TOUCH BASICS
Touch is a fairly simple game to get in to, but takes work to become good at. Here are some basic tips for individuals to improve their game.
Take The Touch
Many new players (and, to be honest, even some more experienced players!) seem to view the touch as something to be avoided at all cost, and either run or jump around trying to avoid being touched, or throw the ball away. Do not do this! Especially if you are new to the game.
Another thing you see, mainly from current or former rugby union players, is that they see what they think is a gap and try to blast their way through it. You can't blame them for this - it's what they've been coached to do in their rugby union careers, but in this game, the what seems like a large gap is very quickly covered as only the slightest touch is required for the "tackle" to be complete.
The touch can, and should, be used as an attacking weapon. Remember that the defence has to retreat 5m after each touch, so use the touch as a way of moving up field.
An additional point is that the touch is regarded as contact between two players. It does not specify that the defender has to touch the attacker. So do not wait for the defending player to touch you - make the touch yourself. This allows you to dictate your own terms when planting the ball. Remember also that if you overstep the place where the touch was made, you have to stop, run back to that point and then do the rollball. By this time, the defence has retreated and is set up for your next attack. If you make the touch and plant the ball simultaneously, and your half is quick enough at retrieving the ball, you can take advantage of the defence while they're still offside.
These elements are absolutely key to the move called "driving" that is explained elsewhere on this site. That move is all about momentum and intensity, and either dancing around to avoid the touch or running past the mark and having to return completely destroys the attacking momentum.
So don't be afraid of the touch. It is not something to be avoided, but something to be used.
Run Straight
Another thing that many new players tend to do when they get the ball is to run laterally across the field looking for a gap. Do not do this! Again, especially if you are new to the game. The simple fact is that gaps just do not appear - they are very easy to defend. All you end up doing is tiring yourself out running sideways and not making any ground, and causing confusion among your team mates.
If you are new to the game, when you get the ball, all you need to do is run forward in a straight line and take the touch. You will learn far more about the game just by doing that than by running around aimlessly with the ball.
Take a Half with you / Plant for a Half
Something else we see a lot is players who run away from their support and get touched in "no mans land". The nearest half is 10 metres away, so the ball is on the floor for an eternity. This allows the defence to comfortably retreat, get back onside and wait for the next attack, or even worse, get onside then come forward and claim the ball before the half gets anywhere near it, resulting in a turnover.
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If you either take a half with you (i.e., tell the next player that you are taking the ball in and that they will be the half), or deliberately run across to plant the ball in front of another teammate, that means the half is right on the spot to pass the ball immediately after the rollball. The defence will then have to work harder to get back onside quickly as the next attack is coming much more quickly.
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This is called "minimising downtime", and if done well enough, can completely catch the defence offside. It is instrumental in both the "scoop" and the "quickie" line attack moves.
Retreat 5m / 10m
This is often one of the hardest things to get used to as a new player. After every touch, the entire defensive team have to retreat a minimum of 5 metres to an onside position before they can make any further touches on the attacking team. Don't worry - you'll get used to it. Just listen out for your teammates and/or the referee as they will help you to get back onside.
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Note that for a penalty offence, you must retreat 10 metres, not 5 metres. Again, your teammates and the referee will help you with this.
Use the width of the field in attack
Not just for new players, this one. We often see games of touch resembling primary school games of football where everyone just wants to be involved in the action all the time, so they all just crowd around the ball.
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Use the width of the field in attack. The pitch is 50 metres wide, and there are six players on the field at a time, so in theory, you should have about 10 metres between you and your next team mate. Obviously this doesn't quite work in practice because players have to work together at, for example, the rollball. But the principle is this: spread out! Don't have everyone standing in a space of about 20 metres, leaving 30 metres of free space. If you do this, the defending team have a very easy job of covering your attack. By spreading out, the defence will also have to spread out to cover you, which may leave gaps in the middle of the field for the attack.
Use depth in attack
Related to the last point (and also not limited to new players), we often see attacking players standing in a straight line across the field. Not only does this mean that passes are more likely to go forward and so you risk being penalised, but it means the receiver has to take the ball standing still with no forward momentum. So use some depth. Always stand in a position a few metres behind the player with the ball. With more width, use more depth.
Effective Rollball Technique
The "rollball" is poorly named in Touch. The ball should never be rolled, or tapped back with the foot (as in rugby league). Simply place the ball stationary on the floor between your legs and step over it. If the ball is stationary, it is much easier for the half to control. There is also a rule in touch that if the ball rolls more than one metre, it results in a turnover.
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To make it even more efficient, after performing the rollball, get clear of it. Either take a step or two forward or to one side. This allows the half to pick up the ball unobstructed, rather than having to shove their head up your behind to retrieve it (which no one wants to do!!!).
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Whether you step forwards or to one side will depend on the type of move that is being done - in driving, go forward, in line attack, go sideways. This allows you to be in the optimum position for the next phase of the attack, but don't worry too much about that if you're new to the game. Just remember to get clear of the ball to make the half's job easier.