Play Touch Football

Like so many sports and team spots in particular, touch football or simply touch began as a social activity. Its origins can be traced back to Australia in the 1920s and the game today has roots in both rugby and rugby league. And what started as a social activity simply grew so that today it is played in many countries and is even taken very seriously with a World Cup of touch football. And like its beginnings, it is still popular with people wanting a good social activity which helps you stay fit.

Touch football is technically a contact sport although in a very limited way because the tackling which can be full on in the rugby codes is replaced by a touch; hence the name.

 

How it is played

The terms and rules found in the rugby codes are also found in touch football with a few exceptions. There are no goals as such and a touchdown is the only way a team can score. A touchdown is worth one point and the winning team is obviously the one with most number of touchdowns or points.

A player runs with the ball and when touched must place the ball on the ground and roll it backwards from whence it is picked up by a player on the same team. When the player with the ball is tackled i.e. touched, the referee announces the touch and counts. After six touches the ball is handed back to the opposition. Once a player is touched, the opposition must retreat at least five metres. If they fail to do so, the referee can award a penalty.

The opposition can take possession after a touchdown, from an intercept, from a turnover after six touches or when the referee so determines. The rules about forward passes, losing control of the ball and offside and onside which apply in the rugby codes apply also in touch football.

 

The game has spread

So serious are people about the game of touch football that there are now some forty nations in which the game is played and there are keen competitions within countries with international fixtures and World Cup of touch football.

In the United States touch football is a variation of their form of rugby called gridiron. A touchdown equals six points and the game can require a touch to be with one hand or with both hands. The rules are decided upon before the game begins. Again the principle being that this is a non-contact or slight contact version of regular football.

For social events, for fun, for friendly games, you decide on the rules between yourselves and then dive right in. For serious competitive games the rules are set out for all to see and the referee is the judge and oversees each game.

Touch football is popular because almost nobody gets hurt. Puffed and maybe a little embarrassed but that’s about it. If your school, college, workplace or social group would like some fun exercise then touch football could be just the game for you.