WHAT IS TOUCH?

Touch has a history in RUGBY UNION and in RUGBY LEAGUE, with the tackling of opposing players replaced by a touch. Touch is therefore not a contact sport but a limited contact sport. The basic rules of Touch were established in the 1960s.

Distinctive features of Touch include:

- the ease of learning,

- minimal equipment requirements and

- the ability to play it without fear of major injury.

While it is generally played with two teams of six on-field players, some social competitions allow different number of players per team on the field. It is played by both sexes, and in age divisions from primary school children to over-50s European Touch CLICK HERE 

The mixed version of the game (where both male and female players are on the field at the same time) is particularly popular with social players, and it is widely played in schools Kids Touch CLICK HERE

The governing body of Touch is FIT, The Federation of International Touch CLICK HERE which was formed at a meeting held in conjunction with the Australian National championships that were held in melbourne in 1985. Attendees included Ken Wells (ATA) and Acting Chairman, Peter Rooney (ATA) and Acting Secretary, Phil Smith (ATA), Dick Fairbain (ATA), Jeff Denehy (Papua New Guinea ), Kirk Jennings (Fiji), Don Benson (New Zealand), Dan Brown (New Zealand),. The meeting discussed rules, Touch Balls, Technical Programs, Merchandise and Development. 

It was determined that the International Board be formed and that Australia act as the secretariat and bear the costs of running the international body for twelve months.