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{{Short description|Sport derived from rugby football}}
{{About|the formal competitive sport|a general article on touch games|Touch |other types|Touch football (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the formal competitive sport|a general article on touch games|Touch |other types|Touch football (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}


'''Touch''' (also known as '''touch football''' or '''touch rugby''') is a variant of [[rugby league]] that is organised by the [[Federation of International Touch]] (FIT).
'''Touch''' (also known as '''touch football''' or '''touch rugby''') is a variant of [[rugby league]] that is conducted under the direction of the [[Federation of International Touch]] (FIT). Though it shares similarities and history with [[rugby football|rugby league]], it is recognised as a sport in its own right due to its differences which have been developed over the sport's lifetime.


Touch is a variation of [[rugby league]] with the [[tackle (football move)|tackling]] of opposing players replaced by a touch. As touches must be made with minimal force, touch is therefore a [[Contact sport#Limited-contact|limited-contact]] sport. The basic rules of touch were established in the 1960s by the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-4863-0-0-0&sID=61690&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=14726332&sectionID=61690 |title=The Evolution of Touch – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |date=2 November 2011|access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>
Touch is a variation of [[rugby league]] with the [[tackle (football move)|tackling]] of opposing players replaced by a touch. As touches must be made with minimal force, touch is therefore considered a [[Contact sport#Limited-contact|limited-contact]] sport. The original basic rules of touch were established in the 1960s by members of the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club]] in [[Sydney|Sydney, Australia]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-4863-0-0-0&sID=61690&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=14726332&sectionID=61690 |title=The Evolution of Touch – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |date=2 November 2011|access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>


Distinctive features of touch football include the ease of learning it, minimal equipment requirements and the ability to play it without fear of major injury. While it is generally played with two teams of six on-field players, some social competitions allow different number of players per team on the field. It is played by both sexes, and in age divisions from primary school children to over-50s. The mixed version of the game (where both male and female players are on the field at the same time) is particularly popular with social players.
Distinctive features of touch include the ease of learning it, minimal equipment requirements, ability to play it without fear of major injury, and the regularity of males and females playing together, and as such it is often played either as alternative to or as a soft introduction to full-blown rugby football. While it is generally played with two teams of six on-field players, some social competitions allow a different number of players per team on the field. It is played by both sexes, and in age divisions from primary school children to over-60s. The mixed version of the sport (where both male and female players are on the field at the same time) is particularly popular with social players but is also played at an International representative level.


==History==
==History==
While it is often claimed{{who|date=February 2018}} that Touch started in Australia in 1963 as a social or "park" game and as a training technique for [[rugby league]], at least as early as 1956, supervised Touch and Pass was already being played at several inner city schools in the North of England, where asphalt playgrounds made normal rugby league too dangerous. Although the rules were set out by the schools' sports teachers, it was not then viewed as a sport in its own right. It was formalised into a sport proper by the "Founders of Touch", Bob Dyke and Ray Vawdon of the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club]]. On 13 July 1968 the "South Sydney Touch Football Club" was formed and the sport of Touch Football was born. The first actual official game of Touch was played in late 1968 and the first official competition, organised by Dyke & Vawdon, was held at Rowland Park Sydney in 1968. From these humble beginnings the game quickly became a fully regulated and codified sport. It was first played in [[Brisbane]] in 1972 and by 1973 there were representative games.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25181422-10389,00.html No Cookies | The Courier Mail]</ref> It had spread to New Zealand by 1975.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080903015725/http://www.touchnz.co.nz/default.aspx?page=31]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austouch.com.au/index.php?id=185 |title=Touch Football Australia: Home |publisher=Austouch.com.au |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>


==Rules and Equipment==
=== Origins ===
{{See also|Rugby league}}
While it is often claimed that Touch started in Australia in 1963 as a social or "park" game and as a training technique for [[rugby league]], at least as early as 1956, supervised "touch and pass" was already being played at several inner city schools in the North of England, where asphalt playgrounds made normal rugby league too dangerous. Although the rules were set out by the schools' sports teachers, it was not then viewed as a sport in its own right.

Touch was formalised into a sport proper by the "Founders of Touch", Bob Dyke and Ray Vawdon of the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club]]. On 13 July 1968 an organisation known as the ''South Sydney Touch Football Club'' was formed and the sport of Touch Football was officially born. The first official Touch match was played in late 1968 and the first official competition, organised by Dyke & Vawdon, was held at Rowland Park Sydney in 1968.

From its formal inception in 1968, the game quickly became a fully regulated and codified sport in Australia. Originally played under lightly modified rugby league laws to remove hard physical contact, the sport has since evolved under its own specific rules now quite varied from its rugby league roots. The reduction of field size to half that of a rugby league field in particular aided the sports rapid growth across Australian rugby league stronghold areas as it allowed greater participating in the same geographic footprint.<ref name=":0" />

The sport was first played in [[Brisbane|Brisbane, Australia]] in 1972 and by 1973 there were representative matches between sides representing the [[Australian states]] of [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]].<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25181422-10389,00.html No Cookies | The Courier Mail]</ref> It had spread to [[New Zealand]] by 1975 and in 1978 the first national body, the ''Australian Touch Football Association'' (ATFA), now [[Touch Football Australia]] (TFA) was formed.<ref name=":0" /> The sports first national representative event, the [[Touch Football – Australian Nationals|Australian National Championships]], was held on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland]] in 1980.

The ATFA dropped the word "Football" from its name in 1981, becoming the ''Australian Touch Association'' or ''ATA'' and thereby changing the sports name to simply Touch. In the same year, the ATA published the sports first formal set of playing rules.<ref name=":0" />

The first international match was played between [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] in [[Melbourne]] in 1985, leading to the creation of the [[Federation of International Touch]] and the formulation of the sports first set of global rules based on the playing rules in use by the ATA at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touch New Zealand - Home |url=http://www.touchnz.co.nz/default.aspx?page=31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903015725/http://www.touchnz.co.nz/default.aspx?page=31 |archive-date=3 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Touch Football Australia: Home |url=http://www.austouch.com.au/index.php?id=185 |access-date=20 August 2014 |publisher=Austouch.com.au}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Rules and equipment==

=== Rules ===
=== Rules ===
The current rules are the 8th Edition published by [[Touch Football Australia]] in 2020. The rules include a section of touch-specific terms and phrases, many of which are shared with rugby league (e.g. offside, intercept).
The current rules are based on the 8th Edition published by the Australian governing body, [[Touch Football Australia]], in 2020. The updated rules were subsequently adopted by [[Federation of International Touch|FIT]] as the FIT 5th Edition Playing Rules. The rules include a section of touch-specific terms and phrases, many of which are shared with rugby league (e.g. offside, intercept, try).


=== Playing Field ===
=== Playing field ===
Touch is played on a grass, rectangular [[Playing field|field]] measuring 70 x 50 metres (i.e. one half of a [[Rugby league playing field|rugby league field]]). As [[Kick (football)|kicking]] is not allowed, [[Goal (sport)|goal posts]] are not required.
Touch is played on a grass, rectangular [[Playing field|field]] measuring 70 x 50 metres (i.e. slightly larger than one half of a [[Rugby league playing field|rugby league field]]). As [[Kick (football)|kicking]] is not allowed, [[Goal (sport)|goal posts]] are not required. At all.


=== Ball ===
=== Ball ===
Touch balls are oval and slightly smaller than rugby league balls. The official size is 36&nbsp;cm long and 55&nbsp;cm in circumference, also sometimes known as rugby size 4.
Touch balls are oval and slightly smaller than rugby league balls. The official size is 36 cm long and 55 cm in circumference, also sometimes known as rugby size 4.


=== Clothing ===
=== Clothing ===
Players typically wear light clothing such as singlets, T-shirts or polo shirts and shorts. All shirts must be numbered. Women generally wear lycra bike shorts, athletic briefs or swimsuit-style lycra [[bodysuit]]s.
Players typically wear light clothing such as singlets, T-shirts or polo shirts and shorts. All shirts must be numbered. Women generally wear lycra bike shorts, athletic briefs or swimsuit-style lycra [[bodysuit]]s. Head caps or visors are also commonly worn on the touch field by players and officials.


