The Rules…
Matches are seven-a-side on a rectangular pitch with a halfway line and two scoring zones (in-goals). Each team fields seven players; substitutes may rotate on freely or at set intervals as agreed before play.
The game begins with a tap or roll-ball from the halfway line following a referee’s whistle. Possession switches hands when the attacking team is stopped on their sixth touch, fails to advance within the allowed touches, or commits an offence.
A touch replaces tackling: a single touch by a defender (with one hand) stops play and the attacker must perform a roll-ball to restart from where the touch occurred.
After a touch, the attacker executes a roll-ball by placing the ball on the ground and stepping over or rolling it back with the foot to a teammate. The defending team must retreat to an agreed marker (usually half the pitch between the touch and the try line) until the roll-ball is complete.
Each attacking set is limited to six touches. On the sixth touch the attacking team must score, kick (where permitted), or surrender possession via a roll-ball that results in a turnover.
Scoring: a try is awarded when the ball is grounded in the opponent’s in-goal area. Converting kicks are not part of standard touch rules unless specifically introduced for a competition.
Turnovers occur when possession ends because of an infringement, the sixth touch, a knock-on, a forward pass, or an unsuccessful kick (if kicks are permitted). On a turnover, play restarts with a roll-ball at the spot of the infringement or at an agreed restart point.
Offside: defenders must retreat the required distance from the roll-ball (commonly half the pitch between the ball and try line) and not move forward until the ball is played. Players in front of the ball are offside and cannot participate until they return behind the roll-ball.
Intercepted passes are live: if a defender gains possession from a pass, they may run, score or be touched; play follows the normal touch rules from that point.
Ball handling: forward passes, double-hand-offs (passing the ball forward with both hands), and striping the ball from an opponent are not allowed. Knocks-on result in a turnover.
Penalties: infringements such as offside, obstruction, deliberate obstruction of a roll-ball, and repeated infringements result in penalties. The usual sanction is a turnover or a tap/roll-ball restart for the non-offending team at the point of the offence.
Substitutions: rolling substitutions are permitted; substituted players may return to play unless competition rules specify otherwise.
Fair play and safety: dangerous play, aggressive conduct, or persistent fouling will be sanctioned by the referee and may lead to temporary or permanent dismissal from the game.
Timekeeping: matches consist of two halves of agreed duration with a halftime interval. The referee controls time and may stop play for injury; additional time may be added at the referee’s discretion.
Any local variations, league rules or competition-specific regulations agreed before the match take precedence over these general rules.
No obstruction, excessive contact, verbal abuse or foul play will be tolerated – the referee is sole judge. A penalty will be awarded in such cases and players can be removed from the field. Serious or continual foul play of any nature will result in the player being sent off without a replacement
