TOUCH FOOTBALL
TEACHER INFORMATION PACK
www.austouch.com.au
Touch Football
Touch Football is a sport that, in its nature, is conducive to participation, inclusiveness and
development; factors that are important to you as a teacher and essential for young children.
The sport of Touch Football was developed in the 60s as a method of training for Rugby League
players. Touch Football allowed players to develop their skills and removed the anxiety of being
injured in the process; it also provided a popular method of keeping teams together during the
offseason and allowed for the maintenance of skills and it created an avenue for retired players to
continue to enjoy spot and participate in a social environment. These critical factors soon lead to the
involvement of women and children in organised Touch Football competitions.
As a minimal contact sport that focuses on speed, agility and coordination, Touch Football is a very
attractive sport for parents because it is a very safe sport; and without the requirement of goal
posts, bats, helmets and other forms of elaborate equipment, the sport is extremely easy to set up
and to teach.
Objective of the Game
A game of Touch Football lasts for 40 minutes, consisting of 2 x 20 minute halves with a 5 minute
break in between. The objective of the game is to score more touchdowns than the opposing team
within that period of time. A touchdown is worth one point. The team with the highest score at the
end of the game is the winner.
The goal of the attacking team is to out-manoeuvre the opposition through passing, running,
deception and creating overlaps to cross the scoreline and ground the ball without being touched by
a member of the opposing (defending) team.
The goal of the team that is defending is to stop the attacking team from scoring touchdowns by
‘effecting a touch’ on the attacker who is in possession of the ball. A touch is deemed to be any
contact made by the hand of the defender (or inadvertently any other part of the defender’s body)
on any part of the body (below the head) of the attacker in possession of the ball.
If the defending team can effect six touches before the attacking team scores, then the ball is
‘turned over’ and the teams swap roles, i.e. the defending team becomes the attacking team and the
attacking team becomes the defending team.
Method of Play
The ball may be passed, knocked or handed between players of the attacking team who may in turn
run or otherwise move with the ball in an attempt to gain territorial advantage and score a
touchdown. Defending players attempt to prevent the attacking team from gaining an advantage.
Either defending or attacking, players may initiate touches, which will cause the attacking team to
use the touch count of six touches.
Rules of the Game
The delivery of Touch Football can be catered from beginner to elite and with only 18 rules in total is
easy to understand and begin playing. To view the Touch Football Australia Official Rulebook, go to
www.austouch.com.au Our Sport Rules & Policies
Some Terms That May Help
During the evolution of the game, Touch Football has developed a number of terms that are unique
to the sport. The following are a list of the most common terms used in the sport, along with their
description.
The Rollball - Following a touch, the player in possession of the ball has to return to the ‘mark’ (the
mark is the position on the field in which the touch took place) and roll the ball backwards between
their legs to a player designated as the ‘half’. All of the players in the opposing team must retreat
back at least five (5) metres from the mark of the rollball and cannot move forward until the half has
touched the ball. A rollball is also used following a change of possession.
The Half – The half is any person on the attacking team who picks the ball up after a rollball. The half
can then do one of two things; either pass the ball to a team member or run with the ball. It is
important to note that if the half is touched while still in possession of the ball, it is a turn over to the
defending team. It is also important to note that the half cannot score a touchdown; the ball must
be passed to a team member before a touchdown can be scored.
The Ruck - The area directly concerning and surrounding the rollball.
The Tap - A tap is the only form of kick in the game. It is used to start the game and the second half,
recommence after a touchdown, and when a penalty is awarded. A tap is taken by placing the ball
on the ground on or behind the location of the mark (given by the referee) and releasing it from the
hands, tapping the ball with either foot and retrieving the ball cleanly from the ground. The person
who performs the tap is able to score a touchdown without having to pass the ball.
