Why do we ignore Touch?

[bender]

There are quite a few of those who are involved with the fledgling nations who post on here, so i pose the above question mainly to those although others are free to answer/comment.

As a kid, (usually when you play against big kids) the most commonly played form of the game has modified tackle rules. It means that everyone can play against everyone. I am not talking about the mofified touch that is quite common but true touch where the rules are simply rugby league rules with touch instead of tackle (or grab, two handed touch etc depending on the players).

My question is why isnt this form of the game used to help get interest in the full game. There is also nothing that hypes you up more for a game of real rugby than a game of touch. This is also the perfect way to teach locals the rules of the game, which gives them more of an interest in the main games. It would help build clubs rather than teams, because wifes girlfriends and parents can all participate. And it helps build skills for the tackle players, and can be played by players of all sports as the perfect way to stay fit, including not just union players, but there is a ready made market of soccer players wanting to stay fit without much risk of injury. I think it could become huge and really help rugby league grow along with it.

Any thoughts?

 

[BODISGOD]

We used to play touch all the time in warm up sessions and at break time in school. (Union school) I don't think any of the lads realised we were basically playing League minus the tackle.

 

[VictoryFC]

I thought it was used. Look at the most recent figures for sports participation. Its played by quite a lot of people.

 

[RL1908]

There are quite a few of those who are involved with the fledgling nations who post on here, so i pose the above question mainly to those although others are free to answer/comment.

As a kid, (usually when you play against big kids) the most commonly played form of the game has modified tackle rules. It means that everyone can play against everyone. I am not talking about the mofified touch that is quite common but true touch where the rules are simply rugby league rules with touch instead of tackle (or grab, two handed touch etc depending on the players).

My question is why isnt this form of the game used to help get interest in the full game. There is also nothing that hypes you up more for a game of real rugby than a game of touch. This is also the perfect way to teach locals the rules of the game, which gives them more of an interest in the main games. It would help build clubs rather than teams, because wifes girlfriends and parents can all participate. And it helps build skills for the tackle players, and can be played by players of all sports as the perfect way to stay fit, including not just union players, but there is a ready made market of soccer players wanting to stay fit without much risk of injury. I think it could become huge and really help rugby league grow along with it.

Any thoughts?

Stop it. You're talking too much sense for rugby league.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-the-fix-for-junior-slump-20110827-1jfi1.html

 

[Gibbo]

It is bloody strange isn't it.
Every state of Australia is happy to play touch, yet rugby league get's a whole bunch of hurdles chucked in its path...its essentially the same game.
You would think with the success that former touch stars Benji Marshall has has that rugby league would try to get into bed with the touch organisations but no

The mind boggles.

 

[RL1908]

What most in RL have failed to realise is that the modern form of RL is rapidly becoming a game capable of only being played by hardened athletes, aspiring athletes, and those indifferent to the consequences (talking here about A-grade and bush players) - no one else, like gridiron in the USA, will be playing RL. Instead, they will turn to touch, flag etc. to get a "RL fix".

Problem is RL at its core has no regard for touch/flag/whatever. They belittle it.

Whenever toughness & physicality comes up in RL, they say "We don't want our game turning into touch" - which is almost as common & as denigrating as "We don't want to turn our game into rugby union" when talk turns to scrums or referees.

Touch, flag etc can give many people a "RL fix", boast impressive participation numbers to the RL brand, be a tool to market RL and RL clubs. Instead it is not regarded in or out of RL as being part of RL. These players and tournamants are lost from RL. The touch bodies want nothing to do with RL.

In the 1960s touch was started as a social form of RL, and to help spread the game of 13-a-side RL. Somewhere in the early 1980s RL gave it the cold shoulder, treated the social/safe form of the game as a joke.

 

[RedVee]

What most in RL have failed to realise is that the modern form of RL is rapidly becoming a game capable of only being played by hardened athletes, aspiring athletes, and those indifferent to the consequences (talking here about A-grade and bush players) - no one else, like gridiron in the USA, will be playing RL. Instead, they will turn to touch, flag etc. to get a "RL fix".

Problem is RL at its core has no regard for touch/flag/whatever. They belittle it.

Whenever toughness & physicality comes up in RL, they say "We don't want our game turning into touch" - which is almost as common & as denigrating as "We don't want to turn our game into rugby union" when talk turns to scrums or referees.

Touch, flag etc can give many people a "RL fix", boast impressive participation numbers to the RL brand, be a tool to market RL and RL clubs. Instead it is not regarded in or out of RL as being part of RL. These players and tournamants are lost from RL. The touch bodies want nothing to do with RL.

In the 1960s touch was started as a social form of RL, and to help spread the game of 13-a-side RL. Somewhere in the early 1980s RL gave it the cold shoulder, treated the social/safe form of the game as a joke.

