About Touch 

Touch, also known as Touch Football, Touch Footy, or Touch Rugby around the world, is a sport that allows people from all walks of life to be a part of an inclusive community and compete either locally or at the highest international level. It is a non-contact form of rugby that originated in Australia. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the United Kingdom and around the world. Touch is one of those rare sports where people of all genders and ages can get together to compete amongst one another. In touch, the main excelling factor is each athlete’s drive to learn and improve their game!

 

The Rules. A full mixed game is usually 40 minutes, comprising of two 20 minute halves. There are a total of six players on a side--a minimum of one woman and no more than three men--with up to 14 on each team and rolling substitutions. To score a try, a player apart from the half must place the ball over the try line before a defender touches them. The person who picks the ball up is "the half." They cannot score and if they get touched it is a turnover. After six touches, unless a team scores or a penalty is awarded, the possession changes. The ball must be passed backwards, and the attacking team aims to create scoring opportunities by passing, running, and using platforms to advance towards the opponent's try line. After each touch, the player in possession must place it on the ground and step over the ball; what is called a "roll ball." The defending team's objective is to protect their try line by touching the attacking players with minimum force. After each touch, every player in the defence must retreat 7 metres from the touch. It is a fast-paced, dynamic, and inclusive sport, which promotes skills development and teamwork!

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You can find the complete fifth edition rulebook here.