Object. The object of the game of Touch is for each team to score touchdowns and to prevent the opposition from scoring.
Mode of Play. The ball may be passed, knocked or handed between onside 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. Defending players prevent the attacking team from gaining a territorial advantage by touching the ball carrier, either defending or attacking players may initiate touches upon which, play stops and is restated with a Rollball, unless other rules apply.
Duration. The match is fourth five (45) minutes duration, consisting of two (2) twenty (20) minute halves. There is a five (5) minute halftime break. The duration may only be extended for exceptional circumstances.
End of Play. When time expires play is to continue until the ball next becomes dead. Should a penalty be awarded during this period, the penalty is to be taken.
Scoring. A touchdown is awarded when a player (without being touched and other than the half) places the ball on the ground on or over the team's attacking scoreline and within the boundaries of the Touchdown Zone. A touchdown is worth one (1) point.
The Winner. The team who at the end of play has scored the most touchdowns is declared the winner. In the event of neither team scoring, or in the event of both teams scoring the same number of touchdowns, a draw is declared.
Competition Points. Points are awarded in competition matches as follows:
WIN - 3 POINTS
BYE - 3 POINTS
DRAW - 2 POINTS
LOSS - 1 POINT
FORFEIT - 0 POINTS
Extra Time for Drawn Matches. The following procedure will be utilised to establish a single winner.
When the match is drawn at the expiration of full time, the referee will wait until the ball is dead, halt play, then signal to each team to reduce their playing strength by one player. Teams do not have a break or leave the field instead they immediately take up a position as for the restart of play continuing to play in the same direction.
As soon as each team removes a player, the game continues with a tap from the centre of the halfway line by the team who won the toss at the commencement of the game. Substitutions of players is permitted at any time as per the normal interchange rules.
At the conclusion of two minutes of extra time, a hooter is sounded and the referee will stop play at the next touch or dead ball. Each team will drop off one player thus reducing their on field strength to four (4) players.
Play will recommence immediately after the players have left the field at the same point in the play where it was halted; (i.e. the team retaining possession at the designated number of touches, or a change of possession due to some infringement or it being the sixth touch).
The clock does not stop when the hooter sounds at the two minute intervals, as there is no time off during the Drop Off.
At each subsequent two minute period a signal for another player to drop off, will be sounded.
Once the teams have been reduced to only three players each, no further drop off of players will occur, and the match will continue until a touchdown is scored. Should a player be sent off for the remainder of the match when teams have only three players each, the offending team will forfeit, and lose the match.
During the Drop Off, before a winner can be declared, both teams must have had possession. If a team scores before their opponents have had possession, the touchdown counts and the match commences as per normal after a touchdown is awarded. Once possession is lost the winner is then confirmed.
The decision on which player will drop off is entirely up to the team management, which is the captain, coach, etc.
A player/team wasting time at a drop off will be penalised at the mark for recommencement of the match.
During the original match, if a player has been sent from the field of play for the remainder of the match, that player cannot participate in extra time.
A team that had a player (or players) dismissed from the field of play for the remainder of the match will commence extra time with a reduced number of players. Thus the team will commence extra time with four (4) players if one (1) player had been sent off and three (3) if two players had been sent off.
At the drop off time, each team will still reduce their playing strength as per the rules, thus ensuring the one team will have the player advantage as per in the match. Once a team reaches only three players, no further drop off of players from either team, will occur. Injured players can be replaced at any time.
Mixed Teams can drop off in any sequence provided Rule 5.2 applies and that there is a minimum on one (1) male and one (1) female player on the field at all times.
Abandoned Matches. If a match is abandoned due to any circumstances, the controlling Association shall decide the result.
If a player places the ball on the ground and releases it short of the scoreline, while attempting to score a touchdown, a touch is counted and the player is required to Rollball to restart play at the position of contact with the ground. However a touchdown results if an untouched player (other than the half) slides the ball along the ground to or beyond the scoreline. If a player does not release the ball from their hands, no touch is counted and the match continues.
A Referee should be aware of players who commit "professional fouls" and should take appropriate action.
The Tournament Director should endeavour to provide official time keepers for all matches. Should time keepers not be appointed, the referee is to act as the sole time keeper and therefore is allowed to wear a watch.
If extra time is to be played the Tournament Director will be responsible for the timing of the two minute Intervals.
What is the definition of possession with specific reference to a team having possession in the drop off.
Possession is where a team has control of the ball to the extent they are in a position to score a touchdown if no defending players were on the field.
A player in possession while attempting to score a touchdown places the ball on the ground (and releases it) short of the scoreline.
The player retains possession and a touch is counted. Ball to be brought back into play with a Rollball. The player would lose possession only if it was the sixth touch or the player was half. Rule 4; Player Note A.
Referee Note A uses the term 'appropriate action'. How is this defined?
Caution on the run;
Penalty;
Dismissal for a period of time;
Dismissal for the remainder of the game;
Suggest to the Captain to remove constant offender. - Rule 17; Referee Note D
In Sudden Death Extra Time, when both teams must have possession before a result can be declared, what happens (what is the procedure?) when only one team has had possession and scores a touchdown?