=== Footwear ===
=== Footwear ===
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=== Referee ===
=== Referee ===
{{main|Touch Football match officials}}
{{main|Touch match officials}}

Touch must have at least one referee to manage the game but most major games feature one central referee and two sideline referees, who interchange roles repeatedly throughout the game.
Touch must have at least one referee to manage a match but most major matches feature a team of three referees alternating between a controlling referee and two sideline referees throughout the match.


===Positions===
===Positions===
Teams are generally split into three positions: two "wings" (the players on either edge of the field i.e. 'right wing' and 'left wing'); two "middles" (the central players); and two "links" (the players between the wings and middles, one on each side of the field i.e. 'right link' and 'left link').<ref>[http://www.touchdump.com/about-touch/touch-positions Touch Positions – Touchdump]</ref>
Teams are generally split into three positions: two "wings" (the players on either edge of the field i.e. 'right wing' and 'left wing'); two "middles" (the central players); and two "links" (the players between the wings and middles, one on each side of the field i.e. 'right link' and 'left link').<ref>[http://www.touchdump.com/about-touch/touch-positions Touch Positions – Touchdump]</ref>

===Half===
The half (formerly known as the ''acting half'' or ''dummy half'') is subject to a number of restrictions that do not apply to other players:
* If the half is touched with the ball, the attacking team loses possession.
* The half cannot score a try. Attempting to do so (even grounding the ball not purposefully) results in a change of possession.
These restrictions do not apply to a Half who passes the ball to a teammate (or indeed opposition player) and then receives it back.

At a rollball, if the Half takes too long to retrieve the ball, or is further than 1m away from the position of the rollball, defenders are allowed to move forward before the Half has touched the ball.

===Mode of play===
The ball can be passed or knocked (but not kicked) sideways or backwards between teammates (known as ''Attackers''), who attempt to evade opposition players (known as ''Defenders'') to score a Try.


===Possession===
===Possession===
A team normally retains possession for a set of six consecutive touches as in rugby league. Possession (or a ''Turnover'') transfers to the opposing team:
A team normally retains possession for a set of six consecutive touches (as in rugby league), after which possession transfers to the opposing team. This is known as a ''Change of Possession''. This can occur after six touches are completed, if the ball is dropped by the attacking team, or if the attacking team is penalised by the referee for infringing the playing rules.


===Scoring===
===Scoring===
A try is awarded when an attacking player, who is not the ''acting-half'' places the ball on or over the opposition's try line. Each try is worth one point.
A Try (formerly ''Touchdown'') is awarded when an attacking player, who is not the Half places the ball on or over the opposition's try line. Each Try is worth one point, though some mixed social competitions award female players two points in order to encourage ball sharing.

===Half===
The Half (or ''Acting-Half'') is subject to a number of restrictions that do not apply to other players:
* If the Half is touched with the ball, the attacking team loses possession.
* The Half cannot score a try. Attempting to do so (even grounding the ball not purposefully) results in a change of possession.
* If the Half takes too long to retrieve the ball the referee can call play on and defenders are allowed to move forward before the Half has touched the ball.
These restrictions do '''not''' apply to a Half who passes the ball to a teammate (or indeed opposition player) and then receives it back.


===Interchanges===
===Interchanges===
* Interchanges can be made any number of times throughout the match. However, the game remains continuous and does not stop to allow interchanges.
* Players may interchange an unlimited number of times throughout the match provided the team does not exceed the maximum number of on-field players allowed, which is usually six under standard FIT rules.
* The match remains continuous and does not stop to allow interchanges.
* Players coming onto the field must wait until the player they are interchanging with has come off the field. Failing to do so may result in a penalty for an incorrect interchange.
* Players coming onto the field must wait until the player they are interchanging with has left the field and entered the designated ''Interchange Area''. Failing to do so can result in the referee awarding a penalty for an incorrect interchange.
* Players in a team who are not on the field must remain inside their allocated interchange area (sometimes called substitution box) until they come onto the field.
* Players in a team who are not on the field must remain inside their allocated Interchange Area (sometimes called ''substitution box'') until they enter the field.


===Composition of teams===
===Composition of teams===
* Teams can consist of all male players (''Men's'' and ''Boys'' competitions), all female players (''Women's'' or ''Girls'' competitions), or a combination of both (''Mixed'' competitions).
* The teams can be male, female or mixed.
* Each team can consist of up to 14 players, of which 6 players can be on the field at any one time.
* Under standard FIT rules, each team can consist of up to 14 players, of which up to six players can be on the field at any one time.
* Mixed teams typically comprise 3 females and 3 males on the field at one time. The rules state that there must be at least 1 male, at least 1 female, and no more than 3 males on the field at any time.
* Mixed teams typically comprise three females and three males on the field at one time. Under standard FIT rules, there must be at least one male and one female, and no more than three males on the field at any time.


===Mode of play===
===Match duration===
The standard match duration is 40 minutes (two x 20-minute halves) with a 5-minute halftime, though other time frames are often used to suit local conditions and competitions.
The ball can be passed or knocked (but not kicked) sideways or backwards between teammates who attempt to evade opposition defenders and score tries.

===Match Duration===
The standard duration is 40 minutes (two x 20-minute halves) with a 5-minute halftime, though other time frames are often used to suit local conditions and competitions.


==World Rugby==
==World Rugby==
[[World Rugby]], world governing body of the rules of [[Rugby Union]], published in November 2010 a draft of leisure rules of Touch Rugby IRB for developmental purposes. Those Laws were adapted from the FIT playing rules for the sport of Touch.
[[World Rugby]], the international governing body of the rules of [[rugby union]], published in November 2010 a draft of leisure rules of Touch Rugby IRB for developmental purposes. Those Laws were adapted from the FIT playing rules for the sport of Touch.


The document states: "Council agreed that these Leisure Rugby Laws are issued as a guide for developmental purposes and Unions are not bound to apply the Laws" and "IRB Leisure Rugby Laws have been designed so that Unions may develop non-Contact Rugby. These Laws have been produced so that there are some guidelines and principles in place for IRB Leisure Rugby. Unions having jurisdiction over their developmental processes, matches, competitions and festivals may need to vary these Laws as deemed appropriate. This allows domestic Rugby clubs to adapt to the FIT playing rules, provided domestic Touch Associations are in agreeance."
The document states: "Council agreed that these Leisure Rugby Laws are issued as a guide for developmental purposes and Unions are not bound to apply the Laws" and "IRB Leisure Rugby Laws have been designed so that Unions may develop non-Contact Rugby. These Laws have been produced so that there are some guidelines and principles in place for IRB Leisure Rugby. Unions having jurisdiction over their developmental processes, matches, competitions and festivals may need to vary these Laws as deemed appropriate. This allows domestic Rugby clubs to adapt to the FIT playing rules, provided domestic Touch Associations are in agreeance."


