SIMPLIFIED PLAYING RULES FOR TOUCH
1. Scoring:
A touchdown will be awarded when a player places the ball on or over the scoreline prior to being touched. A touchdown will be worth one (1) point. The Dummy Half is not permitted to score touchdowns.
2. Substitution Box:
Substitute players must remain in their Substitution Box. Teams may interchange players at any time. Substitute players going on to the field may not leave the substitution box until the player being replaced has come off and reached the substitution box.
3. Possession of the Ball:
A Change of possession shall occur when;
• The ball is dropped to ground.
• The Dummy Half is touched while in possession.
• The sixth (6th) Touch occurs.
• The Dummy Half places the ball on or over the scoreline.
• A rollcall is performed incorrectly.
• A tap is performed incorrectly.
• The player in possession steps on or over the boundary of the field of play.
At a change of possession play is restarted with a rollball.
4. Passing:
A player may pass, knock, throw or otherwise deliver the ball to any onside player in the attacking team. Passing forward is NOT permitted.
5. The Tap:
The Tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground at the mark, releasing the ball from both hands, tapping the ball with either foot a distance of not more than one (1) metre and picking up the ball cleanly. Any player from the attacking team may take the tap.
6. The Penalty:
When a player/team is penalised the non-offending team shall restart play with a tap. The tap is taken at the mark and the defending team must retire ten (10) metres from the mark until the ball has been tapped.
Play restarts with a tap when the following infringements occur;
• Forward Pass.
• Touch and Pass.
• Performing a rollball prior to a touch being made.
• Performing a rollball off the mark.
• Using more than the minimum force to affect a touch.
• Claiming a touch when the touch was not affected.
• Defenders offside at the rollball (5 metres).
• Defenders offside at the Tap (10 metres).
• Incorrect substitution
• Falsely claiming a touch
• Using more that the minimum force to make a touch
• Misconduct
• Playing more than the allowable number of players
• Deliberately delaying play
• Obstruction
7. Rollball:
A method of restarting play. Players must perform the rollball on the mark while facing their opponent’s defending scoreline and rolling the ball backwards between their legs a distance of not more than one (1) metre. Players must not delay performing the rollball. The player who performs the rollball is not permitted to pick the ball up.
8. The Touch:
Players from both teams are permitted to affect the touch. A touch is contact with any part of the body, ball, clothing or hair. Minimum force is to be used at all times when affecting a touch. The team in possession is entitled to six (6) touches.
9. Touch and Pass:
A player is not to pass the ball after a touch has been made.
10. The Dummy Half:
The Dummy Half is the person who picks up the ball after a team-mate has
performed a rollball.
11. Offside/Onside:
After a touch has been made all defending players must retire five (5) metres from the mark. Defending players cannot move forward until the Dummy Half has touched the ball.
12. Sideline:
If the player with the ball touches or crosses the sideline s/he is deemed to be out of play and a change of possession occurs. Play restarts with a rollball five (5) metres in from where the player went out. If a touch is made before the player goes out, the touch counts.
13. Obstruction:
Players of the attacking team are not to obstruct defending players from attempting to affect a touch. Defending players are not to obstruct/interfere with attacking players supporting the ball carrier.
14. The Field of Play
The field is 70 metres long (scoreline to scoreline) and 50 metres wide. Substitution boxes measuring 20 metres in length are situated on each side of the field at halfway. The Touchdown Zone is the area beyond the scoreline.
15. Team Composition:
A team may consist of up to 14 players. A maximum of six (6) players are permitted on the field at any one time. A minimum of four (4) players per team are required for the match to be played.
16. Mixed Teams:
A mixed team is made up of a ratio of male/female players. A mixed team is not permitted to field more that three (3) male players at any time nor are they permitted to field less than one (1) male player at any time.
17. The Toss:
The captain winning the toss shall receive possession of the ball, a choice of direction and choice of substitution box for the first half. The team that loses the toss shall recommence play after the half time break. The Referee shall supervise the toss.
18. Duration:
Touch New Zealand Playing Rules specify that a match shall be twenty (20) minutes each way with a three (3) minute break at half time. Modules/Associations may alter the duration of matches to suit their particular requirements.
19. Extra Time:
When a match is drawn and a single winner is required, the match is stopped, teams drop off one (1) player each and extra time is played. Teams drop off a player every two (2) minutes until down to three (3) players. The first team to score a Touchdown in extra time wins the match, once both teams have had possession.
20. Player Attire:
All team members must be correctly attired in team uniforms ie. Numbered shirts, shorts/briefs & socks. Bare feet, spikes and footwear with screw in studs are not permitted. Players are not to wear any item of jewellery that might be dangerous.
21. The Referee:
The Referee is the sole judge on matters of fact and is required to adjudicate on the rules of the game during play. The Referee may impose any sanction necessary to control the match. All officials, players and coaches involved in the match are under the control of the Referee.
22. Foul Play will NOT be tolerated:
Any foul play (the Referee being the sole judge) will result in the offending player being penalised, sent to the sin bin for a period of time, or being sent from the field for the remainder of the match, depending on the severity of the offence.