Penalties - Penalties are awarded for infringements of the rules and can be taken as a tap or rollball
with the acting half being able to be caught in possession of the ball. Defending players must move
back ten metres for a penalty. The penalty is awarded to the non offending team when:
• A defender has not retreated five metres from a rollball (offside)
• A defender has not retreated ten metres from a penalty (offside)
• Passing the ball after being touched
• A rollball off the mark (generally further forward from where you were touched)
• Passing the ball forward (towards your own scoreline)
• Rough play (using more than minimum force)
• Obstruction – When the player with the ball uses a team mate as a shield to avoid a touch
• Intentionally hitting the ball out of an attacking players hand
• Rollball before being touched
• Running on after being touched or throwing the ball away (delaying play)
• Disputing a referee’s decision
• Seven players on the field (incorrect substituting with players not waiting for a team
member to come off the field before going on)
‘Change of Possession’ or ‘Turn Over’ - This is the situation in which the attacking team becomes the
defending team and vice versa. There are a number of instances throughout the game that this will
occur and will be done for various reasons. These include:
• Six (6) touches have been made without the attacking team scoring a touchdown
• The attacking team makes a mistake, for instance, a dropped ball or a ball carrier running
out of the field of play
• The attacking team breaches the rules of the game and gives away a penalty, such as a
forward pass or the obstruction of a defender.
Scoring a Touchdown - A player scores a touchdown by placing the ball on or over the defending
team’s scoreline. Players must place the ball on the ground in a controlled manner in order to score
a touchdown. The aim of the game is to score more touchdowns that the opposing team. Each
touchdown is worth one point.
Effecting the Touch - A touch is any contact between any body part of an attacking player and a
defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing and may be made by either
the attacking player or defensive player.
‘Onside’ and ‘Offside’ - This refers to a player’s position on the field and affects both attackers and
defenders. A player who is offside cannot directly involve themselves the play until they have moved
to an onside position. If they involve themselves in the play while in an offside position, they will be
penalised. For an attacker to be in an onside position, they must be ‘behind the ball’ relative to the
direction in which their team is running. For a defender to move to an onside position, they must
retreat to a point that is in line with the referee (approximately five metres from the rollball or ten
metres from a tap) after every touch.
The Advantage Line - An imaginary line running from sideline to sideline that passes through the
ruck. At a minimum, the aim of the attacking team is to progress the ball forward of the advantage
line after each rollball.
Intercept - This occurs when the ball handler attempts to pass the ball to a team member but the
ball is caught by a defender while it is still in the air. The defender is now the attacker and is entitled
to continue running providing they are neither touched or they drop the ball in the process of
intercepting it. If they are touched, they perform a rollball and the game continues; however, if they
drop the ball it is returned to the opposition and they receive an additional six touches.
Skills Utilised in Touch Football
There are no tackles, scrums or kicks in Touch Football. The sport emphasises speed, agility, fitness,
ball handling skills, communication, mental alertness, and team work. Below are listed a number of
the individual and team skills that are involved in Touch Football.
Individual Skills
• Passing - Utilised by members of the attacking team to move the ball from player to player.
• Catching - When an attacker is in the act of receiving a ball that has been passed to them. To
‘catch’ the ball is to receive and take possession of the ball in a controlled manner.
• Running - Players on both teams must run in all directions throughout the game in order to
move the ball up the field to score a touchdown. Similarly, defenders must continue to
retreat to an onside position as the ball is moved up the field in order to defend their
scoreline.
• Carrying - Holding the ball and running with it while maintaining possession
• Alignment - A player’s position in relation to the ball and other players on the field. This is a
skill that applies to players both in attack and defence.
• Evasion - Avoiding being touched.
• Diving - Players may dive to score a touchdown, as well as dive to touch an attacker who is
out of their reach.
• Vision - Touch Football is a sport that requires participants to think quickly and make
decisions on the run
Team Skills
• Attacking Skills - Used by the team in possession of the ball in order to gain ground, out
manoeuvre the defence and score a touchdown. This involves ball movement, player
movement and positioning, communication and predetermined plays.
•
Defensive Skills - Used by the defending team in order to limit the ground advantage and to
prevent the attacking team from scoring. This is done through communication, moving in
unison and applying pressure as a team.
