The sport of Touch Football was developed in the 60s as a method of training for Rugby League
players. Touch Football allowed players to develop their skills and removed the anxiety of being
injured in the process; it also provided a popular method of keeping teams together during the
offseason and allowed for the maintenance of skills and it created an avenue for retired players to
continue to enjoy spot and participate in a social environment. These critical factors soon lead to the
involvement of women and children in organised Touch Football competitions.
As a minimal contact sport that focuses on speed, agility and coordination, Touch Football is a very
attractive sport for parents because it is a very safe sport; and without the requirement of goal
posts, bats, helmets and other forms of elaborate equipment, the sport is extremely easy to set up
and to teach.
The goal of the attacking team is to out-manoeuvre the opposition through passing, running,
deception and creating overlaps to cross the scoreline and ground the ball without being touched by
a member of the opposing (defending) team.
The goal of the team that is defending is to stop the attacking team from scoring touchdowns by
‘effecting a touch’ on the attacker who is in possession of the ball. A touch is deemed to be any
contact made by the hand of the defender (or inadvertently any other part of the defender’s body)
on any part of the body (below the head) of the attacker in possession of the ball.
If the defending team can effect six touches before the attacking team scores, then the ball is
‘turned over’ and the teams swap roles, i.e. the defending team becomes the attacking team and the
attacking team becomes the defending team.
Method of Play
The ball may be passed, knocked or handed between players of the attacking team who may in turn
run or otherwise move with the ball in an attempt to gain territorial advantage and score a
touchdown. Defending players attempt to prevent the attacking team from gaining an advantage.
Either defending or attacking, players may initiate touches, which will cause the attacking team to
use the touch count of six touches.
The Half – The half is any person on the attacking team who picks the ball up after a rollball. The half
can then do one of two things; either pass the ball to a team member or run with the ball. It is
important to note that if the half is touched while still in possession of the ball, it is a turn over to the
defending team. It is also important to note that the half cannot score a touchdown; the ball must
be passed to a team member before a touchdown can be scored.
The Ruck - The area directly concerning and surrounding the rollball.
The Tap - A tap is the only form of kick in the game. It is used to start the game and the second half,
recommence after a touchdown, and when a penalty is awarded. A tap is taken by placing the ball
on the ground on or behind the location of the mark (given by the referee) and releasing it from the
hands, tapping the ball with either foot and retrieving the ball cleanly from the ground. The person
who performs the tap is able to score a touchdown without having to pass the ball.
Penalties - Penalties are awarded for infringements of the rules and can be taken as a tap or rollball
with the acting half being able to be caught in possession of the ball. Defending players must move
back ten metres for a penalty. The penalty is awarded to the non offending team when:
• A defender has not retreated five metres from a rollball (offside)
• A defender has not retreated ten metres from a penalty (offside)
• Passing the ball after being touched
• A rollball off the mark (generally further forward from where you were touched)
• Passing the ball forward (towards your own scoreline)
• Rough play (using more than minimum force)
• Obstruction – When the player with the ball uses a team mate as a shield to avoid a touch
• Intentionally hitting the ball out of an attacking players hand
• Rollball before being touched
• Running on after being touched or throwing the ball away (delaying play)
• Disputing a referee’s decision
• Seven players on the field (incorrect substituting with players not waiting for a team
member to come off the field before going on)
‘Change of Possession’ or ‘Turn Over’ - This is the situation in which the attacking team becomes the
defending team and vice versa. There are a number of instances throughout the game that this will
occur and will be done for various reasons. These include:
• Six (6) touches have been made without the attacking team scoring a touchdown
• The attacking team makes a mistake, for instance, a dropped ball or a ball carrier running
out of the field of play
• The attacking team breaches the rules of the game and gives away a penalty, such as a
forward pass or the obstruction of a defender.
Scoring a Touchdown - A player scores a touchdown by placing the ball on or over the defending
team’s scoreline. Players must place the ball on the ground in a controlled manner in order to score
a touchdown. The aim of the game is to score more touchdowns that the opposing team. Each
touchdown is worth one point.
Effecting the Touch - A touch is any contact between any body part of an attacking player and a
defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing and may be made by either
the attacking player or defensive player.
‘Onside’ and ‘Offside’ - This refers to a player’s position on the field and affects both attackers and
defenders. A player who is offside cannot directly involve themselves the play until they have moved
to an onside position. If they involve themselves in the play while in an offside position, they will be
penalised. For an attacker to be in an onside position, they must be ‘behind the ball’ relative to the
direction in which their team is running. For a defender to move to an onside position, they must
retreat to a point that is in line with the referee (approximately five metres from the rollball or ten
metres from a tap) after every touch.
The Advantage Line - An imaginary line running from sideline to sideline that passes through the
ruck. At a minimum, the aim of the attacking team is to progress the ball forward of the advantage
line after each rollball.
