Summer Touch 2011
John Charles Centre for Sport
Social and competitive leagues
Mondays 6pm - 10pm
female and male players 16 yrs +
all abilities welcome
Start night – 23
rd
May
Finals night 5
th
September
£25 per team per night
£3.00 per turn up and play player
Maximum 10 players per squad
Games on the main stadium pitch
Parking, changing rooms, bar facilities
For a registration form contact:
Rugby League Development Officer
Tel: 0113 3950163
Fax: 0113 3950200
Email: andrew.g.wilson@leeds.gov.uk

What is Touchrugby

The origins of touchrugby can be traced back to Australia in the 1960's where it was used as a warm up game for both rugby codes. The simplicity of this game is unique; all you need is a rugby ball, a space to play and a group of friends.

Touchrugby is a fast moving minimal contact evasive game that is played throughout the world by men and women of all ages and skill levels.

The game is similar to rugby but without the tackling, scrumming, rucking, mauling, lineouts and kicking.

This fast, simple and exciting game promotes the fundamental skills of running, handling, evasion and support play, whilst developing basis principles of attack and defence, without the fear of getting hurt.

Why Touchrugby

Flexibility:
Touchrugby is suitable for both beginners and experienced players. You can play in either men's, women's or mixed divisions.

Touchrugby is a minimal contact recreational sport that is about playing the game on the field and also the social atmosphere afterwards.

Touchrugby is a fun game for the local park or even the beach, it is easy to learn and a great way to get in shape

Touchrugby can also be used for simple dodging, chasing and warm-up activities.

Understanding the game

Object of the Game
The object of the game is for each team to score touchdowns and to prevent the opposition from scoring

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 the touch.

Start of Game:
The team that wins the coin toss chooses the direction of play and must start with a tap from the middle of the field.

The defending team must be back 10 meters for the start of play and after each touchdown.

Duration of Game:
Duration of the game can be varied to suit your local circumstances. But as a guide try 2x 10-minute halves

Size of the Field:
Size of the field can vary but the game will generally be played on half a rugby field (playing across the field). Posts are not required to play Touchrugby.

Number of Players:
Teams can consist of up to a maximum of 14 players, 6 on the field at anyone time.

It is suggested that teams of between 8 and 10 helps to encourage maximum involvement and activity.

Method of Scoring: A touchdown is awarded when an attacking player places the ball on the ground, on or over the defending team’s scoreline. A touchdown is worth 1 point.

The person who takes the role of dummy half can cross the try-line but not score.

After a team scores, the play begins again with a tap in the middle of the field by the non scoring team.

The Basics

The Touch:
Players of both defending and attacking teams are to use the minimum force necessary to affect the touch. A touch can be made on any part of the person, their clothing or the ball.

the mark where the touch occurred if the mark has been over-run, and perform a Roll ball without delay.

After being touched 6 times the ball is handed over to the other side.

If a touch is considered to be too strong a penalty will be awarded against the offending team.

The dummy half (the person who receives the ball from the player starting the game) is not allowed to be caught while in possession of the ball. If the dummy half is caught with the ball, possession is handed over to the opposition who will recommence play with a Roll ball

Touch Roll ball

The Roll ball:
The Roll ball is affected by the attacking player positioning on the mark, facing the defenders scoreline, standing parallel to the sidelines, and rolling the ball backwards along the ground between their feet. If the ball is rolled more than 1 meter a penalty will be awarded to the opposition.

Voluntary Roll ball is when the player is not touched and rolls the ball between their legs, this is not allowed and will result in a penalty to the opposition.

The Penalty:
If someone is penalised there team must retreat 10 meters.

A penalty is taken by placing the ball on the ground, letting go of the ball, touching the ball with your foot and picking up the ball.

Passing:
A forward Pass is when the ball is passed in front of the player who possessed the ball. In this situation the ruling will be a penalty. A Touch and Pass is when the person who is touched then passes the ball. Again the ruling will be a penalty

Passing

Offside
An attacking player is offside when that player is forward of another attacking player who has possession or who last had possession of the ball.

A defending player is offside when that player has not retreated the required 5 meters (Roll ball) or 10 meters (Penalty and restart of play after touchdowns) at recommencement of play.

