WHAT IS TAG FOOTBALL?

Tag football is a popular alternative outdoor recreational team sport that has competitions running throughout New Zealand.

  • Eight players in each team are on the field at anyone time.
  • Players wear shorts with a Velcro patch on each side.
  • A strip of cloth is attached to the Velcro, known as a tag.
  • The object of the game is to score tries. Defenders prevent this by tagging the ball carrier, removing the tag from the shorts.
  • Field dimensions are 70 metres x 50 metres. Two fields will fit on one rugby field.

The game is non-contact and the rules are designed to encourage this - you cannot as an attacker run straight at a defender, you must run at the gaps.

  • The rule is whoever initiates contact will be penalised.
  • A defender cannot impede the progress of an attacker, so if you try to get a tag and bump the attacker you may well be penalised.

When attacking the line, fancy moves such as around-the-corner passes work well, often making the defender stoop low to remove the tag.

Passing becomes an attacking weapon, and if a player is put into a gap, there is a high probability they will make a clean break.

All skills are utilised in tag football including kicking.

The invention of the tag also prevents phantom calls.

The game is exciting due to the fact of the tagging situation which can be difficult to remove.

The attacking team has six plays or tags to try and score a try or promote the ball down field as close to the line as possible.toground with the advantage rule applying - this results in a lot of broken field play.

Teams kick off to commence play and restart play after a try has been scored.

Line drop-outs are taken from the centre of the try line.

Kicking in general play is allowed but it must be below shoulder height of the referee.

Games are will be played over 30 minutes, two fifteen minute halves. Times may be varied to suit age groups and conditions.