The Basics

• Tag Football is a non contact game derived from the sport of rugby league.
• Maximum of 8 players at any one time.
• Defender must remove one or both tags to stop attacker’s progress. The player then holds up the tag and drops it to the ground, at the point of the tag, marking where the play the ball should occur.
• There is one marker at the play the ball.
• Defending players are onside seven metres from the play the ball.
• Defensive line can move forward only when dummy half touches the ball. Dummy half can run and be tagged with the ball.
• Six tags/plays are allowed to promote ball before changeover.
• An attacker (player in possession of the ball) must stop and play the ball if he is in possession with only one tag on.
• The only persons able to promote the ball with one tag on are the dummy half, and the player taking the tap, providing they do not take more than one step with the ball.
• A knock back is play on. Knock on - advantage rule applies.
• The game is non-contact. The attacker cannot deliberately bump into a defender. A defender cannot change direction and move into the attacker’s path. Whoever initiates contact will be penalised. The onus is on the attacking player to avoid the defender.
• The ball carrier is not allowed to protect or cover his tag or fend off defenders.
• A try is awarded to the attacking team when they ground the ball on or over the try line.
• A two point try is awarded when the ball is grounded in the 5 metre two point zone in middle of each tryline. The ball cannot be passed once the ball carrier crosses the tryline. Penalty. The ball carrier cannot run back into the field of play after crossing the tryline. Handover at the 5m line.
• Simultaneous tag is play on. The referee judges this pass which is allowed and calls “play on”. Advantage to the attacking team.
• An attacker may pass the ball when he/she is over his/her own defending tryline to a team mate who may run the ball out. If the ball is dropped, a line drop out will be ruled. A player in possession may run behind his/her own defending tryline and back out into the field of play.
• Players can dive to score a try, however, if this player touches the ground with the knees or arms before the try line or slides across the line and a defender is within tagging distance a try is disallowed and a tag is counted.
• At a kick in general play, an attacking player can dive or take possession of the ball after the ball has crossed the plane of the tryline, and before it touches the ground, and then ground the ball for a try.  If a defending player touches the ball, after it crosses the plane of the tryline, the ball is immediately dead and play will restart with a tap at the centre of the 10m line.

Further sport defination can be found at the following page Click here