Rules | northwalestouch

RULES OF TOUCH

This page will list the basic rules of the game. You can access the full, official rulebook from the Federation of International Touch website.

The Pitch

The pitch should measure 70m long by 50m wide.
The scoring zone can be any length, but is typically around 5m.
There should be markers for the halfway line, 10m either side of halfway and 5m from the scorelines.

(img. credit: official FIT rulebook)

The Teams

A team can consist of up to 14 players.
There are six players on the pitch at a time.
In the mixed game, there must be a minimum of one male player and maximum of three male players on the pitch at all times. (Local competitions may vary)
Players may interchange at any time throughout the game.

Fundamental Rules

These are the rules that are fundamental to the game. Without these rules being enforced, there can be no game! More information on other rules in the next section.

When touched, the ball must be placed on the spot where the touch was made. If the player has run past this point, he/she must stop and return to the "mark" to perform the rollball.
- Sanction: Penalty at the mark where the touch was made.
Touches must be made with the minimum amount of force.
- Sanction: Penalty at the mark where the heavy touch was made. Consider sending the player for a period of time to actively discourage heavy touches.
Entire defence must retreat at least 5 metres from the mark where the touch was made and not interfere with play until they are back onside.
- Sanction: Penalty in line with the ball carrier, and 5m forward from the mark for the rollball.
If the ball is dropped to the floor or knocked-on, the ball is turned over to the oppostion.
- Sanction: Turn-over, with the game restarted with a rollball at the place where the ball first touched the ground.
The ball must not be passed forward.
- Sanction: Penalty at the place from which the ball was thrown.

Other Basic Rules

With the fundamental rules above, you can have a game, however the game is a bit more complicated! Here are some other rules that will allow you to develop your game further.

The game starts with a tap from the centre of the field. See "The Tap" section below for how to perform the tap. The defence starts the game 10m back from the halfway line.
The attacking team gets six touches. The ball is turned over to the opposition on the sixth touch. After each touch, a rollball is performed at the place where the touch was made. See "The Rollball" section below for how to perform the rollball.
The person who picks up the ball from the rollball is called the "half". He/she can run with the ball, but if he/she is touched, the ball is turned over to the opposition.
The "half" cannot score. If he/she grounds the ball in the score zone, the ball is turned over to the opposition.
Once the "half" has passed the ball, they are no longer restricted by these rules, so in the same phase, they can receive the ball back and can be touched without a turnover and can score.
Players must not pass the ball after being touched. This offence is called "Touch and Pass", or "Late Pass".
- Sanction: Penalty at the place where the offending player was touched.
A player must not perform a rollball unless he/she has been touched, or has touched an opposition player. This offence is called a "Voluntary Rollball".
- Sanction: Penalty at the place where the voluntary rollball was performed.
At the rollball, the defence cannot move forward until the half has made contact with the ball.
- Sanction: Penalty 5 metres forward of where the rollball was performed.
If there is no half in position (i.e., within around 5 metres from the rollball), the defence may move forward as soon as the rollball is performed, provided the referee directs that they are ok to do so.
The rollball must be performed without delay after the touch, even if there are no supporting players in position. The referee should direct the player to perform the rollball if there is any delay, and penalise failure to do so.
- Sanction: Penalty at the mark for the rollball.
Once one or more players on the defending team has entered the zone that is 5 metres out from their defending scoreline, the entire team must move forward until the touch is "imminent". The defending player in position to make the touch on the ball carrier cannot "back out" of a touch.
- Sanction: Penalty to the attacking team at the position of the ball when the offence was identified.
At a turnover or penalty, the ball must be either placed on the mark, or if a player requests the ball, it must be given to them without delay. The ball cannot be thrown or rolled away, or dropped away from the mark. However, in the event of a dropped pass or ball going out of play, there is no obligation to the offending team to retrieve the ball and pass it to the opposition.
- Sanction: Penalty 10 metres forward of the original mark.

The Rollball

This section describes how to perform the rollball.

The player faces towards the opposition scoreline, with his/her hips square on to the scoreline.
The ball is placed on the ground between the legs.
The ball must pass under the centre of mass of the body.
The rollball may be performed on one foot, provided the ball passes underneath the centre of mass of the body.
The ball may be rolled backwards, but it must not travel further than 1 metre.
- Sanction: an incorrect rollball technique results in a turnover to the opposition, with the game restarting with a rollball from the place where the incorrect rollball was made.
- Player Note: while the ball can be rolled, it is not advisable to do so as this makes it more difficult to control for the half.
If the player has over-run the mark, he/she must first return to the mark before attempting the rollball. If he/she is unsure where the mark is, ask the referee - do not guess!
- Sanction: Penalty at the mark for the rollball.
The rollball must be performed without delay, regardless of whether or not there is a half in position to retrieve the ball.
- Sanction: If after direction from the referee to perform the rollball the player still delays, a penalty results at the mark for the rollball.
The defence must retreat 5 metres from the mark for the rollball and cannot move forward until the half has touched the ball, or if no half is in position, until the player has performed the rollball.
- Sanction: Penalty to the attacking team 5m forward from the mark for the previous rollball.

The Tap

This section describes how to perform the tap. A tap is used to start the game at the beginning of each half, to restart the game after a score, and for penalty offences.

For a penalty, you must wait for the referee to give you the mark for the tap before you can go.
The player places the ball on the ground at the mark for the tap. The referee will indicate the mark for the tap, but if you are unsure, ask the referee.
- Note: if you take the tap early or from the wrong spot, the referee may choose to ask you to retake the tap rather than award a turnover.
The player release the ball with both hands.
The player then taps the ball with his/her foot. The ball must not travel more than 1 metre.
The player then picks up the ball.
- Sanction: An incorrect tap technique results in a turnover to the opposition, with the game restarting with a rollball from the place where the incorrect tap was made.
The defence must retreat 10 metres from the mark for a tap and cannot move forward until the ball is tapped with the foot.
- Sanction: Penalty to the attacking team 10 metres forward of the original mark for the tap.
Once the referee has indicated the mark, the tap must be taken without delay.
- Sanction: Turnover to the opposition, with the game restarting with a rollball at the previous mark for the tap.