The leisure rugby laws released by World Rugby are not supported or recognised by the Federation of International Touch.
==International Competitions==

==International competitions==


===World Cup===
===World Cup===
{{main|Touch Football World Cup}}
{{main|Touch Football World Cup}}


The inaugural Touch World Cup was held on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast, Australia]] in 1988. Since then, the event has been hosted in [[Auckland, New Zealand|Auckland (New Zealand)]](1991), [[Waikiki Beach]] (Hawaii)(1995), Sydney (Australia)(1999), [[Kumagaya, Japan|Kamagaya (Japan)]](2003), [[Stellenbosch]] (South Africa) (2007), [[Edinburgh, Scotland|Edinburgh (Scotland)]] (2011), [[Coffs Harbour]] (Australia) (2015) and [[Putrajaya]] (Malaysia) (2019) .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internationaltouch.org/events/world-cup/|title=World Cup – Federation of International Touch}}</ref>
The inaugural Touch World Cup was held on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast, Australia]] in 1988. Since then, the event has been hosted in [[Auckland, New Zealand]] (1991), [[Waikiki Beach|Waikiki Beach, Hawaii]] (1995), [[Sydney|Sydney, Australia]] (1999), [[Kumagaya, Japan|Kamagaya, Japan]] (2003), [[Stellenbosch|Stellenbosch, South Africa]] (2007), [[Edinburgh, Scotland]] (2011), [[Coffs Harbour|Coffs Harbour, Australia]] (2015), and [[Putrajaya|Putrajaya, Malaysia]] (2019) .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internationaltouch.org/events/world-cup/|title=World Cup – Federation of International Touch}}</ref>

The most recent world cup was held in Nottingham, England from July 15th - 21st, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federation of International Touch - |url=https://www.internationaltouch.org/events/upcoming/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.internationaltouch.org}}</ref>

==== Youth World Cup ====
FIT conducted the first Youth Touch World Cup in [[Auckland|Auckland, New Zealand]] in January 2001, followed by the second event on the [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast, Australia]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federation of International Touch - - Youth World Cup |url=https://www.internationaltouch.org/events/youth-world-cup/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.internationaltouch.org}}</ref> A third event was planned for 2009 however did not eventuate due to budget constraints.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History - FIT Touch Malaysia |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-12040-0-0-0&sID=406335 |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=GameDay |language=en}}</ref> The Youth Touch World Cup was eventually revived in 2018 and was held in [[Putrajaya|Putrajaya, Malaysia]] and served as a trial run for the [[Touch Football World Cup]] held in the city the following year.

The fourth Youth Touch World Cup was scheduled to be held in [[Manchester|Manchester, England]] in 2021, but was rescheduled to 2023 as a result of the worldwide [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIT and England announce the 2021 Youth World Cup will be deferred |url=https://www.internationaltouch.org/news/2020/jun/30/fit-and-england-announce-the-2021-youth-world-cup-will-be-deferred/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.internationaltouch.org |language=en}}</ref>


===Trans-Tasman Tests===
===Trans-Tasman Tests===
There is a regular program of [[Test match (rugby league)|Test matches]] between Australia and New Zealand known as Trans-Tasman Tests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-4863-0-0-0&sID=68896&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=8952232 |title=Trans Tasman Test History – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>
There is a regular program of [[Test match (rugby league)|Test matches]] between Australia and New Zealand known as [https://touchfootball.com.au/trans-tasman/ Trans-Tasman Tests].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-4863-0-0-0&sID=68896&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=8952232 |title=Trans Tasman Test History – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>

Tests are divided into separate events for each age category, being:
Tests are divided into separate events for each age category, being:
* Open (Unrestricted)
* Open (Unrestricted)
* Youth (Under 21)
* Youth (Under 21)
* Senior (Over 30)
* Senior or ''Masters'' (Over 30)


===Pacific Games===
===Pacific Games===
Touch has been played at the [[Pacific Games]] since 2003.<ref name = touch-spg-2003/> It is an optional sport for the Pacific Games program{{hsp}}<ref name = charter-2010/> and the tournaments include men's, women's and mixed competitions.<ref name = fit-2015/><ref name = touch-spg-2007/>
Touch has been played at the [[Pacific Games]] since 2003.<ref name = touch-spg-2003/> It is an optional sport for the Pacific Games program<ref name = charter-2010/> and the tournaments include men's, women's and mixed competitions.<ref name = fit-2015/><ref name = touch-spg-2007/>


=== European Championships ===
=== European Championships ===
The [[Federation of International Touch]] (FIT) conducts the [[European Touch Championships]], affectionately known as "The Euro's", biannually.
The [[Federation of International Touch]] (FIT) conducts the [[European Touch Championships]], affectionately known as "The Euros", biannually.

The first Euros took place in 2010 in [[Bristol, UK]] with 19 teams contesting men's and women's open divisions. The 2012 Euros in [[Treviso]], Italy introduced mixed touch and seniors and masters divisions.


The sixth and most recent Euros were played in [[Nottingham]] from 2-6 August 2022, with 62 teams from 17 countries contesting 10 divisions, including men's 50s for the first time.
The 2010 Euro's in [[Bristol, UK]] attracted 54 teams and over 900 players to the event.
The 2012 Euro's were held in [[Treviso]], Italy from 8–12 September 2012


===Masters Games===
===Masters Games===
Touch is a very popular sport at the various [[World Masters Games|Masters Games]] events.
Touch is popular sport at various [[World Masters Games|Masters Games]] events.


===World All Schools===
===World All Schools===
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===Australia===
===Australia===
{{Main|Touch Football Australia}}
{{Main|Touch Football Australia}}
Touch is played in every Australian state and territory, and is particularly popular in the rugby league and [[rugby union]] strongholds of [[Queensland]], [[New South Wales]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]]. There are currently over 700,000 registered Touch players, 500,000 school children, and up to 100,000 casual players playing the sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/whats_the_score/pdf/touch_football.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523132129/http://hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/whats_the_score/pdf/touch_football.pdf |archive-date=23 May 2012 }}</ref> The peak governing body is [[Touch Football Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mytouchfooty.com |title=Touch Football Australia |publisher=Mytouchfooty.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>
Touch is played in every Australian state and territory, and is particularly popular in the rugby league and [[rugby union]] strongholds of [[Queensland]], [[New South Wales]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]]. There are currently over 700,000 registered Touch players, 500,000 school children, and up to 100,000 casual players playing the sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/whats_the_score/pdf/touch_football.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523132129/http://hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/whats_the_score/pdf/touch_football.pdf |archive-date=23 May 2012 }}</ref> The peak governing body was formed in 1978 as the ''Australian Touch Football Association''. In 1981 the word "football" was dropped from the name and the organisation became the ''Australian Touch Association''. After a restructure and merger of the national body with the state-level governing bodies (except the Queensland and New South Wales associations) in 2004, the word "football" was re-incorporated into the organisations new name - [[Touch Football Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mytouchfooty.com |title=Touch Football Australia |publisher=Mytouchfooty.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>


Australia's main domestic competition is the [[National Touch League]] (NTL) and Elite 8 Series. Thirteen permits, representing all parts of Australia, compete in open-age, under-20 and over-age (Masters) divisions in men's, women's and mixed categories. The permits have been designed to equalise competition between the traditionally strong Touch states of ACT, Queensland and NSW and the remainder of the country.
From 1997 until 2018, Australia's main domestic competition was the [[National Touch League]] (NTL). Thirteen permits, representing all parts of Australia, compete in open-age, under-20 and over-age (Masters) divisions in men's, women's and mixed categories. The permits were originally designed to equalise competition between the traditionally strong Touch states of Queensland and NSW, and the remainder of the country. The ''Elite 8'' series, an additional competition played at the same time as the NTL, was created in 2013 to provide a further elite domestic level to the sport. As a result, the ''20 Years & Under'' division for that year's NTL was removed. The ''Elite 8'' was eventually replaced in 2018 by the [[NRL Touch Premiership]] though the NTL continues.


A youth version of the National Touch League, formerly known as the ''National 18's'' and now known as the ''National Youth Championships'', is held annually. The original ''National 18's'' event included only an ''18 Years & Under'' division but was expanded and renamed in 2013 to accommodate the ''20 Years & Under'' division after it was removed from the NTL as a result of the Elite 8 Series. The ''20 Years & Under'' division reverted back to the NTL in 2014 where it has remained since. The event has simultaneously been held with the National Schools Cup, an event featuring the best school-based teams from each state. In 2020, the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] affected National Youth Championships was run simultaneously with the Queensland Junior State Championships to expand the event to include ''12 Years & Under'', ''14 Years & Under'', and ''16 Years & Under'', a format which was further expanded in 2021 when entry to those age divisions was opened to teams from outside of Queensland.
Touch has a [[State of Origin series]] every 2 years. The series is played between Touch strongholds [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]].