Intercept - This occurs when the ball handler attempts to pass the ball to a team member but the
ball is caught by a defender while it is still in the air. The defender is now the attacker and is entitled
to continue running providing they are neither touched or they drop the ball in the process of
intercepting it. If they are touched, they perform a rollball and the game continues; however, if they
drop the ball it is returned to the opposition and they receive an additional six touches.
Individual Skills
• Passing - Utilised by members of the attacking team to move the ball from player to player.
• Catching - When an attacker is in the act of receiving a ball that has been passed to them. To
‘catch’ the ball is to receive and take possession of the ball in a controlled manner.
• Running - Players on both teams must run in all directions throughout the game in order to
move the ball up the field to score a touchdown. Similarly, defenders must continue to
retreat to an onside position as the ball is moved up the field in order to defend their
scoreline.
• Carrying - Holding the ball and running with it while maintaining possession
• Alignment - A player’s position in relation to the ball and other players on the field. This is a
skill that applies to players both in attack and defence.
• Evasion - Avoiding being touched.
• Diving - Players may dive to score a touchdown, as well as dive to touch an attacker who is
out of their reach.
• Vision - Touch Football is a sport that requires participants to think quickly and make
decisions on the run
Team Skills
• Attacking Skills - Used by the team in possession of the ball in order to gain ground, out
manoeuvre the defence and score a touchdown. This involves ball movement, player
movement and positioning, communication and predetermined plays.
• Defensive Skills - Used by the defending team in order to limit the ground advantage and to
prevent the attacking team from scoring. This is done through communication, moving in
unison and applying pressure as a team.
W W
L L
Scoring Zone
Scoring Zone
M M
M M
L L
W W
Players Positions
At the grass roots level, Touch Football is a sport in which participants can play in any of the three
positions on the field as the skills are fairly similar. This is an advantage for teachers and school
children as it maximises the level of involvement for all participants and makes the task of teaching
the sport much simpler. As children develop their skills, positions can begin to be allocated. There
are three different positions on a Touch Football field and as a general rule the positions consist of
the following characteristics:
Equipment Required
4 cones (set up in a 5m x 5m square)
1 ball
Coloured vests for ½ the group
Taggers
Evaders
4m
Cones
4m
Endzone (10 Minutes)
The concept of this game is to allow players, who have no experience with Touch Football, to begin
with a simple game and over an extended period of time, adapt to slight changes in rules so as to
eventuate in a game of Touch Football.
Equipment Required
6 cones (set up in a 30m x 20m rectangle)
1 ball
Coloured vests for ½ the group
Goal Scorer
Attackers
Defenders
20m
Cones
30m
Basic Skill Relays (20 Minutes)
Now that the players have had the opportunity to play a game that vaguely resembles touch
football, in regards to the space and layout of the field, we can begin to focus on the development of
game specific skills.
Equipment Required
16 cones (ideally 4 x 4 cones of differing colour and set up in a 9m x 9m square)
4 balls
Team Members
Participants are broken up into four equal groups and line up behind each of the four different
coloured cones.
2) Side Step
Participant, with ball in hand, runs forward, steps left off their right leg at cone 2, runs forward
steps right off their left leg at cone 3, runs around cone 4 and passes off to the next player at
cone 3.
Coaching Emphasis - Ball in two hands and out in front, when stepping.
4) The Tap
Ball starts at cone 2. Player runs forward and performs the tap, picks up the ball, runs around
cone 4, scores at cone 2 and runs past cone 1, allowing the next team member to begin.
Coaching Emphasis - Correct action at the tap and clean pick up and put down.
Rob the Bank (10 Minutes)
While this game is primarily designed to teach children the principles of defence, it is also a great
game to teach children the concepts of running lines, outnumbering defenders and communication
in attack.
Equipment Required
8 cones (4 x 2 cones of differing colour and set up as per diagram below)
Bank Vault
Bank Doors
The Van
Prison
Robbers
Security Guards
Endzone to Touch Football (20 Minutes)
Now that participants have been taught the basic skills and concepts of Touch Football, they are
ready to progress towards a full game. Go back to the field that has been set up for Endzone and
begin playing the game in the same format for approximately one minute. This is simply to put them
in a familiar scenario. After the first minute, make the first rule change.
Note - Attackers will have difficulty with these rules as defenders now have the opportunity to
‘shadow’ the attackers, making it virtually impossible to progress forward.
At this point in time, participants are effectively playing the game of Touch Football. While there are
some minor additions in various rules, skills and concepts, the fundamentals of the game have now
been taught and are being performed.
Touch Football is indeed a thrilling sport and often presents people with a thrill
for a lifetime. It is a sport that can be taken up by children as young as four or
five, and allows participants to continue playing well into their senior years.
Touch Football Australia is the national sporting body for the sport of Touch
Football, and is an organisation that is focused on the development of junior
pathways and creating strong links for school children to community clubs.
Touch Football Australia and each of the sport’s state organisations are
available to assist you in learning and providing this great sport in your school.