Touch Football gala day
Skill focus: Playing as a team
Session equipment
One Touch Football per game
Marker cones to set out playing field - 70m long x 50m wide
Whistle for teacher to referee
Gala day draw
Bibs or sashes to distinguish between teams
Download Touch Football - Gala day activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Student choice
Choose one of the Fast starts played in the Touch Football unit to use as a warm-up for the Touch Football gala day competition.
Touch Football gala day
Organisation
In the week prior to the gala day, students may be given time to create signs to support their team at the gala day.
Set-up playing field prior to session. Playing field should be approximately 70m long and 50m wide. Use different coloured cones to mark half-way line and touch down zones at either end.
Explain the organisation of the matches being played using the gala day draw below.
Select a student from each team to be the team captain for the gala day.
Give students 5 minutes to meet as a team to decide on starting positions and strategies for their first game.
Use results in ‘Touch Football results spreadsheet' to determine the team who finishes the round games in 1st position, 2nd position, 3rd position and 4th position.
Student engagement
Semi-final 1 and Semi-final 2 should be played at the same time if teacher supervision allows.
The teams who were unsuccessful in their semi-final can play an additional game for third and fourth place.
Alternatively, students may take on spectator and officiating roles, such as:
time keeping
side line referee
scoring
ground control
Rules and guidelines
Teams
Touch Football is played with a maximum of six players on the field per team. An unlimited number of interchange players is allowed.
Starts and re-starts
All players must be in their own half of the field at the start of play. The defending team must be at least five metres away from the ball until it is in play. Play commences with a tap from the middle of the half way line at the start of each half and after a touchdown is scored. The team that was scored against in the touchdown re-starts play.
The attacking team
The attacking team maintains possession of the ball for six touches. All forward passes, dropped balls and late passes are counted as a touch. Once six touches have been completed, the attacking team hands the ball over and becomes the defending team.
Offside
Defenders must retreat five metres for all facets of play including penalties. Once the acting half has released the ball, the defending team can move forward.
The acting half
The acting half is any player who takes possession of the ball after a rollball. The acting half must pass the ball immediately from the roll ball; they can’t run with the ball or score a touchdown. When this occurs, the attacking team will be instructed to replay the ball.
Penalties and misconduct
A re-start of six touches will be awarded to the opposing team for offside, kicking the ball and undesirable behaviour.
Reflection
2 stars and a wish
Ask students - what are 2 things you feel you did well today?
What will you take away from Touch Football that you can use for our next sport?
Students can answer reflection questions as a whole class, small group or in pairs.
Touch Football certificates
Award students with certificates for their involvement in the Touch Football unit.
Certificates available for download include:
Sport education teaching resource feedback
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