W
W
L
L
M
M
M
M
L
L
W
W
Scoring Zone
Scoring Zone
Field Diagram (with Player Positions)
Key: W – Wing, M - Middle, L - Link
Players Positions
At the grass roots level, Touch Football is a sport in which participants can play in any of the three
positions on the field as the skills are fairly similar. This is an advantage for teachers and school
children as it maximises the level of involvement for all participants and makes the task of teaching
the sport much simpler. As children develop their skills, positions can begin to be allocated. There
are three different positions on a Touch Football field and as a general rule the positions consist of
the following characteristics:
•
•
•
Middle - The most consistent and fittest players
Links - The most deceptive runners with the best ball handling skills
Wingers - The fastest players in the team
90 Minute Introduction Session
In this 90 minute session children will be introduced to the sport of Touch Football. The session will
begin with the assumption that the children have no prior knowledge or understanding of the game,
and it will progressively introduce new skills, rules and concepts so as to allow for a natural and
uncomplicated development.
Equipment Required for the Session
4 Touch Footballs
16 - 28 cones
Coloured vests or sashes for ½ the group
Warm Up - Ball Tag (10 Minutes)
This is a game that is great for getting the kids moving around and warmed up. It is also focuses on
many of the fundamental skills of Touch Football including catching and passing, evasion,
communication and teamwork.
Equipment Required
4 cones (set up in a 5m x 5m square)
1 ball
Coloured vests for ½ the group
Rules and Objectives
• Two teams are formed (taggers and evaders).
• The taggers are the team with the ball and their objective is to tag the evaders as many
times as possible within a two minute timeframe.
• The objective of the evaders is to move around within the square and avoid being touched
by the ball.
• The person in possession of the ball is the only one who can perform a ‘tag’ and this person
cannot move. To perform a tag that person must have control of the ball and use only the
ball make the tag.
• All others taggers can move around the square in order to follow the evaders and receive
the ball to make a tag.
• At the end of two minutes, teams swap over.
• The focus is on the player’s spatial awareness, communication with team mates and ability
to make decisions quickly while under pressure.
Taggers
4m
Evaders
4m
Cones
Endzone (10 Minutes)
The concept of this game is to allow players, who have no experience with Touch Football, to begin
with a simple game and over an extended period of time, adapt to slight changes in rules so as to
eventuate in a game of Touch Football.
Equipment Required
6 cones (set up in a 30m x 20m rectangle)
1 ball
Coloured vests for ½ the group
Rules and Objectives
• Two teams are formed (attackers and defenders)
• The objective of the attacking team is to move the ball from one end of the field to the other
and score.
• The objective of the defending team is to prevent the attacking team from scoring by
knocking the ball down during a pass.
• All players on the field can move except the person with the ball (similar to Netball)
• Each team has a goal scorer behind the scoreline. To score a point, the attacking team must
pass the ball to the goal scorer who must catch the ball.
• It the ball goes to ground by either being dropped, a bad pass or being knocked down mid
air by a defender, the ball is given to the defending team.
• The only player allowed to move behind the scoreline is the goal scorer.
• Defenders must not make any contact with any member of the attacking team and must
give at least 1m of space to the person in possession of the ball.
• Passes may travel in all directions and may be passed in any motion (can be thrown
overhead, like a netball or gridiron pass, etc)
Goal Scorer
Attackers
20m
Defenders
30m
Cones
Basic Skill Relays (20 Minutes)
Now that the players have had the opportunity to play a game that vaguely resembles touch
football, in regards to the space and layout of the field, we can begin to focus on the development of
game specific skills.
9m
Equipment Required
16 cones (ideally 4 x 4 cones of differing colour and set up in a 9m x 9m square)
4 balls
Cone 4
Cones for group 4
Cone 3
Cones for group 3
Cone 2
Cones for group 2
Cone 1
Cones for group 1
Team Members
Participants are broken up into four equal groups and line up behind each of the four different
coloured cones.
1) Catch and Pass
The participant at the front of each group, with ball in hand, runs around cone 4 and passes to
the next player in the line when they reach cone 2. Each team will go through twice which
allows each player the chance to pass from both sides.
Coaching Emphasis - Participants should stop before attempting to pass and face side on to the
group when passing. Also ensure that participants are passing on both sides.
Progression - As participants gain confidence in passing, increase the distance. Have participants
pass the ball at cone 3 and finally at cone 4.
2) Side Step
Participant, with ball in hand, runs forward, steps left off their right leg at cone 2, runs forward
steps right off their left leg at cone 3, runs around cone 4 and passes off to the next player at
cone 3.
Coaching Emphasis - Ball in two hands and out in front, when stepping.
