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A beginner’s field guide · Hua Hin Harlequins

YOUR
FIRST GAME.

The rules and calls you need to start playing touch.

01 / The essentials

How the game works.

  1. Six touches

    Your team normally has six touches. After the sixth touch, the other team takes possession and restarts with a rollball.

  2. A gentle touch

    Use only the minimum force needed to make a touch. Contact with the ball, body, hair or clothing counts. Either the ball carrier or defender can initiate it.

  3. Touch. Stop. Rollball.

    At the correct mark, face the other team’s try line, place the ball under control on the ground between your feet and step over it. A teammate behind you picks it up as the half.

  4. Retreat. Then reconnect.

    Defenders retreat seven metres, or to their own try line if it is nearer. Once onside, they normally wait until the half touches the ball before advancing.

  5. Pass sideways or back

    Run forward with the ball, but send your pass sideways or backwards. A forward pass gives the other team a penalty.

  6. Ground it for a try

    Ground the ball under control on or beyond the other team’s try line before being touched. A try is worth one point. The half cannot score.

What if no half is at the rollball?

If no half is within one metre of the rollball, onside defenders can advance as soon as the player performing it releases the ball. Listen to the referee’s call.

FIT rule 13.12.1 (PDF)

A short guide based on FIT’s fifth edition. For the full rules and exceptions, see the Federation of International Touch.

02 / Pitch-side words

HEAR THE CALL.
KNOW YOUR ROLE.

Calls you’ll hear from your teammates.

Open the full glossary
Dummy half

The player who picks up after a rollball. The half may pass or run, but cannot score and loses possession if touched while carrying the ball.

In the glossary
Mark

The position where the ball carrier was when touched. The rollball must be performed at the correct mark.

In the glossary
Basic drive

Carry straight, make a clean touch and rollball, then reload the next runner and half without losing forward momentum.

Open the lesson
Scoop

The half picks up and accelerates through a slow or offside defender, then passes backward to support before being touched.

Open the lesson
Switch

The carrier draws the defence one way while a second runner crosses behind and attacks back against its momentum.

Open the lesson
MINE

The defender who will make the touch calls MINE so a teammate does not commit to the same touch.

In the glossary
BALL

The lead onside defender calls BALL to identify who will pressure the half and ball first.

In the glossary

03 / Your first run

YOU DON’T NEED
TO KNOW IT ALL.

Tell us you’re new and we’ll help you on the pitch. See Come & Play for times and where to join us.

See times & locationSay hello to the club

Your first lesson

Basic drive.

Watch the straight carry, the touch, the rollball and the next player arriving.

Open the first lesson