Event Overview

The 2021 NSW Police & ES Games touch football event is a mixed event, with a maximum of 14 players per team and a maximum of 20 team spots available.

Everyone can play Touch Football (with the NSW Police Games being no exception), that’s why it’s Australia’s largest social sport. As this event is very popular, I recommend registering your team early so you don’t miss out, as there are limited spots available in 2021.

Event Rules

The aim of the game is to score touchdowns by getting through the opponent team’s part of the field and placing the ball down in the touchdown zone.

Teams are made of up to 14 players, with a maximum of six (some local rules allow seven) players on the field at any time with unlimited substitutions. Teams may have a maximum of three (3) and minimum two (2) males on the field at any time. If only two (2) females are available to play, the team must play one player short.

The game lasts 45 minutes, divided into two 20 minutes halves and a five minute half-time break. Depending on the number of teams, the game time may be shortened.

Just before the game, team captains gather with the referee/s for the toss. The winner gets the ball and chooses which direction they want their team to run.

The game starts with a ‘tap’ on the half way line.

Event Description

The rules are quite simple, and even if it’s your first time playing, you will pick up the basics in no time and enjoy the game with your teammates, no matter what everyone’s skill level is.

• Basically, while attacking, you have to run forward and pass the ball backward; that means the ball carrier is up front, with his teammates on the same line or slightly behind them, so they can pass the ball to them.
• Defenders only need to ‘touch’ the ball carrier to stop the attacking team; the rules of the game stipulate that the ‘touch’ has to be made ‘with the minimum force necessary’. It can be done on any part of the body, including the ball or clothing. The ‘touch’ can also be made by the ball carrier on a defensive player.
• After making a ‘touch’, the defending team has to go backward behind an imaginary ‘defensive’ line, approximately five metres away from where the touch has been made; the referee will show you where they expect you to be. The ball carrier has to perform a ‘rollball’, on the exact mark where the ‘touch’ was made. Be careful not to be ‘over the mark’ when performing a roll ball.
• Your team will have six ‘touches’ as your opportunity to score. The sixth ‘touch’, dropping the ball or any infringement to the rules result in a changeover and the attacking team then becomes the defending side.

The rules of the game are easy to understand and suitable for everyone to enjoy Touch Football.

For a complete version of the rules of the game, please follow the link or visit the Rules and Policies section of the TFA website www.austouch.com.au.