3) Scoot, Dump and Score
Ball starts on the ground beside cone 2. Player runs forward, picks up the ball and performs a
rollball at cone 3, runs around cone 4, picks up the ball, scores at cone 2 and runs past cone 1,
allowing the next team member to begin.
Coaching Emphasis - Bend at the knees to pick the ball up cleanly and again when placing the
ball to score. Ensure that players step over the ball not beside it when performing the rollball.
4) The Tap
Ball starts at cone 2. Player runs forward and performs the tap, picks up the ball, runs around
cone 4, scores at cone 2 and runs past cone 1, allowing the next team member to begin.
Coaching Emphasis - Correct action at the tap and clean pick up and put down.
Rob the Bank (10 Minutes)
While this game is primarily designed to teach children the principles of defence, it is also a great
game to teach children the concepts of running lines, outnumbering defenders and communication
in attack.
Equipment Required
8 cones (4 x 2 cones of differing colour and set up as per diagram below)
Rules and Objectives
• Two teams are formed (Robbers and Security Guards)
• The objective for the robbers is to get past the guards without being caught (touched) and
get to the bank vault. From there they are free to run back to the van and attempt to get
back into the vault again.
• Robbers have two minutes to steal as much gold as possible. After two minutes teams swap
over.
• The objective for the guards is to stop the robbers from getting into the bank by catching
them (making a touch) and sending them to prison.
• Guards can move sideways but cannot move forwards or backwards off the line.
• Robbers must go in between the bank doors on the way to the vault but can travel around
when returning to their van.
• When a robber is sent to prison, they must simply run between the cones. Once they have
done this they are free to try again.
• Defenders must communicate with each other to ensure gaps in the line are covered, similar
to a game situation.
• Attackers must also communicate with each other and use strategy to outnumber and
confuse the guards in order to create holes in the defence, similar to a game situation.
Bank Vault
Bank Doors
The Van
Prison
Robbers
Security Guards
Endzone to Touch Football (20 Minutes)
Now that participants have been taught the basic skills and concepts of Touch Football, they are
ready to progress towards a full game. Go back to the field that has been set up for Endzone and
begin playing the game in the same format for approximately one minute. This is simply to put them
in a familiar scenario. After the first minute, make the first rule change.
1st Game Progression
• Remove the goal scorer and inform the students that to score, one attacker must now run
past the scoreline to catch the ball and then place it on the ground without dropping it.
• All passes must be ‘touch football’ passes, as practiced earlier
• The attacking team must now make their first pass go in a backward direction; all passes
following that may travel in a forward direction.
• The attacking team must pass the ball a minimum of three time before scoring
2nd Game Progression
• Allow attackers to run with the ball
• To score, attackers must now run past the scoreline with the ball and place it on the ground
• Also allow defenders to stop them by making a touch.
• Once a touch has been made, all defenders must retreat to a point at least one metre
behind the advantage line until the next play has commenced.
• When touched the ball carrier may place the ball on the ground and perform a tap to
commence play. When the ball has been tapped the ball must be passed.
• Attackers now have six touches in which to score. After six touches the ball is handed over.
• After every tap, the first pass must travel backwards.
Note - Attackers will have difficulty with these rules as defenders now have the opportunity to
‘shadow’ the attackers, making it virtually impossible to progress forward.
3rd Game Progression
• Defenders must now retreat at least five metres after every touch.
• All passes must go backwards
• Following a touch, the ball carrier must perform a rollball with a ‘half’ picking the ball up and
passing it to a team member.
• Defenders can only move forward once the ‘half’ has touched the ball.
At this point in time, participants are effectively playing the game of Touch Football. While there are
some minor additions in various rules, skills and concepts, the fundamentals of the game have now
been taught and are being performed.
Touch Football is indeed a thrilling sport and often presents people with a thrill
for a lifetime. It is a sport that can be taken up by children as young as four or
five, and allows participants to continue playing well into their senior years.
Touch Football Australia is the national sporting body for the sport of Touch
Football, and is an organisation that is focused on the development of junior
pathways and creating strong links for school children to community clubs.
Touch Football Australia and each of the sport’s state organisations are
available to assist you in learning and providing this great sport in your school.
For more information about Touch Football
and how to get involved, please contact
Touch Football Australia
(02) 6212 2800
www.austouch.com.au