending players from attempting to effect a touch.
Defending players are not to obstruct / interfere with attacking players supporting the ball carrier.

Now I hope YOU can grab a ball and give this fun sport a go! Credit to socialsport.co.nz for these official rules.