Yes I agree with you. These sound (and the points in the OP) very like the reasons give by Phil Gould for starting a winter comp of full field tag footy.

 

[deal.with.it]

Obviously "SuperTag" has been chosen as the name for marketing purposes.
BUT...
In line with this thread, it would have made more sense, and would have been a great form of the game for developing nations to implement, to call the game something like "RugbyLeagueTag" or Tag Rugby League".
Our sport is Rugby League. It's a version of rugby, but the sport itself is rugby league. There are other threads on this site talking about proposed name changes for rugby league in USA.
This would have been an ideal chance to group a variant sport with the game of rugby league.
You could have rugby league, tag rugby league and touch rugby league.
All three games, owned by rugby league's international body RLIF.
Basically the exact same rules as international rugby league rules, except with tags or touching, and perhaps differing those two with their own field dimensions.
You could have gus gould's tag rugby league (supertag) on full rugby league fields, and you could have touch rugby league on half size field, running width wise, with the half way line forming the dividing sideline for two games being played at once.
It would make sense. The current dimensions of touch don't fit perfectly equally in a rugby league field. This would further add ownership to rugby league's brand of the sport.
I can see it now. A fully fledged RLIF website, with three tabs - rugby league, tag rugby league, and touch rugby league.
You shouldn't need to have separate coaching or refereeing courses, rather incorporate the three different "tackling" options in the course.
Am i just talking shit now, or would this be a sensible option?
And then as someone has previously noted, have Benji Marshall and even Shaun Johnson as ambassidors for touch rugby league, and have some others spruiking tag rugby league.
f**k the marketing language of Super Tag right off.
We really need to streamline our sport.

 

[WAPAU]

Obviously "SuperTag" has been chosen as the name for marketing purposes.
BUT...
In line with this thread, it would have made more sense, and would have been a great form of the game for developing nations to implement, to call the game something like "RugbyLeagueTag" or Tag Rugby League".
Our sport is Rugby League. It's a version of rugby, but the sport itself is rugby league. There are other threads on this site talking about proposed name changes for rugby league in USA.
This would have been an ideal chance to group a variant sport with the game of rugby league.
You could have rugby league, tag rugby league and touch rugby league.
All three games, owned by rugby league's international body RLIF.
Basically the exact same rules as international rugby league rules, except with tags or touching, and perhaps differing those two with their own field dimensions.
You could have gus gould's tag rugby league (supertag) on full rugby league fields, and you could have touch rugby league on half size field, running width wise, with the half way line forming the dividing sideline for two games being played at once.
It would make sense. The current dimensions of touch don't fit perfectly equally in a rugby league field. This would further add ownership to rugby league's brand of the sport.
I can see it now. A fully fledged RLIF website, with three tabs - rugby league, tag rugby league, and touch rugby league.
You shouldn't need to have separate coaching or refereeing courses, rather incorporate the three different "tackling" options in the course.
Am i just talking shit now, or would this be a sensible option?
And then as someone has previously noted, have Benji Marshall and even Shaun Johnson as ambassidors for touch rugby league, and have some others spruiking tag rugby league.
f**k the marketing language of Super Tag right off.
We really need to streamline our sport.

In brisbane there is a very popular game taking off called TRL - touch rugby league. Basically touch but you can kick on the 5th and no spilt milk.

 

[Didgi]

As someone who plays a lot of touch footy, the f**king around with names is absolutely ridiculous. Touch footy is what everyone calls it - call it touch rugby league at most, otherwise leave it alone. I could play the same sport 5 times under 5 different names at the moment.

End mini rant.

 

[Western_Eel]

There are quite a few of those who are involved with the fledgling nations who post on here, so i pose the above question mainly to those although others are free to answer/comment.

As a kid, (usually when you play against big kids) the most commonly played form of the game has modified tackle rules. It means that everyone can play against everyone. I am not talking about the mofified touch that is quite common but true touch where the rules are simply rugby league rules with touch instead of tackle (or grab, two handed touch etc depending on the players).

My question is why isnt this form of the game used to help get interest in the full game. There is also nothing that hypes you up more for a game of real rugby than a game of touch. This is also the perfect way to teach locals the rules of the game, which gives them more of an interest in the main games. It would help build clubs rather than teams, because wifes girlfriends and parents can all participate. And it helps build skills for the tackle players, and can be played by players of all sports as the perfect way to stay fit, including not just union players, but there is a ready made market of soccer players wanting to stay fit without much risk of injury. I think it could become huge and really help rugby league grow along with it.

Any thoughts?

This is a rugby league forum not a touch football forum,

They are 2 different games just like Union is similar but not the same, I Ignore it because touch is boring to watch and it shouldnt be promoted because people that dont know the game wont think that league is boring too.