The referee awards the touchdown and play recommences with a tap at the half way mark by the team who was scored against. They have possession for six touches or until they lose possession. If they do not score before they lose possession the other team is declared the winner. - Rule 4.8 (ii).
In Sudden Death Extra Time, when both teams must have possession before a result can be declared, what happens when a team received "six again" and scores a touchdown before their opponents have possession.
The referee awards the touchdown and play recommences with a tap at the half way mark by the team who was scored against. A team is allowed possession until the ball is dead, i.e. lose possession, as in general play. - Rule 4.8 (ii).
In Sudden Death Extra Time, when both teams must have possession before a result can be declared, the team tapping off scores within its first set of touches. The team scored against taps off and an opponent tries to intercept a pass but drops the ball. Is the ball therefore declared "dead" and the game ended?
Yes as the team had possession and subsequently lost it
A team taps off in extra time and scores a touchdown. The other team then taps off and whilst attempting to score has the ball knocked to the ground (either deliberate knocked down or an attempt to intercept). Does this constitute as possession to the defending team and therefore a loss of possession to the attacking team thus ending the game.
Yes as the team had possession and subsequently lost it
In Sudden Death Extra Time, when both teams must have possession before a result can be declared, the team tapping off has a pass intercepted. The player in possession when making a pass has it in turn intercepted resulting in a touchdown being claimed. What happens next?
The Touchdown is awarded and the game concludes as both have had possession. - Rule 4.8 (ii).
In Sudden Death Extra Time, when both teams must have possession before a result can be declared, what happens when both teams score with their first set of six touches and the team that recommences after the scores are level scores from the tap off.
The game is concluded and the team that last scored is declared the winner.
A team taps off in extra time and whilst attempting to score has a defender infringe the rules thus allowing a penalty to be awarded to the attacking team. Does this action negate possession to the defending team for the purpose of declaring a winner if the attacking team with its next set of six touches scores a touchdown.
No. The defending team was never in possession therefore they are allowed to tap off.
In the Drop Off when team numbers comes down to three (3) players only, what happens if the referee sends off a player from one of the teams for the remainder of the game?
The game is abandoned and the non-offending team is declared the winner. - See Rule 5 RN A applies. Three in the Drop Off is the minimum number allowed.
A team with only five players sustains an injury to one of their players and finishes the game with only four players. At the commencement of the Drop Off only four players from that team take the field, the injured player cannot recover. What happens after the first two minute segment has elapsed, does the team with four players have to drop off a player?
The team with four players were "deemed" to have commenced the drop off with five players for the first two minutes; therefore after the two-minute segment they may retain the same number of players as their opponents.
A team with only five players sustains an injury to one of their players and finishes the game with only four players. At the commencement of the Drop Off only four players from that team take the field. If the fifth player sufficiently recovers, can they take the field before the first of the two-minute segments elapses?
The injured player may take the field at any time provided the maximum number allowed for that team is not exceeded. In this case the player may take the field as no player from that team was dismissed for the remainder of the game and therefore both team can have equal numbers.
A team plays the whole game with only five players and at the conclusion of the game the score is drawn. A Drop Off is required to determine a winner. In what order does the team with only five players drop off a player? Do they wait until both teams have five players or do they have to go down to three before both teams have equal numbers?
During the Drop Off the team with six players will drop a player off after the first period of time, while the team with five players will not drop off a player until the second period of time has elapsed.
A team with only five players for the whole game commences the Drop Off to determine the winner. The Rule states the referee will "... then signal to each team to reduce their playing strength by one player to five (5) onfield players..." Does that means the team already with only five players has to reduce their number by one (1).
See Situation 4:13 - the same principle must apply. The team does not have to reduce its playing numbers to commence the Drop Off. You can also see from the Rule itself that playing number at the commencement of the Drop Off (with all other things being equal) is five onfield players.
A team has only five players and has a player sent off for the remainder of the game. The scores are level at full time and a drop off is employed to decide the winner. How is the team affected that are now down to only four players?
The team with only five players will play the drop off with one less player than their opponents, that is, four v five then three v four. At the completion of four minutes extra time the team with three players cannot reduce its number to two. So that the non-offending team is not penalised for the indiscretion of its opponents, the game will continue at three v four until a result is reached.
A team has only five players and has a player sent off for the remainder of the game. The scores are level at full time and a drop off is employed to decide the winner. How is the team affected that are now down to only four players?
The team with only four players will play the drop off with two less players than their opponents, that is, three v five. At the completion of two minutes extra time the team with three players cannot reduce its number to two but their opponents must drop off a player so the situation is three on four. There will be no further drop off of player at this point. So that the non-offending team is not penalised for the indiscretion of its opponents, the game will continue at three v four until a result is reached.
In the wet a player in possession dives for the scoreline and lands about a metre short but his momentum carries him across the scoreline. Would a touchdown be awarded?
Provided the player retained possession of the ball, a touchdown would be awarded. - See Rule 4 PN B. [DD: Should probably be Rule 4 RN B.]