The first [[State of Origin|state of origin]] series between the stronghold states of [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]] was played in [[Port Macquarie|Port Macquarie, New South Wales]] in 1995 and has been played every two years since. The series originally featured a single Men's and Women's divisions, but was expanded in 1999 to include a Mixed division, and age-restricted divisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touch Football Australia |url=https://www.touchalmanac.com/touch-football-australia |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Touch Almanac |language=en}}</ref>
[[School Sport Australia]] runs the National Championship Tournament and Exchange for Touch every year – the location moves from state to state. Most [[Australian States]] and Territories enter Boys and Girls teams in both the High School (15 and under) and Primary School (12 and under) divisions.


[[School Sport Australia]] conducts an annual National Championships, which includes division for both Primary School (Under 12) and Middle School (Under 15) sides. The location of the event rotates between states each year, and most [[Australian States]] and Territories enter Boys and Girls teams in every division.
[[Touch Football Australia]] (TFA) and the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2013, bringing together the two entities under a partnership agreement to develop the sport across both codes. The agreement recognises the similarities between both Touch and [[Rugby league]] and that there are significant benefits to both through a dual-track pathway.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Webster |url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/midas-touch-merger-tees-up-golden-future-for-the-game-20130808-2rkor.html |title=Midas touch: merger tees up golden future for the game |publisher=Smh.com.au |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> The agreement resulted in the creation of a unified "NRL Touch Football" brand in Australia, which has since resulted in a major profile and funding boost for the sport within the country, including the signing of a commercial partnership agreement between the two entities and the principle "whole of game sponsor", [[Harvey Norman]].


[[Touch Football Australia]] (TFA) and the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2013, bringing the two entities together to form a partnership to develop the sport across both codes. The agreement recognised the similarities between both Touch and [[Rugby league]] and that the significant benefits to both through a dual-track pathway.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Webster |url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/midas-touch-merger-tees-up-golden-future-for-the-game-20130808-2rkor.html |title=Midas touch: merger tees up golden future for the game |date=8 August 2013 |publisher=Smh.com.au |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> The agreement resulted in the creation of a unified "NRL Touch Football" brand in Australia, which resulted in a major profile and funding boost for the sport within the country, including the signing of a commercial partnership agreement between the two entities and the principle "whole of game sponsor", initially [[Harvey Norman]] and later [[DoorDash|Doordash]].
In May 2018, under the NRL Touch Football partnership, the organisation launched the [[NRL Touch Premiership]], to be played alongside NRL matches by teams drawn from the Elite 8 Series and aligned to NRL clubs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/18/nrl-announces-historic-touch-football-premiership-competition/|title=NRL announces historic Touch football premiership competition|date=1 April 2018|work=National Rugby League|access-date=15 May 2018|language=en-AU}}</ref>

In May 2018, under the NRL Touch Football partnership, the organisation launched the [[NRL Touch Premiership]], a domestic home and away series played as [[Curtain raiser|curtain raisers]] to NRL matches. The initial teams were drawn from the Elite 8 Series and aligned to NRL clubs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/18/nrl-announces-historic-touch-football-premiership-competition/|title=NRL announces historic Touch football premiership competition|date=1 April 2018|work=National Rugby League|access-date=15 May 2018|language=en-AU}}</ref>


===Austria===
===Austria===
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===Chile===
===Chile===
{{unreferencedsect|date=April 2022}}
Touch has been played in Chile since 1998 by initiative of foreign residents in the country, where Chilean players and teams were added, giving way to the creation of the official body Touch Rugby Chile.
Touch has been played in [[Chile]] since 1998 by initiative of foreign residents in the country, where Chilean players and teams were added, giving way to the creation of the official body Touch Rugby Chile.

Currently in Chile, touch is played in different cities:
Currently in Chile, touch is played in different cities:

Santiago:
Santiago Touch Rugby league, which brings together 16 teams and played in mixed category.
Santiago: Santiago Touch Rugby league, which brings together 16 teams and played in mixed category.

Senior Touch league: which brings together 7 teams, it is played only by men over 40 years, once a month. The league adopted the official Touch rules in 2016, being supported by referees who belong to the Federation of Chile Touch.
Senior Touch league: which brings together 7 teams, it is played only by men over 40 years, once a month. The league adopted the official Touch rules in 2016, being supported by referees who belong to the Federation of Chile Touch.

Schools: It is practiced in several schools where rugby is played.
Schools: It is practiced in several schools where rugby is played.

Touch is also developing in regions outside of Santiago like Rancagua and Paine.
Touch is also developing in regions outside of Santiago like Rancagua and Paine.

Chile participates in the following international tournaments:
Chile participates in the following international tournaments:

Torneo Trasandino: This tournament has been held since 2014 in the cities of Cordoba, Mendoza and Santiago (three tournaments a year), with the participation of teams from the cities mentioned, plus Rancagua and Paine.
Torneo Trasandino: This tournament has been held since 2014 in the cities of Cordoba, Mendoza and Santiago (three tournaments a year), with the participation of teams from the cities mentioned, plus Rancagua and Paine.

USA Touch Nationals & International Club Open. This league is held annually in the United States, with the participation of several states of that nation plus other countries like Chile, which is attending since 2012.
USA Touch Nationals & International Club Open. This league is held annually in the United States, with the participation of several states of that nation plus other countries like Chile, which is attending since 2012.

Touch World Cup. The last edition was 2015 in Australia. Chile participated for the first time, achieving an outstanding participation: Bronze group winners and ranked No. 13 of the FIT Open Mixed Division.
Touch World Cup. The last edition was 2015 in Australia. Chile participated for the first time, achieving an outstanding participation: Bronze group winners and ranked No. 13 of the FIT Open Mixed Division.


===England===
===England===
{{main|England Touch Association}}
{{main|England Touch Association}}
An England Touch Association was formed in 1995 and had over 65 member clubs and 1,000 individual members by the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandtouch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ETA-Annual-Report-2016-ONLINE-FINAL.pdf |title=Annual Report: Chief Executive's report |date=October 2016 |page=6 |access-date=9 February 2018}}</ref>
The England Touch Association (ETA) was formed in 1995 and by the end of 2021 had grown to 106 member clubs and over 2,000 individual members.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://englandtouch.org.uk/media/2055/et_annual-review-2022_10.pdf |title=Annual Report: England Touch Annual Review 2021 |date=March 2022 |page=10 |access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref> The ETA oversees both elite and development National Touch Series events in the summer for single-gender and mixed teams. In addition, the annual Touch Nationals provides competition for representative regional sides in open, juniors, seniors and masters divisions. All ETA tournaments are live-streamed on [[YouTube]]. The ETA's national high performance programme includes six England men's squads, four women's squads and two mixed squads.


===France===
===France===
{{Main|Touch France}}
{{Main|Touch France}}
Touch France is the national association in charge of the development of the Touch in France. The French Men's Over 30s is the first French team to win an international competition by winning the 2012 Euros in Treviso. In the very same category, France Men's Over 30s won a bronze medal in [[Putrajaya]], Malaysia in the 9th [[Touch Football World Cup]].
Touch France is the national association in charge of the development of the Touch in [[France]]. The French Men's Over 30s is the first French team to win an international competition by winning the 2012 Euros in Treviso. In the very same category, France Men's Over 30s won a bronze medal in [[Putrajaya]], Malaysia in the 9th [[Touch Football World Cup]].


