Touch Football/Rugby

Touch Football/Rugby Adaptations

Touch football/rugby is a great physical game that encourages students and athletes to perform in a physically demanding and tactical sport.

Like all information on this website it is important to understand that these are just possible adaptations and for further information please contact your advisory teacher or Andrew Whisson (PE teacher at the SA School for Vision Impaired).

Potential Rule Changes

Communication is incredibly important in all invasion games, and touch football/rugby is no different. So athletes and students with vision impairment are able to identify the position and intent of their opposition, verbal communication is vital to enforce. By simply having the rule that a player must communicate their position and intent to tag a player or intercept a pass by calling "Voi" (Portuguese for "mine"). Failure to do so should result in a 20m tap restart for the opposing side, with touch count zeroed.

Keeping the number of players down to the 6 players in conventional touch football/rugby will help to reduce crowding on the pitch and increase the confidence and ability of a player with vision impairment to succeed.

Removing the need to catch the ball in play also allows for the student with vision impairment to rectify their mistakes and reduces the stress or frustration from the game play.

Equipment

Depending on the individual students the equipment will differ greatly. For all students, however, the choice of ball is an important first step to ensure an inclusive unit or lesson. Ensuring the ball is of high contrast to the environment (see PE Adaptations - Students with low vision page) will allow students with low vision to participate in the lesson and increase their ability to track the ball. Similarly by including a bell or beep ball it will allow students with no functional vision to participate, whilst simultaneously support students with low vision to have an audible cue to track the ball. It is possible to buy a bell rugby ball, however, the use of a beeper or buzzer inside the ball allows the athletes to track the ball even when the ball is thrown through the air as either a float or spiral pass.

The image shows a red beep kick ball sitting on grass

Beep kick balls can be used as an alternative to a beep or buzz rugby ball.

The image shows a foam orange Australian Rules Football or rugby ball with a beeper inserted sitting on grass

This soft rugby/AFL ball has had a beeper added to make it a safe audible ball.

The image shows a yellow blind Australian Rules Football sitting on grass

While not ideal rugby balls, AFL Blind balls can be used due to the similar shape.

Audible markers for the try line are also useful, this allows athletes to orientate themselves while playing, and understand how close they are to scoring. An audible marker could be simple buzzers (see below) placed along the try line or a volunteer, coach or teacher communicating to the students as to where the line starts.

A buzzer or beeper allows the teacher/coach to walk away from the try line to support the play and is a constant audible orientation tool for the student or athlete with vision impairment. The downside is unless the correct beep or buzz is produced it can bounce off of hard surfaces or not give a clear positional reference and must be different to the sound of the rugby ball.

Clapping or speaking to athletes allows the coach, teacher or support worker to give short instructions like "gap to your left" or "reach for the line" so the student has more confidence in their attack. This method also allows the teacher to move with the play and does not rely on multiple buzzers to indicate the position of the line. This method does, however, take personnel to work and in many cases this is not possible all the time.

Depending on the number of students with vision impairment in the game or drill it maybe only necessary to audibly mark one try line, as it may just create unnecessary distraction having both lines marked if not required.

Image shows hands clapping

Hands clapping as an audible marker

Image shows two batons, one red and one yellow, tapping together

Batons tapping as an audible marker

The photo shows a black pouch with a grey buzzer attached to a red and black wire travelling into the pouch and then travelling out the top to a battery snap with a batter attached.

A simple buzzer can be used as an audible marker

Considering the field marking is also important and the use of high contrast cones or drop lines are important as the generic grass marking or court markings may not be accessible or visible to all athletes (see PE adaptations pages).

The image shows 5 cones sitting on grass. One white, one yellow, one red, one blue and one green. This high lights the importance of colour contrast to the grass.

Selecting the correct colour of cone to ensure high contrast to the environment and surface is important.

The image shows four yellow drop down lines on a dark surface, two straight and two corner lines.

Use of drop down lines can be a simple and effective way to ensure the field lines are marked clearly with a tactile element.

How can all students be involved?

By ensuring the adaptations above, the lesson, unit or training will automatically become more inclusive and encourage all students or athletes to be involved. However, further rule changes could also encourage inclusive practice. This could be as simple as all students must touch the ball before a try can be scored. This forces all students to turn to their team members or peers and support their involvement in the game.

More information

For more information contact your advisory teacher or Andrew Whisson (PE Teacher at the SA School for Vision Impaired).