 

[bender]

This is a rugby league forum not a touch football forum,

They are 2 different games just like Union is similar but not the same, I Ignore it because touch is boring to watch and it shouldnt be promoted because people that dont know the game wont think that league is boring too.

Touch is not about watching, it is about participating. Nowhere have i said that we should ask people to watch touch football. I am not talking about using touch football to artificially inflate playing numbers (not that it is a bad idea). And i am not talking about australia, where like it or not everyone equates touch with rugby league.

I am talking about using touch to expand help turn fledgling rugby league "teams" into clubs. To get the community involved with the club and help them introduce them to rugby league, and also, i have no doubt that it will help teach the real rugby league basic skills such as Stepping, passing, dummying etc. This can only help improve the local levels if in addition to their short domestic seasons, players are also able to play touch football 2 or 3 times a week. f nothing else, the general fitness of the average player would have to improve. I dare say, teaching locals the rules of rugby league (that is why i suggested the rules be rugby league rules with a touch instead of tackle) also double as a marketing exercise for the spectators form of the sport (rugby league). I really cant see how there is any downside to this. It can only help fledgling clubs gain players, and (arguably just as importantly) officials.

 

[BODISGOD]

Touch is not about watching, it is about participating. Nowhere have i said that we should ask people to watch touch football. I am not talking about using touch football to artificially inflate playing numbers (not that it is a bad idea). And i am not talking about australia, where like it or not everyone equates touch with rugby league.

I am talking about using touch to expand help turn fledgling rugby league "teams" into clubs. To get the community involved with the club and help them introduce them to rugby league, and also, i have no doubt that it will help teach the real rugby league basic skills such as Stepping, passing, dummying etc. This can only help improve the local levels if in addition to their short domestic seasons, players are also able to play touch football 2 or 3 times a week. f nothing else, the general fitness of the average player would have to improve. I dare say, teaching locals the rules of rugby league (that is why i suggested the rules be rugby league rules with a touch instead of tackle) also double as a marketing exercise for the spectators form of the sport (rugby league). I really cant see how there is any downside to this. It can only help fledgling clubs gain players, and (arguably just as importantly) officials.

Agree. I LOVE touch. It really developed my handling and ability to get away from defenders. It's a top variant of a sport and encouraging it is very important.

 

[Billythekid]

This is a rugby league forum not a touch football forum,

They are 2 different games just like Union is similar but not the same, I Ignore it because touch is boring to watch and it shouldnt be promoted because people that dont know the game wont think that league is boring too.

What a stupid attitude. This isn't about watching it's about participating (as mentioned above). Touch may be boring to watch but it's fantastic to play and i say this as someone who has played a lot of different sports.

It's also suitable for pretty much all body sizes and shapes and it garners interest from people who aren't interested in league.

I've played cricket, union, league, AFL, soccer and a bunch of other sports and in all of them we regularly played a bit of touch to warm up.

It's a great way to spread the game and it's insular attitudes like yours that hold back its potential.

 

[GCCowboy]

I recall reading somewhere that Touch has an international association which runs comps between countries and governs the rules and that this association is heavily affiliated to the IRB and local rugby bodies.

So although more like league than union and originating from league, it is actually used or "owned" by union and used by union as a vehicle for their own promotion.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[RedVee]

I recall reading somewhere that Touch has an international association which runs comps between countries and governs the rules and that this association is heavily affiliated to the IRB and local rugby bodies.

So although more like league than union and originating from league, it is actually used or "owned" by union and used by union as a vehicle for their own promotion.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

No, I am afraid you are correct. The Rugby ****** have assumed 'ownership' of what they are calling 'Touch Rugby'.

 

[Didgi]

This is not a shot at anyone, but I think if you understand the game touch can be hugely exciting to watch - it's a superfast game featuring strategy and skills. Touch used to be televised, and the influence of TV still exists within some of the rules.

 

[Western_Eel]

Its a completely different game as i was trying to say in my previous post, I think you will find that most touch players and officials will not want to accociate with league.

 

[hutch]

Its a completely different game as i was trying to say in my previous post, I think you will find that most touch players and officials will not want to accociate with league.

I have played both as most on here probably have, and yes they are completely different games. But touch is still based on rugby league and is a non contact form of rugby league. We should be aligned to touch as a way of spreading rugby league around the world. It is a massive missed opportunity! (as usual)

 

[RedVee]

I have played both as most on here probably have, and yes they are completely different games. But touch is still based on rugby league and is a non contact form of rugby league. We should be aligned to touch as a way of spreading rugby league around the world. It is a massive missed opportunity! (as usual)

Amen.
Though I think the boat has probably sailed.

I have said many times that I'd prefer Touch RL to be in the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games over Rugby 7s.
Played in male, female and mixed configurations and suitable to be played in many countries if not already.

RU have the political gravitas though.