===Germany===
===Germany===
Touch is played in Germany since 2003 by round about 500 active players. In 2005 the official national governing body ''Touch Deutschland Sportverein'' (TDSV) was founded, which is a full member of the FIT and has sent teams to the European Cup and World Championships. Clubs now exist in [[Berlin]], Bonn, [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], [[Freiburg im Breisgau|Freiburg]], [[Gießen]], Hamburg, [[Heidelberg]], [[Cologne]] (Köln), [[Leipzig]], Munich, [[Osnabrück]], [[Paderborn]] and [[Rüthen]]. The German Championships are held every year since 2005. Record title holder is the club from Munich.
Touch is played in [[Germany]] since 2003 by round about 500 active players. In 2005, the official national governing body ''Touch Deutschland Sportverein'' (TDSV) was founded, which is a full member of the FIT and has sent teams to the European Cup and World Championships. Clubs now exist in [[Berlin]], Bonn, [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], [[Freiburg im Breisgau|Freiburg]], [[Gießen]], Hamburg, [[Heidelberg]], [[Cologne]] (Köln), [[Leipzig]], Munich, [[Osnabrück]], [[Paderborn]] and [[Rüthen]]. The German Championships are held every year since 2005. Record title holder is the club from Munich.


===Italy===
===Italy===
Touch Rugby Italia (TRI) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in Italy. Currently there are 14 teams affiliated to TRI. TRI send regularly national teams to International Events in Europe
Italia Touch (IT) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in [[Italy]]. Currently there are 23 teams affiliated to IT. It send regularly national teams to International Events in Europe


===Japan===
===Japan===
Japan Touch Association (JTA) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in Japan. In 2016, there are 32 clubs recognized by JTA, while 55 teams played for Tokyo Touch tournament. Assuming the recognition rate is 40%, it is estimated 2000 active players in 110 clubs.
Japan Touch Association (JTA) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in [[Japan]]. In 2016, there are 32 clubs recognized by JTA, while 55 teams played for Tokyo Touch tournament. Assuming the recognition rate is 40%, it is estimated 2000 active players in 110 clubs.


===Malaysia===
===Malaysia===
Touch Malaysia (TM) is the official body for the sport in Malaysia and the Malaysian member of the Federation International Touch (FIT) – the International Federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=14-5002-0-0-0&sID=65476 |title=About Touch Malaysia – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> A number of touch football teams can be found in Malaysia including the Penang Panthers. The Panthers were founded in 2011 by Christopher Woodhams, a Birmingham born philanthropist and educator. Matt Lee, a star player in Australia, helps run the club. Matt took the Asian Club Championships, held in KL in June 2013, by storm and dominated the opposition with his pace and shrewd passing abilities. The Panthers were the best placed Malaysian team at the Asian Club Championship and were the Men's Masters runners up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-5002-0-0-0&sID=65475&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=24023740 |title=Asian Club Championships Wrap Up – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>
Touch Malaysia (TM) is the official body for the sport in [[Malaysia]] and the Malaysian member of the Federation International Touch (FIT) – the International Federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=14-5002-0-0-0&sID=65476 |title=About Touch Malaysia – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> A number of touch football teams can be found in Malaysia including the Penang Panthers. The Panthers were founded in 2011 by Christopher Woodhams, a Birmingham born philanthropist and educator. Matt Lee, a star player in Australia, helps run the club. Matt took the Asian Club Championships, held in KL in June 2013, by storm and dominated the opposition with his pace and shrewd passing abilities. The Panthers were the best placed Malaysian team at the Asian Club Championship and were the Men's Masters runners up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-5002-0-0-0&sID=65475&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=24023740 |title=Asian Club Championships Wrap Up – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>

=== New Zealand ===
{{Main|Touch New Zealand}}

Touch New Zealand<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touch New Zealand |url=https://www.touchnz.co.nz/touchnz |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.touchnz.co.nz}}</ref> is the governing body recognised by the FIT and is charged with developing and grow the game in [[New Zealand]].

Touch in NZ is made up from the 19 provincial regions - [[Northland Rugby Football Union|Te Tai Tokerau]], [[Auckland (National Provincial Championship)|Auckland]], [[North Harbour (National Provincial Championship)|North Harbour]], [[Counties Manukau (National Provincial Championship)|Counties Manukau]], [[Thames Valley Rugby Football Union|Thames Valley]], [[Waikato (National Provincial Championship)|Waikato]], [[King Country Rugby Football Union]], [[Bay of Plenty (National Provincial Championship)|Bay of Plenty]], Hawkes Bay, [[East Coast Rugby Football Union|Tairāwhiti]], Manawatu, [[Taranaki]], [[Whanganui|Wanganui]], [[Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union|Horowhenua-Kapiti]], [[Wellington (National Provincial Championship)|Wellington]], [[Tasman (National Provincial Championship)|Nelson Bays]], [[Christchurch]], [[Otago (National Provincial Championship)|Otago]] and [[Southland (National Provincial Championship)|Southland]]. Touch is one of the country's most popular summer sports.

Just over 100,000 registered module players compete around the country; 3500 of these players represent their respective regions at national events (2023 Opens Nationals, Youth Nationals, Masters Nationals, Secondary Nationals).

New Zealand will be competing in the upcoming 2024 World Cup in Nottingham England sending a contingent of 11 teams

The current CEO of Touch New Zealand is Joe Sprangers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touch New Zealand |url=https://www.touchnz.co.nz/touchnz/about-1/our-people |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.touchnz.co.nz}}</ref>


===Scotland===
===Scotland===
{{Main|Scottish Touch Association}}
{{Main|Scottish Touch Association}}
Touch has been played in Scotland since 1991 in informal leagues in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The sport soon spread to Aberdeen with a well established league forming soon afterwards.
Touch has been played in Scotland since 1991 in informal leagues in [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]]. The sport soon spread to Aberdeen with a well established league forming soon afterwards.


In 2005, the Scottish Touch Association (STA) was formally constituted as the governing body to help develop the sport. By 2007 the association had welcomed new participants from Dundee, Perth and Stirling to join existing leagues, held its first formal national championships, trained over 150 [[referees]] and won the tender to host the 2011 World Cup in Edinburgh.
In 2005, the Scottish Touch Association (STA) was formally constituted as the governing body to help develop the sport. By 2007 the association had welcomed new participants from Dundee, Perth and Stirling to join existing leagues, held its first formal national championships, trained over 150 [[referees]] and won the tender to host the 2011 World Cup in Edinburgh.
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===Switzerland===
===Switzerland===
Touch Switzerland (TS) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of Touch in Switzerland. Switzerland has competed in all European Championships since 2006 and in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup. Switzerland sends teams to contest regular events in other tournaments in Europe. The biggest accomplishment so far is winning the Mainland Cup in Heidelberg in 2009 – coming third in the Women's Open and first in the Men's Open divisions. As of 2020, there are TS-affiliated clubs in Baden, Bagnes, Basel, Bern, Egg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zug and Zurich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.touchswitzerland.ch/clubdesk/www?p=1000018|title=Touch Clubs in Switzerland}}</ref>
Touch Switzerland (TS) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of Touch in [[Switzerland]]. Switzerland has competed in all European Championships since 2006 and in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup. Switzerland sends teams to contest regular events in other tournaments in Europe. The biggest accomplishment so far is winning the Mainland Cup in Heidelberg in 2009 – coming third in the Women's Open and first in the Men's Open divisions. As of 2020, there are TS-affiliated clubs in Baden, Bagnes, Basel, Bern, Egg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zug and Zurich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.touchswitzerland.ch/clubdesk/www?p=1000018|title=Touch Clubs in Switzerland}}</ref>


===United States===
===United States===
There are touch communities in [[Fort Lauderdale, FL]], Orlando, FL, [[Portland, OR]], [[Phoenix, AZ]], Los Angeles, San Francisco, California, Washington, DC, New York City, [[Chicago, IL]], [[Houston, TX]], [[Dallas, TX]], San Diego, California, [[West Palm Beach, FL]], [[Boston, MA]], and [[Sandy, UT]]. The current President of United States Federation of Touch is OJ Hawea.
There are touch communities in [[Fort Lauderdale, Floria]], [[Orlando, Floria]], [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], [[Portland, Oregon]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]], [[Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York City]], [[Chicago]], [[Houston]], [[Dallas]], [[San Diego]], [[Boston]], and [[Sandy, Utah]]. The current President of United States Federation of Touch is OJ Hawea.


