What is Touch?
Derived from Rugby League, Touch Rugby is a fun, inclusive and easy to learn non-contact sport that is growing in popularity around the world.
The rules and objectives are simple, making it great for people new to Touch or new to sport entirely. It focused on a free flowing game that builds in its strategy as your experience grows. At the highest competition level it’s a fast pace, strategic and sophisticated game that is fantastic to play and to watch.
Touch is played across Scotland socially and competitively with hundreds of players taking part.
Part 2: The Positions
Mids
Name of the position and players occupying the ‘middle’ of the field. Middles are the key decision makers, and have a high level of fitness to suit!
Links
Name of the position and players positioned between middles and wingers. Often links are the players with good deception skills, this requires quick thinking and reactions.
Wings
Name of the position and players occupying the side part of the field. They are sometimes the fastest players in the team, as they have to cover a large part of the width of the field.
Part 3: The Basics
With thanks to the Australian Touch Association
Part 4: The Glossary
Essentially when you pass the ball forward, generally towards the opposing team’s scoreline. Always tricky for referees to judge, forward passes are the main point of discussions on the side line and after the game.
The player who takes possession of the ball after a roll ball. The half can’t score a touchdown; and if they get touched with the ball in their hands, their team loses possession of the ball.
The exact point where the touch is made and the roll ball is performed.
You may hear this a couple of times! It means that you haven’t gone backwards enough to be onside and therefore you get penalised.
Infringement when the ball handler does not perform the roll ball on the exact point where they have been touched. It results in a penalty for the defensive team.
Referees are a key component of the sport. There is a main referee on the pitch who directs the passage of play, this referee is assisted from the sides by assistant referees who watch out for infractions
Normal act of bringing the ball into play following a touch or a change of possession. Players should perform a roll ball by controlling the ball and placing it on the ground while stepping over it, facing their scoreline. It is the specific move of Touch.
Area where the roll ball occurs with the ball carrier, the defender and the half.
The method of commencing the match, recommencing the match after half-time and after a touchdown has been scored. It is also a method of recommencing play when a penalty is awarded.
Contact on any part of the body between a player in possession of the ball and a defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing, and may be made by a defending player or by the player in possession.