Touch. What's that all about?

**Hitcher** · 13th November 2005, 15:25

While leisurely completing my weekend's collection of Sudoku puzzles, I had the tele on, as you do. Bugger all on of any great interest, so I surfed onto a Sky Sport channel that had Touch on (No, it wasn't a documentary about Michael Jackson).

Anyhoo, the game was a women's final between Australia and New Zealand. I understood that, until I noted blokes on the field.

At this point too, I should note that in my past I have played a game involving a pointy ball, 15 players a side and inordinately complex tackled ball rules.

Touch too, I noted, involves a pointy ball, but bears more resemblance to the 13-player variant of the pointy ball game. A Touch "try" is worth one point. I understand that.

But I'm fucked if I know how a try is scored. In the game in question, players running the ball up would stop tantalisingly short of the line, as if they had collided with an invisible force field. Others holding the ball would run into the in-goal area, and then fanny around looking for somebody else on their team to pass the ball to. But others seemed to be allowed to score the "old-fashioned way" by diving over the line and forcing the ball.

And here's me thinking that Netball ranked up there in the stakes for the World's Dumbest Game (almost a photo-finish with Gridiron for this honour).

I would value an explanation of what goes on in Touch from somebody with more knowledge of its subtleties than I have.

**SARGE** · 13th November 2005, 16:56

gridiron is NOT a dumb game you heathen ( i played for 5 years in school..you gotta understand it really)

Golf is a stupid game to televise..so is Fishing.. and that @#$%^ CURLING Bullshit has got to go

**Scorpygirl** · 13th November 2005, 17:01

Golf is a stupid game to televise..so is Fishing.. and that @#$%^ CURLING Bullshit has got to go

Sychronised (sp) Swimming - now that is stupid!!!

I think I'd rather watch paint dry!!

**SARGE** · 13th November 2005, 17:07

i think they should make golf a full contact sport.. THAT i'd watch..

"Tiger Woods going for a Birdie puty on 9.. he lines up and OHHHH!!!!.. BLINDSIDED by MICHAEL CAMPBELL!!!... that's gonna hurt tomorrow Merv.."

**parsley** · 13th November 2005, 17:08

Reminds me of when they used to show Kabaddi on English TV. Weird game, everybody holds hands and has to hold their breath when they're in the opposing team's half. I could never figure out how the ref knew you weren't breathing!

**SPman** · 13th November 2005, 17:47

Originally Posted by Scorpygirl

Sychronised (sp) Swimming - now that is stupid!!!

I think I'd rather watch paint dry!!

Depends who you are watching the paint dry ON.............

right 3000 posts - I can fuck off now

**jahrasti** · 13th November 2005, 18:10

But I'm fucked if I know how a try is scored. In the game in question, players running the ball up would stop tantalisingly short of the line, as if they had collided with an invisible force field. Others holding the ball would run into the in-goal area, and then fanny around looking for somebody else on their team to pass the ball to. But others seemed to be allowed to score the "old-fashioned way" by diving over the line and forcing the ball.

hey Hitcher touch is pretty simple if you are 'dummy half ' (the dude that picks up the ball after it has been played) you cant score and also if you are touched before you pass it then hand over to the other team.Once the dummy half passes it is like rugby/league in the fact you run/pass/score etc. if you are 'touched' then you have to play the ball from that spot,so if you over run the spoy yhen you must pull back to that spot.

**Hitcher** · 13th November 2005, 18:23

Originally Posted by SARGE

gridiron is NOT a dumb game you heathen ( i played for 5 years in school..you gotta understand it really)

Golf is a stupid game to televise..so is Fishing.. and that @#$%^ CURLING Bullshit has got to go

Fishing cannot be a sport. I am at one with you there, brother.

Gridiron would be a great game if it didn't come to a complete stop after each "play" and you couldn't change teams depending whether you were attacking, defending or looking for weapons of mass destruction...

**Hitcher** · 13th November 2005, 18:23

Originally Posted by Scorpygirl

Sychronised (sp) Swimming - now that is stupid!!! I think I'd rather watch paint dry!!

And individual synchronised swimming. How does that work?

**Hitcher** · 13th November 2005, 18:26

Originally Posted by jahrasti

hey Hitcher touch is pretty simple if you are 'dummy half ' (the dude that picks up the ball after it has been played) you cant score and also if you are touched before you pass it then hand over to the other team.Once the dummy half passes it is like rugby/league in the fact you run/pass/score etc. if you are 'touched' then you have to play the ball from that spot,so if you over run the spoy yhen you must pull back to that spot.

An odd rule, but hey, it makes sense. Thank you for that.

I really like the "drop off" system for extra time. Soccer should do that too, instead of that inane penalty shootout system...

**myvice** · 13th November 2005, 18:45

Cricket, don’t get it and I don’t want to!
I've had people try and explain the game but it just wont stick.
Full contact golf? With quad bikes on ice tyres? Heh heh heh...
Now THAT I'd watch!

**Skyryder** · 13th November 2005, 19:09

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Fishing cannot be a sport.

It realy depends on the type of fishing that you are refering to. This in itself raises the question of what sport is or more impoartantly the meaning of the word sport. Like a lot of words in the English language the word sport denotes a variety of meanings. It can refer to an indavidual as in so and so's a good sport. But that is not the context that is under discusion.

It is not unreasonable to asume that some kind of competitive element is involved. This can be between two or more teams or a number of indaviduals competing for themselves. But where do we draw the line when a game is a sport and when it is not.

I looked up the Concise Oxford Dictionary and a precis of the meaning is as follows.

1a) a game or competitive activity where some physical exertion is required.

3) amusement, diversion, fun.

3b) a person behaving in a specified way,esp. regarding games rules etc.

3b covers a wide range of activities which would include fishing. Some fish species are clearly designated as a sportsfish where there are rules and regulations governing how the fish is caught.

Skyryder

**sels1** · 13th November 2005, 19:14

Originally Posted by Hitcher

But I'm fucked if I know how a try is scored. In the game in question, players running the ball up would stop tantalisingly short of the line, as if they had collided with an invisible force field. Others holding the ball would run into the in-goal area, and then fanny around looking for somebody else on their team to pass the ball to. But others seemed to be allowed to score the "old-fashioned way" by diving over the line and forcing the ball.
.

Briefly - Touch is basicaly tag rugby league with 6 per side.
6 tags and you hand over (possesion of the ball)
After a touch is made the ball is played back thru the legs league style
It is then picked up and passed by a "dummy half" (like halfback) who has to pass and cannot score. Sometimes the DH will make a break and reach the line but has to look for another played to pass to to score.
Mixed teams very popular 3 male 3 female.
Some competitions (like the social grade I play in) have 2 point trys for the girls so you might see a bloke get over the goal line and look for a female player to pass to for the extra point.

If you want more help swing by Mazengarb Park any Friday night at 6.30 and bring your shorts and running shoes.

**myvice** · 13th November 2005, 19:16

[QUOTE=Skyryder
3b covers a wide range of activities which would include fishing. Some fish species are clearly designated as a sportsfish where there are rules and regulations governing how the fish is caught.
Skyryder[/QUOTE]

Sport fish? Full fairing fish with an uncomfortable seat and you get sore wrists and knees after 100ks of riding it?