===Thailand===
===Thailand===
Touch is played regularly in various parts of Thailand, mostly by expats, many of whom are teachers living in Thailand. Touch is particularly popular in Phuket and Bangkok, and is also popular with Thai locals who are gaining an interest in rugby yearly.
Touch is played regularly in various parts of Thailand, mostly by expats, many of whom are teachers living in [[Thailand]]. Touch is particularly popular in Phuket and Bangkok, and is also popular with Thai locals who are gaining an interest in rugby yearly.


==See also==
==See also==
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|access-date= 2 November 2015
|access-date= 2 November 2015
|url= http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3575-0-0-0&a=COMPS
|url= http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3575-0-0-0&a=COMPS
|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6cj0Qnlah?url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3575-0-0-0&a=COMPS
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080250/http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3575-0-0-0&a=COMPS
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|archive-date= 1 November 2015}}
|archive-date= 4 March 2016}}
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|date= 7 July 2015
|date= 7 July 2015
|title= 2015 Pacific Games
|title= 2015 Pacific Games
|website= Federation of Intrenational Touch
|website= Federation of International Touch
|access-date= 2 November 2015
|access-date= 2 November 2015
|url= http://www.internationaltouch.org/news/2015/jul/7/2015-pacific-games/
|url= http://www.internationaltouch.org/news/2015/jul/7/2015-pacific-games/
|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6cixefzr6?url=http://www.internationaltouch.org/news/2015/jul/7/2015-pacific-games/
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150715231429/http://www.internationaltouch.org/news/2015/jul/7/2015-pacific-games/
|url-status= live
|archive-date= 1 November 2015}}
|archive-date= 15 July 2015}}
</ref>
</ref>
}}
}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.international-touch.org/ Federation of International Touch Website]
* [https://www.internationaltouch.org/ Federation of International Touch Website]
* [https://touchfootball.com.au/volunteer/8th-edition-rules/ FIT Playing Rules]
* [http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=14-4863-0-0-0&sID=64321&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=5215330&sectionID=64321 FIT Playing Rules]


{{Football codes}}
{{Football codes}}

Revision as of 18:23, 17 September 2024

This article is about the formal competitive sport. For a general article on touch games, see Touch. For other types, see Touch football (disambiguation).

Touch (also known as touch football or touch rugby) is a variant of rugby league that is conducted under the direction of the Federation of International Touch (FIT). Though it shares similarities and history with rugby league, it is recognised as a sport in its own right due to its differences which have been developed over the sport's lifetime.

Touch is a variation of rugby league with the tackling of opposing players replaced by a touch. As touches must be made with minimal force, touch is therefore considered a limited-contact sport. The original basic rules of touch were established in the 1960s by members of the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club in Sydney, Australia.[1]

Distinctive features of touch include the ease of learning it, minimal equipment requirements, ability to play it without fear of major injury, and the regularity of males and females playing together, and as such it is often played either as alternative to or as a soft introduction to full-blown rugby football. While it is generally played with two teams of six on-field players, some social competitions allow a different number of players per team on the field. It is played by both sexes, and in age divisions from primary school children to over-60s. The mixed version of the sport (where both male and female players are on the field at the same time) is particularly popular with social players but is also played at an International representative level.

History

Origins

See also: Rugby league

While it is often claimed that Touch started in Australia in 1963 as a social or "park" game and as a training technique for rugby league, at least as early as 1956, supervised "touch and pass" was already being played at several inner city schools in the North of England, where asphalt playgrounds made normal rugby league too dangerous. Although the rules were set out by the schools' sports teachers, it was not then viewed as a sport in its own right.

Touch was formalised into a sport proper by the "Founders of Touch", Bob Dyke and Ray Vawdon of the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club. On 13 July 1968 an organisation known as the South Sydney Touch Football Club was formed and the sport of Touch Football was officially born. The first official Touch match was played in late 1968 and the first official competition, organised by Dyke & Vawdon, was held at Rowland Park Sydney in 1968.

From its formal inception in 1968, the game quickly became a fully regulated and codified sport in Australia. Originally played under lightly modified rugby league laws to remove hard physical contact, the sport has since evolved under its own specific rules now quite varied from its rugby league roots. The reduction of field size to half that of a rugby league field in particular aided the sports rapid growth across Australian rugby league stronghold areas as it allowed greater participating in the same geographic footprint.[1]

The sport was first played in Brisbane, Australia in 1972 and by 1973 there were representative matches between sides representing the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales.[2] It had spread to New Zealand by 1975 and in 1978 the first national body, the Australian Touch Football Association (ATFA), now Touch Football Australia (TFA) was formed.[1] The sports first national representative event, the Australian National Championships, was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland in 1980.

The ATFA dropped the word "Football" from its name in 1981, becoming the Australian Touch Association or ATA and thereby changing the sports name to simply Touch. In the same year, the ATA published the sports first formal set of playing rules.[1]

The first international match was played between Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne in 1985, leading to the creation of the Federation of International Touch and the formulation of the sports first set of global rules based on the playing rules in use by the ATA at the time.[3][4][1]

Rules and equipment

Rules

The current rules are based on the 8th Edition published by the Australian governing body, Touch Football Australia, in 2020. The updated rules were subsequently adopted by FIT as the FIT 5th Edition Playing Rules. The rules include a section of touch-specific terms and phrases, many of which are shared with rugby league (e.g. offside, intercept, try).

Playing field

Touch is played on a grass, rectangular field measuring 70 x 50 metres (i.e. slightly larger than one half of a rugby league field). As kicking is not allowed, goal posts are not required. At all.

Ball

Touch balls are oval and slightly smaller than rugby league balls. The official size is 36 cm long and 55 cm in circumference, also sometimes known as rugby size 4.

Clothing

Players typically wear light clothing such as singlets, T-shirts or polo shirts and shorts. All shirts must be numbered. Women generally wear lycra bike shorts, athletic briefs or swimsuit-style lycra bodysuits. Head caps or visors are also commonly worn on the touch field by players and officials.

Footwear

Players normally wear soft rubber cleated shoes, similar to those used in other grass sports such as cricket and field hockey. Screw-in cleats are strictly prohibited, though moulded-sole football boots may be worn.

Referee

Main article: Touch match officials

Touch must have at least one referee to manage a match but most major matches feature a team of three referees alternating between a controlling referee and two sideline referees throughout the match.

Positions

Teams are generally split into three positions: two "wings" (the players on either edge of the field i.e. 'right wing' and 'left wing'); two "middles" (the central players); and two "links" (the players between the wings and middles, one on each side of the field i.e. 'right link' and 'left link').[5]

Half

The half (formerly known as the acting half or dummy half) is subject to a number of restrictions that do not apply to other players:

  • If the half is touched with the ball, the attacking team loses possession.
  • The half cannot score a try. Attempting to do so (even grounding the ball not purposefully) results in a change of possession.

These restrictions do not apply to a Half who passes the ball to a teammate (or indeed opposition player) and then receives it back.

At a rollball, if the Half takes too long to retrieve the ball, or is further than 1m away from the position of the rollball, defenders are allowed to move forward before the Half has touched the ball.

Mode of play

The ball can be passed or knocked (but not kicked) sideways or backwards between teammates (known as Attackers), who attempt to evade opposition players (known as Defenders) to score a Try.

Possession

A team normally retains possession for a set of six consecutive touches (as in rugby league), after which possession transfers to the opposing team. This is known as a Change of Possession. This can occur after six touches are completed, if the ball is dropped by the attacking team, or if the attacking team is penalised by the referee for infringing the playing rules.

Scoring

A Try (formerly Touchdown) is awarded when an attacking player, who is not the Half places the ball on or over the opposition's try line. Each Try is worth one point, though some mixed social competitions award female players two points in order to encourage ball sharing.

