Touch Rugby
Touch rugby (also known as "touch football" or just "touch") is a superfast derivative of rugby in which players do not tackle in the traditional highly physical way, but instead substitute any light contact. Touches can be made on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball. In addition, the rules of rugby are simplified, removing elements such as scrums, rucks, mauls, lineouts and kicks.
Touch rugby is often played informally, rather like a pick-up soccer game might be played, since as a light contact sport there is no need for strict third-party refereeing.
A common time for it to be played is as an end of training session on the day before an important rugby game, to reduce to a minimum the chances of an accidental injury. Schools have also used touch rugby as part of their curriculum to avoid the inevitable injuries that can stem from the full-contact rugby game.
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Advantages
Touch football has a number of advantages over the traditional game, including the ease of learning and the ability to play it without fear of injury. As a result it is a popular social game; mixed-gender and women-only games are also played.
Touch helps to develop essential skills and fitness for use both in rugby and other sports. Schools have used touch rugby as part of their curriculum to avoid the inevitable injuries that can stem from full contact rugby.
Touch rugby also scores in the lack of required equipment. As kicking is not part of touch, posts are not required, and the game can be played with minimal facilities (a ball and a rectangular playing area). In South Africa, social games are usually played barefoot. Beach touch is also popular.
The game can potentially be adapted for those who are disabled or use wheelchairs as shown on http://www.geocities.com/treloarsport.
Variations
The game is not fully codified, so when strangers wish to play together they have to revert to the early days of rugby and agree on the rules before they start. Often the game played by training rugby union players will be based on modified rules of Rugby Sevens or touch rugby league. One common variation is that a fair touch must be below the waist.
Until 2003/2004 the RFU in its junior development program called The Three Stages of the Rugby Continuum encouraged the playing of Non-contact/touch rugby in its under-eights competition, although in future it will promote Mini Tag instead.
The Australian Touch Association has a comprehensive set of rules - currently up to Edition 7. The rulebook also has a list of possible variations and interpretations, such as varying the number of players on the field.
Federation of International Touch
- Main article Federation of International Touch
The Federation of International Touch (FIT) was formed at a meeting held in conjunction with the Australian National championships that were held in Melbourne in 1985.
See also
External links
- Federation of International Touch (FIT)
- Australian Touch Association
- Touch Deutschland (German Touch Association)
- Touch München (Munich Touch Association)
- England Touchrugby
- RFU: The Rugby Continuum For Season 2002/03
- All Touch Rugby (ATR)