Family League Rules

  1. With the exception of the conditions below, the SDTA Family League will be played and officiated in line with the Touch Football Australia 8th Edition Rule and in line with the overarching SDTA bi-laws.

  2. Games will be played as 2x 20 minute halves, with a 5 minute halftime break.

  3. One referee will be appointed per game.

    1. A second training referee may be appointed to some games.

  4. At all times, a minimum 4 of the players on the field must be aged 13 years and under (based on calendar birth year cohorts).

    1. SDTA reserves the right to query a player’s age, where proof of age documentation will be required to be shown to (no copies will be taken/stored) a SDTA committee member or delegate.

  5. Players aged 10 years and under (based on calendar birth year cohorts) must where a bib when playing. Rules specific to these players:

    1. A try scored is worth 2 points

    2. If this player is acting half, the defence can not move up (from the mark indicated by the referee) until they have passed the ball.

    3. If this player drops the ball while attempting to catch a pass, this counts as a touch.

  6. Players aged 14 years or over (based on calendar birth year cohorts) are not eligible to score a try. Rules specific to these players.

    1. If a try is scored in breach of 6, this counts as a touch, and play will resume with a rollball on the seven (7) metre line in line with where the ‘non-try’ was scored. If the try occurs following the 5th touch of that possession, this leads to a change of possession with play to resume following a rollball on the seven (7) metre line. 

  7. Players aged 14 years or over (based on calendar birth year cohorts) are not eligible to run a line break that exceeds 10 meters or enters the in-goal area. Rules specific to this scenario.

    1. If this occurs, a touch will be counted, and the player will return to either the point of the line break or the 7-meter line to play a roll-ball.

  8. The referee has full discretion to allow players to retake roll balls and/or penalty taps (bypassing rule 13.2/18.1) if it is deemed in the best interest of the game.

  9. Rules are subject to change at any time by the SDTA Executive Committee.