Interchanges

  • Players may interchange an unlimited number of times throughout the match provided the team does not exceed the maximum number of on-field players allowed, which is usually six under standard FIT rules.
  • The match remains continuous and does not stop to allow interchanges.
  • Players coming onto the field must wait until the player they are interchanging with has left the field and entered the designated Interchange Area. Failing to do so can result in the referee awarding a penalty for an incorrect interchange.
  • Players in a team who are not on the field must remain inside their allocated Interchange Area (sometimes called substitution box) until they enter the field.

Composition of teams

  • Teams can consist of all male players (Men's and Boys competitions), all female players (Women's or Girls competitions), or a combination of both (Mixed competitions).
  • Under standard FIT rules, each team can consist of up to 14 players, of which up to six players can be on the field at any one time.
  • Mixed teams typically comprise three females and three males on the field at one time. Under standard FIT rules, there must be at least one male and one female, and no more than three males on the field at any time.

Match duration

The standard match duration is 40 minutes (two x 20-minute halves) with a 5-minute halftime, though other time frames are often used to suit local conditions and competitions.

World Rugby

World Rugby, the international governing body of the rules of rugby union, published in November 2010 a draft of leisure rules of Touch Rugby IRB for developmental purposes. Those Laws were adapted from the FIT playing rules for the sport of Touch.

The document states: "Council agreed that these Leisure Rugby Laws are issued as a guide for developmental purposes and Unions are not bound to apply the Laws" and "IRB Leisure Rugby Laws have been designed so that Unions may develop non-Contact Rugby. These Laws have been produced so that there are some guidelines and principles in place for IRB Leisure Rugby. Unions having jurisdiction over their developmental processes, matches, competitions and festivals may need to vary these Laws as deemed appropriate. This allows domestic Rugby clubs to adapt to the FIT playing rules, provided domestic Touch Associations are in agreeance."

The leisure rugby laws released by World Rugby are not supported or recognised by the Federation of International Touch.

International competitions

World Cup

Main article: Touch Football World Cup

The inaugural Touch World Cup was held on the Gold Coast, Australia in 1988. Since then, the event has been hosted in Auckland, New Zealand (1991), Waikiki Beach, Hawaii (1995), Sydney, Australia (1999), Kamagaya, Japan (2003), Stellenbosch, South Africa (2007), Edinburgh, Scotland (2011), Coffs Harbour, Australia (2015), and Putrajaya, Malaysia (2019) .[6]

The most recent world cup was held in Nottingham, England from July 15th - 21st, 2024.[7]

Youth World Cup

FIT conducted the first Youth Touch World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand in January 2001, followed by the second event on the Sunshine Coast, Australia in 2005.[8] A third event was planned for 2009 however did not eventuate due to budget constraints.[9] The Youth Touch World Cup was eventually revived in 2018 and was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia and served as a trial run for the Touch Football World Cup held in the city the following year.

The fourth Youth Touch World Cup was scheduled to be held in Manchester, England in 2021, but was rescheduled to 2023 as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Trans-Tasman Tests

There is a regular program of Test matches between Australia and New Zealand known as Trans-Tasman Tests.[11]

Tests are divided into separate events for each age category, being:

  • Open (Unrestricted)
  • Youth (Under 21)
  • Senior or Masters (Over 30)

Pacific Games

Touch has been played at the Pacific Games since 2003.[12] It is an optional sport for the Pacific Games program[13] and the tournaments include men's, women's and mixed competitions.[14][15]

European Championships

The Federation of International Touch (FIT) conducts the European Touch Championships, affectionately known as "The Euros", biannually.

The first Euros took place in 2010 in Bristol, UK with 19 teams contesting men's and women's open divisions. The 2012 Euros in Treviso, Italy introduced mixed touch and seniors and masters divisions.

The sixth and most recent Euros were played in Nottingham from 2-6 August 2022, with 62 teams from 17 countries contesting 10 divisions, including men's 50s for the first time.

Masters Games

Touch is popular sport at various Masters Games events.

World All Schools

The World All Schools event attracts hundreds of teams from schools around the world. It is held every 2 years. In 2006 the event was held in Singapore, prior to that it was held in Brisbane. The 2008 event (held in Brisbane after the event was cancelled in New Zealand) was by far the largest, hosting over 250 teams.

Touch worldwide

Australia

Main article: Touch Football Australia

Touch is played in every Australian state and territory, and is particularly popular in the rugby league and rugby union strongholds of Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT. There are currently over 700,000 registered Touch players, 500,000 school children, and up to 100,000 casual players playing the sport.[16] The peak governing body was formed in 1978 as the Australian Touch Football Association. In 1981 the word "football" was dropped from the name and the organisation became the Australian Touch Association. After a restructure and merger of the national body with the state-level governing bodies (except the Queensland and New South Wales associations) in 2004, the word "football" was re-incorporated into the organisations new name - Touch Football Australia.[17]

From 1997 until 2018, Australia's main domestic competition was the National Touch League (NTL). Thirteen permits, representing all parts of Australia, compete in open-age, under-20 and over-age (Masters) divisions in men's, women's and mixed categories. The permits were originally designed to equalise competition between the traditionally strong Touch states of Queensland and NSW, and the remainder of the country. The Elite 8 series, an additional competition played at the same time as the NTL, was created in 2013 to provide a further elite domestic level to the sport. As a result, the 20 Years & Under division for that year's NTL was removed. The Elite 8 was eventually replaced in 2018 by the NRL Touch Premiership though the NTL continues.

A youth version of the National Touch League, formerly known as the National 18's and now known as the National Youth Championships, is held annually. The original National 18's event included only an 18 Years & Under division but was expanded and renamed in 2013 to accommodate the 20 Years & Under division after it was removed from the NTL as a result of the Elite 8 Series. The 20 Years & Under division reverted back to the NTL in 2014 where it has remained since. The event has simultaneously been held with the National Schools Cup, an event featuring the best school-based teams from each state. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected National Youth Championships was run simultaneously with the Queensland Junior State Championships to expand the event to include 12 Years & Under, 14 Years & Under, and 16 Years & Under, a format which was further expanded in 2021 when entry to those age divisions was opened to teams from outside of Queensland.

The first state of origin series between the stronghold states of Queensland and New South Wales was played in Port Macquarie, New South Wales in 1995 and has been played every two years since. The series originally featured a single Men's and Women's divisions, but was expanded in 1999 to include a Mixed division, and age-restricted divisions.[18]

School Sport Australia conducts an annual National Championships, which includes division for both Primary School (Under 12) and Middle School (Under 15) sides. The location of the event rotates between states each year, and most Australian States and Territories enter Boys and Girls teams in every division.

Touch Football Australia (TFA) and the National Rugby League (NRL) signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2013, bringing the two entities together to form a partnership to develop the sport across both codes. The agreement recognised the similarities between both Touch and Rugby league and that the significant benefits to both through a dual-track pathway.[19] The agreement resulted in the creation of a unified "NRL Touch Football" brand in Australia, which resulted in a major profile and funding boost for the sport within the country, including the signing of a commercial partnership agreement between the two entities and the principle "whole of game sponsor", initially Harvey Norman and later Doordash.

In May 2018, under the NRL Touch Football partnership, the organisation launched the NRL Touch Premiership, a domestic home and away series played as curtain raisers to NRL matches. The initial teams were drawn from the Elite 8 Series and aligned to NRL clubs.[20]

Austria

The Touch Austria Association became an associate member of F.I.T (Federation International Touch) in October 2009 with 3 official member clubs (Touch Rugby Vienna, ACC Touch, Touch Voralberg). 2009 saw the establishment of the Austrian Touch League (ATL) plus the first ever national Touch teams (Mixed and Men's) that competed in the 2009 Mainland Cup. Touch Austria also sends teams to contest regular events in other tournaments in Europe.

Chile

Touch has been played in Chile since 1998 by initiative of foreign residents in the country, where Chilean players and teams were added, giving way to the creation of the official body Touch Rugby Chile.

Currently in Chile, touch is played in different cities:

Santiago: Santiago Touch Rugby league, which brings together 16 teams and played in mixed category.

