Simplified Rules of Touch

Scoring
A touchdown will be awarded when a player places the ball on or over the scoreline prior to being touched. A touchdown will be worth one point. The Dummy Half is not permitted to score touchdowns.

Substitution Box
Teams may interchange players at any time. Players coming on to the field may not do so until the player being replaced has come off. Substitutions must occur at or within the team’s substitution box.

Possession of the Ball
A change of possession shall occur when:
the ball goes to ground.
the Dummy half is touched while in possession. .
the Dummy half places the ball in the Touchdown zone.
the 6th Touch occurs.
the player in possession steps on or over the boundary of the field of play.
a rollball is performed incorrectly.
a tap is performed incorrectly.
At a change of possession play is restarted with a rollball.

Passing
A player may pass, knock, throw or otherwise deliver the ball to any onside player in the attacking team. Passing forward is NOT permitted.

The Tap
The tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground on the mark, releasing the ball from both hands, tapping the ball with the foot a distance of not more than one metre and retrieving the ball cleanly. Any player from the attacking team may take the tap.

The Penalty
When a player/team is penalised the non offending team shall restart play with a tap. The tap is taken at the mark and the defending team must retire ten metres from the mark until the ball has been tapped.

Play restarts with a tap when the following infringements occur:
Forward Pass
Touch and Pass
Rollball performed off the mark
Performing a rollball prior to a touch being made
Defenders offside at the rollball (5 metres)
Defenders offside at the tap (10 metres)
Deliberately delaying play
More than six players on the field
Incorrect substitution
Falsely claiming a touch
Using more than the minimum force to make a touch
Misconduct

Rollball
A means of restarting play. Players must perform the rollball on the mark while facing their opponent’s defending scoreline and rolling the ball backwards between their legs a distance of not more than one metre. Players must not delay performing the rollball.

The Touch
Players from both teams are permitted to effect the touch. A touch is contact with any part of the body, ball, clothing or hair. A minimum of force is to be used at all times. The team in possession is entitled to 6 touches.

Touch and Pass
A player is not to pass the ball after a touch has been made.

The Dummy Half
The dummy half is the person who picks up the ball after a team-mate has performed a rollball.

Offside/Onside
After a touch has been made all defending players must retire 5 metres from the mark. Defenders cannot move forward until the dummy half has touched the ball.

Sideline
If a player with the ball touches or crosses the sideline s/he is deemed to be out of play and a change of possession occurs. Play restarts with a rollball 5 metres in from where the player went out. If a touch is made before the player goes out, the touch counts.

Obstruction
Players of the attacking team are not to obstruct defending players from attempting to effect a touch. Defending players are not to obstruct/interfere with attacking players supporting the ball carrier.

The Field of Play
The field is 70m long (scoreline to scoreline) and 50m wide. Substitution boxes measuring 20m in length shall be situated on both sides of the field at halfway. The Touchdown zone is the area beyond the scoreline.

Team Composition
A team may consist of up to 14 players. A maximum of six (6) are allowed on the field at any one time. A minimum of four players are required for the match to be played.

The Toss
The captain winning the toss shall receive possession of the ball and a choice of direction and substitution box for the first half. The Referee will supervise the toss.

Duration
The match at Touch New Zealand Tournament level shall be 20 minutes each way with a 3 minute break at half time. Associations may alter the duration of matches to suit their particular requirements.

Extra Time and the Drop Off
When a match is drawn and a single winner is required, extra time is played and teams drop off players every two minutes until down to 3. The first team to score a Touchdown wins the match.

Player Attire
All team members must be correctly attired in team uniforms. Footwear with moulded soles are permitted. Bare feet, spikes and footwear with screw-in studs are not permitted. Players are not to wear any item of jewellery that might be dangerous.

The Referee
TheThe Referee  referee is the sole judge on matters of fact and is required to adjudicate on the rules of the game during play. The referee may impose any sanction necessary to control the match. All officials, players and coaches involved in the match are under the control of the referee.

Foul Play will Not be Tolerated
Any foul play (the referee being the sole judge) will result in the offending player being penalised, sent to the sin bin for a period of time, or being sent from the field for the remainder of the match, depending on the severity of the offence. For acts of abuse being threatening verbal and/or physical toward another member of touch or supporter the referee shall appeal to Module Organisers who can if deemed necesary, stand down or ban a person from playing touch for a period of time or the remaining duration of the season.  For more serious matters individual incidents will be directed toward either the Manawatu Touch Association and/or Police which can result in a ban from participating at all Touch Modules.

Mixed Teams
A mixed team is made up of a ratio of male/female players. The team is not permitted to field more than three male players or not less than one male player at any time. 

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