RULES

PLAY IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME

Playing touch involves understanding both the rules of the game and the spirit of fair play. The object of the game is to score touchdowns. Here’s a brief introduction to get you started.

The team who scores the most touchdowns wins the match.

Review of changes of Touch NZ Playing Rules & Trial Playing Rules: (https://www.touchnz.co.nz/asset)

10 BASIC RULES OF TOUCH

1. Commence (and recommence) match with a tap at the center of halfway.

2. Team in possession (attacking team) is allowed 6 touches, unless the ball goes to ground or an infringement occurs.

3. After a touch is made, all defending players must move back as far back as instructed by the controlling referee which is at least 7 metres from the touch to be on side.

4. All touches are to be effected with minimum force only. Only claim touches you make and claim them loudly and clearly. Any touches claimed incorrectly should be followed immediately by a clear “No touch” claim.

5. At a change of possession, restart play with a roll ball.

6. At penalties, recommence play with a tap or a roll ball (your choice) at the mark the referee indicates.

7. Dummy half (the player who picks up the roll ball) may run with the ball but if touched the ball is handed to the opposing team (unless the player making the touch is in an offside position). Dummy half cannot score a touchdown.

8. Ball must be placed on the mark where the touch occurred and a roll ball performed, (unless it is the 6th touch, then the ball will be left on the mark or handed over to the opposition immediately).

9. To score touchdowns, the player in possession (other than the dummy half) must have possession (control) of the ball and places (or grounds) the ball on or over the teams attacking score line, prior to a touch being effected. The feet DO NOT have to be grounded.

10. Penalty offences include:

    • Forward pass

    • Touch and pass (where the player passes the ball after they have been touched by an opposition player)  

    • Roll off the mark

    • Obstruction

    • Offside

    • Touches claimed and not made

    • Over-physical play

    • ‘Back chatting’ or verbal abuse of the referee

For more rules and information go to pohutukawa Coast Information booklet HERE

Drop Off procedure

• Each Team will reduce their on-field Team to four (4) players and within 60 seconds take up a position to restart play from the Halfway Line, defending the same end of the field as at the End of Play.
  
  
• The Drop-Off commences with a Tap, from the centre of the Halfway Line by the Team that did not commence the match with Possession.
   
• The Drop-Off will commence with a two (2) minute period of extra time. 
• Should a Team be leading at the expiration of the two (2) minute period of extra time then that Team will be declared the Winner and Match complete.
   
• Should neither Team be leading at the expiration of two (2) minutes, a signal is given and the match will pause at the next Touch or Dead Ball. Each Team will then remove another player from the Field of Play.
   
• The Match will recommence immediately after the players have left the field at the same place where it paused (i.e. the Team retains Possession at the designated number of Touches, or at Change of Possession due to some Infringement or the sixth Touch) and the Match will continue until a Try is scored.
   
• There is no time off during the Drop-Off and the clock does not stop at the two (2) minute interval.
   
• Substitution during the Drop-Off is permitted in accordance with normal Interchange Rules.
   
• Teams may have no more than (2) males on the field during the Drop-Off.
   
• In the case of a male player serving time in the Sin Bin at the commencement of the Drop-Off the offending Team will start with no more than one (1) male on the field.
   
• Where a male player has been dismissed for the remainder of the match, the offending Team will be permitted to have no more than one (1) male on the field for the duration of the Drop-Off.
   
• At the commencement of the Drop-Off, if there is a player serving time in the Sin Bin and is yet to complete the required time, their Team commences the Drop-Off with one (1) less player on the field than their opposition and continues to play with one (1) player less until the Sin Bin period has been completed.
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• At the commencement of the Drop-Off, if a Team has had a player dismissed for the remainder of the match, that Team continues to play with one (1) player less than the opposition Team for the duration of the Drop-Off. 

For full and detailed Touch rules we’re aligning to the new Touch NZ Playing Rules of Touch — you can find these here: https://www.touchnz.co.nz/About-1/Playing-Rules-of-Touch