1. Scoring:
A touchdown will be awarded when a player places the ball on or over the scoreline prior to being touched. A touchdown will be worth one (1) point. The Dummy Half is not permitted to score touchdowns.
2. Substitution Box:
Substitute players must remain in their Substitution Box. Teams may interchange players at any time. Substitute players going on to the field may not leave the substitution box until the player being replaced has come off and reached the substitution box.
3. Possession of the Ball:
A Change of possession shall occur when;
• The ball is dropped to ground.
• The Dummy Half is touched while in possession.
• The sixth (6th) Touch occurs.
• The Dummy Half places the ball on or over the scoreline.
• A rollcall is performed incorrectly.
• A tap is performed incorrectly.
• The player in possession steps on or over the boundary of the field of play.
At a change of possession play is restarted with a rollball.
4. Passing:
A player may pass, knock, throw or otherwise deliver the ball to any onside player in the attacking team. Passing forward is NOT permitted.
5. The Tap:
The Tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground at the mark, releasing the ball from both hands, tapping the ball with either foot a distance of not more than one (1) metre and picking up the ball cleanly. Any player from the attacking team may take the tap.
6. The Penalty:
When a player/team is penalised the non-offending team shall restart play with a tap. The tap is taken at the mark and the defending team must retire ten (10) metres from the mark until the ball has been tapped.
Play restarts with a tap when the following infringements occur;
• Forward Pass.
• Touch and Pass.
• Performing a rollball prior to a touch being made.
• Performing a rollball off the mark.
• Using more than the minimum force to affect a touch.
• Claiming a touch when the touch was not affected.
• Defenders offside at the rollball (5 metres).
• Defenders offside at the Tap (10 metres).
• Incorrect substitution
• Falsely claiming a touch
• Using more that the minimum force to make a touch
• Misconduct
• Playing more than the allowable number of players
• Deliberately delaying play
• Obstruction
7. Rollball:
A method of restarting play. Players must perform the rollball on the mark while facing their opponent’s defending scoreline and rolling the ball backwards between their legs a distance of not more than one (1) metre. Players must not delay performing the rollball. The player who performs the rollball is not permitted to pick the ball up.
8. The Touch:
Players from both teams are permitted to affect the touch. A touch is contact with any part of the body, ball, clothing or hair. Minimum force is to be used at all times when affecting a touch. The team in possession is entitled to six (6) touches.
9. Touch and Pass:
A player is not to pass the ball after a touch has been made.
10. The Dummy Half:
The Dummy Half is the person who picks up the ball after a team-mate has
performed a rollball.
11. Offside/Onside:
After a touch has been made all defending players must retire five (5) metres from the mark. Defending players cannot move forward until the Dummy Half has touched the ball.
12. Sideline:
If the player with the ball touches or crosses the sideline s/he is deemed to be out of play and a change of possession occurs. Play restarts with a rollball five (5) metres in from where the player went out. If a touch is made before the player goes out, the touch counts.
13. Obstruction:
Players of the attacking team are not to obstruct defending players from attempting to affect a touch. Defending players are not to obstruct/interfere with attacking players supporting the ball carrier.
14. The Field of Play
The field is 70 metres long (scoreline to scoreline) and 50 metres wide. Substitution boxes measuring 20 metres in length are situated on each side of the field at halfway. The Touchdown Zone is the area beyond the scoreline.
15. Team Composition:
A team may consist of up to 14 players. A maximum of six (6) players are permitted on the field at any one time. A minimum of four (4) players per team are required for the match to be played.
16. Mixed Teams:
A mixed team is made up of a ratio of male/female players. A mixed team is not permitted to field more that three (3) male players at any time nor are they permitted to field less than one (1) male player at any time.
17. The Toss:
The captain winning the toss shall receive possession of the ball, a choice of direction and choice of substitution box for the first half. The team that loses the toss shall recommence play after the half time break. The Referee shall supervise the toss.
18. Duration:
Touch New Zealand Playing Rules specify that a match shall be twenty (20) minutes each way with a three (3) minute break at half time. Modules/Associations may alter the duration of matches to suit their particular requirements.
19. Extra Time:
When a match is drawn and a single winner is required, the match is stopped, teams drop off one (1) player each and extra time is played. Teams drop off a player every two (2) minutes until down to three (3) players. The first team to score a Touchdown in extra time wins the match, once both teams have had possession.
20. Player Attire:
All team members must be correctly attired in team uniforms ie. Numbered shirts, shorts/briefs & socks. Bare feet, spikes and footwear with screw in studs are not permitted. Players are not to wear any item of jewellery that might be dangerous.
21. The Referee:
The Referee is the sole judge on matters of fact and is required to adjudicate on the rules of the game during play. The Referee may impose any sanction necessary to control the match. All officials, players and coaches involved in the match are under the control of the Referee.
22. Foul Play will NOT be tolerated:
Any foul play (the Referee being the sole judge) will result in the offending player being penalised, sent to the sin bin for a period of time, or being sent from the field for the remainder of the match, depending on the severity of the offence.
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