Object of the Game

To score a try by placing the ball, with downward pressure, on or behind the opponents' goal line. For simplicity's sake, a try is worth one point.


Duration of play
For 7 a-side games two halves of seven minutes each way are played with 1 minute for half time.

How should a tag belt be worn?
All players wear a tag belt around the waist and on the outside of the clothing. Shirts should be tucked in at all times. The ribbons (tags) are positioned on either side of the hips and the teams are distinguished by the colour of ribbons they wear. Belts should be firmly fastened to avoid unnecessary movement during a 'tag', with any surplus length of belt being tucked securely out of the way for safety.




Rules

• A try is worth one point. To score a try a player must carry the ball over the opponents' goal line and press the ball down on the ground. 

• After a try is scored the game restarts from the centre of the field with a free pass by the non-scoring team. (See Rule 4, 'The Free Pass')

• No forward passes are allowed and will be penalised by a free pass being awarded to the non-offending team at the place the ball left the player's hands.

• A forward pass is any  pass where the ball travels in the direction of the opponents' goal line.

• Only the player with the ball can be tagged and a tag is simply the removal by a defender of one of the two ribbons from the ball carrier.

• Ball carriers can run or dodge potential taggers but cannot fend them off, spin around or guard or shield their ribbons in any way. This includes using the ball to fend away defenders. The defender then holds the ribbon above their head and shouts 'tag' for all to hear.

• Defenders must back off at least one metre from the ball carrier, allowing space for them to pass. They are not allowed to snatch the ball from the player's hand. 

• Once tagged, the player in possession of the ball must attempt to stop as soon as possible and pass the ball within 3 seconds of being tagged.

• Even at full pace, the ball carrier will be expected to stop in 3 strides.

• Near the goal line, players are only allowed one step to score after being tagged. If their momentum means they have taken 2 or 3, then they must attempt to pass to a team-mate to score, even if they are now over the goal line.
  
  
• Players can pass in the act of stopping. After a tag has been made, both the ball carrier and the defender are momentarily out of the game.

• The defender can take no further part until they have handed back the ribbon to the attacker (not thrown it on the floor) and the attacker no further part, until they have replaced their ribbon back on their belt. 

• The defender hands back the ribbon only after the attacker has passed the ball. This action simulates the time taken up by defenders when tackling in full contact rugby and stops defenders being unrealistically active as can happen in traditional games of touch rugby.

• Remember - There should be no tags on the floor at any time. Very occasionally, a ball carrier may accidentally flick off one of their own ribbons in the act of running, making it very difficult for a defender to tag them. In this case the game should be stopped and the player allowed to replace it.

• The game then restarts with a free pass to the team in possession at the place where the ribbon came off.

• A free pass is used to start the game (from the centre of the field) or to restart it at the place where the ball went out of play or an infringement took place