Senior Touch league: which brings together 7 teams, it is played only by men over 40 years, once a month. The league adopted the official Touch rules in 2016, being supported by referees who belong to the Federation of Chile Touch.

Schools: It is practiced in several schools where rugby is played.

Touch is also developing in regions outside of Santiago like Rancagua and Paine.

Chile participates in the following international tournaments:

Torneo Trasandino: This tournament has been held since 2014 in the cities of Cordoba, Mendoza and Santiago (three tournaments a year), with the participation of teams from the cities mentioned, plus Rancagua and Paine.

USA Touch Nationals & International Club Open. This league is held annually in the United States, with the participation of several states of that nation plus other countries like Chile, which is attending since 2012.

Touch World Cup. The last edition was 2015 in Australia. Chile participated for the first time, achieving an outstanding participation: Bronze group winners and ranked No. 13 of the FIT Open Mixed Division.

England

Main article: England Touch Association

The England Touch Association (ETA) was formed in 1995 and by the end of 2021 had grown to 106 member clubs and over 2,000 individual members.[21] The ETA oversees both elite and development National Touch Series events in the summer for single-gender and mixed teams. In addition, the annual Touch Nationals provides competition for representative regional sides in open, juniors, seniors and masters divisions. All ETA tournaments are live-streamed on YouTube. The ETA's national high performance programme includes six England men's squads, four women's squads and two mixed squads.

France

Main article: Touch France

Touch France is the national association in charge of the development of the Touch in France. The French Men's Over 30s is the first French team to win an international competition by winning the 2012 Euros in Treviso. In the very same category, France Men's Over 30s won a bronze medal in Putrajaya, Malaysia in the 9th Touch Football World Cup.

Germany

Touch is played in Germany since 2003 by round about 500 active players. In 2005, the official national governing body Touch Deutschland Sportverein (TDSV) was founded, which is a full member of the FIT and has sent teams to the European Cup and World Championships. Clubs now exist in Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Gießen, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne (Köln), Leipzig, Munich, Osnabrück, Paderborn and Rüthen. The German Championships are held every year since 2005. Record title holder is the club from Munich.

Italy

Italia Touch (IT) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in Italy. Currently there are 23 teams affiliated to IT. It send regularly national teams to International Events in Europe

Japan

Japan Touch Association (JTA) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of the Touch in Japan. In 2016, there are 32 clubs recognized by JTA, while 55 teams played for Tokyo Touch tournament. Assuming the recognition rate is 40%, it is estimated 2000 active players in 110 clubs.

Malaysia

Touch Malaysia (TM) is the official body for the sport in Malaysia and the Malaysian member of the Federation International Touch (FIT) – the International Federation.[22] A number of touch football teams can be found in Malaysia including the Penang Panthers. The Panthers were founded in 2011 by Christopher Woodhams, a Birmingham born philanthropist and educator. Matt Lee, a star player in Australia, helps run the club. Matt took the Asian Club Championships, held in KL in June 2013, by storm and dominated the opposition with his pace and shrewd passing abilities. The Panthers were the best placed Malaysian team at the Asian Club Championship and were the Men's Masters runners up.[23]

New Zealand

Main article: Touch New Zealand

Touch New Zealand[24] is the governing body recognised by the FIT and is charged with developing and grow the game in New Zealand.

Touch in NZ is made up from the 19 provincial regions - Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau, Thames Valley, Waikato, King Country Rugby Football Union, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Tairāwhiti, Manawatu, Taranaki, Wanganui, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson Bays, Christchurch, Otago and Southland. Touch is one of the country's most popular summer sports.

Just over 100,000 registered module players compete around the country; 3500 of these players represent their respective regions at national events (2023 Opens Nationals, Youth Nationals, Masters Nationals, Secondary Nationals).

New Zealand will be competing in the upcoming 2024 World Cup in Nottingham England sending a contingent of 11 teams

The current CEO of Touch New Zealand is Joe Sprangers[25]

Scotland

Main article: Scottish Touch Association

Touch has been played in Scotland since 1991 in informal leagues in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The sport soon spread to Aberdeen with a well established league forming soon afterwards.

In 2005, the Scottish Touch Association (STA) was formally constituted as the governing body to help develop the sport. By 2007 the association had welcomed new participants from Dundee, Perth and Stirling to join existing leagues, held its first formal national championships, trained over 150 referees and won the tender to host the 2011 World Cup in Edinburgh.

Singapore

Touch Singapore (TSG) is the governing body recognised by FIT for Touch Football. Established in 2017, Touch Singapore hosts two league competitions every year with over 95 teams entering across 12 category divisions. Singapore has won bronze at two Touch World Cups in 2011 & 2015 in the Women's Open category. There are over 5,000 players playing competitively and socially in Singapore with 2,000 registered players in the league competitions. TSG also host the Singapore International Touch Knockout tournament which see clubs from all over Asia competing over a two-day competition.

South Africa

Touch in South Africa is overseen by the [South African Touch Association, and is often known as 'Six Down'. South Africa has had national representation at all Touch World Cups since 1995. There are already over 6,000 registered players in South Africa.[citation needed]

Switzerland

Touch Switzerland (TS) is the official body recognised by FIT for the development of Touch in Switzerland. Switzerland has competed in all European Championships since 2006 and in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup. Switzerland sends teams to contest regular events in other tournaments in Europe. The biggest accomplishment so far is winning the Mainland Cup in Heidelberg in 2009 – coming third in the Women's Open and first in the Men's Open divisions. As of 2020, there are TS-affiliated clubs in Baden, Bagnes, Basel, Bern, Egg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zug and Zurich.[26]

United States

There are touch communities in Fort Lauderdale, Floria, Orlando, Floria, West Palm Beach, Florida, Portland, Oregon, Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Boston, and Sandy, Utah. The current President of United States Federation of Touch is OJ Hawea.

Thailand

Touch is played regularly in various parts of Thailand, mostly by expats, many of whom are teachers living in Thailand. Touch is particularly popular in Phuket and Bangkok, and is also popular with Thai locals who are gaining an interest in rugby yearly.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Evolution of Touch – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International". Sportingpulse.com. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. ^ No Cookies | The Courier Mail
  3. ^ "Touch New Zealand - Home". Archived from the original on 3 September 2008.
  4. ^ "Touch Football Australia: Home". Austouch.com.au. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. ^ Touch Positions – Touchdump
  6. ^ "World Cup – Federation of International Touch".
  7. ^ "Federation of International Touch -". www.internationaltouch.org. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Federation of International Touch - - Youth World Cup". www.internationaltouch.org. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  9. ^ "History - FIT Touch Malaysia". GameDay. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  10. ^ "FIT and England announce the 2021 Youth World Cup will be deferred". www.internationaltouch.org. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Trans Tasman Test History – Federation of International Touch – SportingPulse International". Sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  12. ^ "2003 South Pacific Games – Touch Rugby: Day 2 action and results". Sports Pulse. 8 July 2003. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  13. ^ Charter – Constitution, Code of Conduct, Protocols, and Regulations adopted Apia, Samoa 14 May 2006 – As amended most recently in Noumea, New Caledonia, 27 August 2010 (Report). Pacific Games Council. 2010. p. 15.
  14. ^ "2015 Pacific Games". Federation of International Touch. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  15. ^ "2007 South Pacific Games – Touch". Sports Pulse. 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Touch Football Australia". Mytouchfooty.com. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Touch Football Australia". Touch Almanac. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  19. ^ Andrew Webster (8 August 2013). "Midas touch: merger tees up golden future for the game". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  20. ^ "NRL announces historic Touch football premiership competition". National Rugby League. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Annual Report: England Touch Annual Review 2021" (PDF). March 2022. p. 10. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  22. ^ "About Touch Malaysia – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International". Sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Asian Club Championships Wrap Up – Touch Malaysia – SportingPulse International". Sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Touch New Zealand". www.touchnz.co.nz. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Touch New Zealand". www.touchnz.co.nz. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Touch Clubs in Switzerland".
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