For all offside incidents the opposition will be awarded a penalty

General Rules

General
Over Stepping or Off the Mark occurs when the player who has been touched goes past the point where they were touched. In this case a penalty will be awarded to the opposition

When the ball goes to ground for any reason, possession changes and the game is recommenced with a Roll ball.

Shepherding or obstruction will result in a penalty being awarded to the opposition

Deviation happens at recommencement of play when a defender does not retreat straight back 5 meters to an on-side position and thereby obstructs the attacking player. This will result in a penalty being awarded to the opposition.

For minor offences i.e. bickering with refs, shouldering, leg trips etc… the player can be sin binned for five minutes without replacement.

Foul play of any nature (the referee being the sole judge) will result in the offending player being sent from the field without replacement.

General Principles of Play

Go Forward:
In Attack: The aim of the game is to score more touchdowns than the opposition; this is achieved by advancing towards the try line. At times it can be tactically advantageous to move towards the sideline to enable more room for further attacking plays

In Defence: When defending try to deny your opponents time and space by moving advancement toward your try line they will make.

Support the Ball Carrier at all Times:
Close support of the ball carrier allows more options in attack and means possession can be maintained. Close support also means no ground needs to be lost by having to pass the ball a long way backwards to a team-mate. Remember a pass directly sideways is allowed and can often be the most effective pass

Support Play

Interchange players as much as possible
A fresh set of legs on the field can be the difference between winning and losing. Look to interchange your players while on attack and in the area of the interchange box. Once you have made a touchdown it is good to get a whole new set of players out there to keep up the intensity.

General Information on Touch Rugby

1. I've never played touchrugby before, is it hard to learn?

Touchrugby is very simple to play. 2-3 games will see you master the basic skills and the more you play the better you will become. As long as you are keen to get involved you will develop the skills to enjoy yourself on the field
2. Am I too busy to play touchrugby?

JCCS Summer Touch is played on a Monday evening at John Charles Centre for Sport, if your squad is big enough you may not need to play every week? Games can vary in length from 20 mins to 40 mins depending on the venue.

3. How fit do I have to be to play?

You will be surprised at who plays touchrugby. People of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels play in social and competitive leagues, you chose the level you wish to play. Rolling interchanges are used so you can play for as long as you wish. You will find that over the season your personal fitness levels will increase. Touchrugby is a great way to exercise, improve cardio vascular fitness and help to burn excess fat.

4. What do I need to play?

All you need is gym gear and a pair of trainers. For those of you that want to really get into the game, there are specialist shoes made for touchrugby that can give you that extra grip when you need it. The Tournament Director will supply everything else, however your team may be required to supply your own team shirts if the venue does not.

5. What does it cost to play?

All venues are different, but as a rough guide an evening of touchrugby would cost you no more than other comparable leisure activities like tennis, football 5 – aside, gym training etc… so please check with the Tournament Director at the venue where you wish to play. For 2011 the JCCS Summer Touch will cost £25 a week per team or £3.00 for individual turn up & play players.(only one payment per night so players can play more than one game)
6. How long are the games?

The international standard is 40 mins (2 x 20 mins). This may vary between venues so check with the Tournament Director where you wish to play.

7. How big is the field?

The international standard is 70m x 50m. However, most venues play on a pitch half the size of a rugby field.

8. How many people play in a team?

The international standard is 10 players per team, 6 on the field at any one time. 10 players is a good number to allow for that much needed rest during the game.

9. What is the male/female ratio in a Mixed Team?

The international standard is a minimum of 3 women and a maximum of 3 men on the field. This may vary between venues so check with the Tournament Director where you wish to play. For the 2011 JCCS Summer Touch there is no requirement for mixed teams as leagues will be based on ability.

10. I don't have a team but would like to play, what do I do?

Some venues will make up teams from individuals like yourself, and then once that team has filled will enter it as a team, so check with the Tournament Director where you wish to play. Another way is to turn up on the night and play in a number of the “Turn up & Play” teams.

11. How does the competition/ league work?

All venues are different; but generally you can expect to play in a league where you will play all the other league teams and then play off at the finals night. In the 2011 JCCS Summer Touch programme there will be leagues set up based on ability.