NEWS from...
17 October 2008
_________________________________________________________________ The Welcome
Welcome to the Barossa Touch season for 2008/09. Once again, there’s a few of us looking forward to having a run round the park on a Monday night this summer… This year, there will be two weeks of grading/ trial games (20 and 27 October), allowing time for registrations and for people to join a team, if they haven’t already. From Monday 3 November (2 weeks earlier than last year), we start the comp with each match worth points. We can’t confirm game times yet because it will depend on how many teams we have registered. Please note, that again this year we’re going to try and have games start on time and make sure that the second or third game isn’t as late as it has been sometimes in the past. A whistle will sound to mark a 2-minute warning prior to start time and then again to mark the start of each game. Penalties will apply for teams that aren’t ready to take to the field on time.
The Subs
Subs for each team have again been held at last year’s fee of $500.00 per team. This fee includes: injury insurance for all players payments for our referees affiliation with Touch SA end-of-season presentation show, including meal and drinks trophies and medallions for both grades rental fees for Tanunda Oval And the committee has decided to offer a discount to encourage junior players this year and make it easier for people with no (or low) income. Teams will be offered a $20 discount for each registered player who is a full-time student, to a maximum of 10 discounted players. A reminder that Barossa Touch is a non-profit association – all money is put back into our competition. Each team’s subs are due in full, no later than the second round after the Christmas break – Monday 12 January. Please note: any team paying subs after the 12 January deadline cops a $50 late fee and is required to pay $550.00 per team any team who has still not paid subs by Monday 19 January will be awarded a maximum of 1 point per game (ie the same as they would for a loss, regardless of the result) All cheques should be made payable to: ‘Barossa Touch Incorporated’ and can be given to Bob Smart.
The Registration Forms
Please have all individual player registration forms completed and returned to Nick Slape (Hogsheads) as soon as possible. Registration means you will be insured in the event of injury.
There is also a ‘Team Registration Form’ – each team is required to complete and return one Team Registration, which includes the name and contact details of a ‘Team Delegate’. This needs to be someone who has regular email access. The committee relies on email as a simple and fast way to contact players and members of our association. Forms are available on the website (at Downloads & Forms).
The Schedule
We will be playing in two Divisions again this season. Up until the christmas break, teams may be pushed up or down a grade but from 5 January, A Grade and B Grade will be set. As soon as we know how many teams will be competing we’ll publish a schedule for the season, that can be found on the website. We’ll have a Monday night off between Christmas and new year (29 December) and then again on 26 January. The Grand Final and Presentation Night will be Monday 2 March, the week before the Adelaide Cup long weekend.
The Website
Keep an eye on the website – we plan to post the schedule and results and other news, on our website, at: www.barossatouch.com
The Reminders
1. Anyone interested in helping to run the comp – whether it’s with refereeing, scheduling, helping to get scores to the local papers, anything at all, is invited to speak with any of the people named at the bottom of this page. We’re keen to have more volunteers. The winning team of the final game on each field is responsible for collecting the cones. They can be left, along with any Barossa Touch balls at the northern end of the cricket pitch, at the end of each Monday night. It is the responsibility of the player who scores each touchdown to return the ball to the centre for the restart of play.
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The Rules
A few local rules to start the season: 1. 2. All teams need to be registered and in a uniform by Round 6, Monday 8 December. Please include a number on the back of your shirts and don’t choose white (it’ll confuse the refs). All teams are required to have at least one player on the feld at all times, who is - a female, or - 14 years of age and under, or - 45 years of age and older 3. There is a ‘double score’ rule in effect – ie there will be 2 points for any touchdown scored by a player who is: - a female, or - 14 years of age and under, or - 45 years of age and older provided that there has been no prior opportunity to ground the ball. 4. A minimum of four players are required before a game can start.
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A player must play at least three minor round games to be eligible for the finals. This season, games will start on time. From Round 4 onwards, any team that is unable to field a minimum of 4 players at the scheduled starting time will be penalised one touchdown for every 4 minutes past this time (to a maximum of 4 touchdowns). To protect our players: For games being played on Field 1 and Field 3, the ball will become dead when it or a player in possession touches or crosses the sideline of Field 2. In this event, the team in possession will lose control of the ball and the defending team will be awarded the ball for a rollball at the 5 metre line (ie if you’re playing on either Field 1 or 3 and you touch or cross over the Field 2 sideline, you’ll lose the ball to the other team).
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Players who are sent off for the ‘remainder of the match’ (ie not for a ‘period of time’) will be automatically suspended for two matches. Moulded football boots are OK but please note that screw-ins are not. Players are asked to remove watches and jewellery before their games start. Referees are expected to ask players to remove any item that might cause injury. Sunglasses are OK. The winning team of the final match on each field will be responsible for collecting and returning all cones and pitch-markers. Points will be allocated as follows: - 3 points for a win - 2 points for a draw - 1 point for a loss - 0 points for a forfeit
The Referees
The Barossa Touch Association committee reckons quality refereeing makes the game a lot more fun by: • keeping games flowing • encouraging people to learn the rules • ensuring consistency in interpreting the rules • protecting players safety We know though that quality referees are hard to find. To make sure we’re doing what we can to keep our competition sustainable and to help develop our own pool of competent referees, this season we have the following planned: • • • A grade teams may, on occasion, be asked to provide a referee. It’s the team’s responsibility to then make sure that a referee is available. each referee will receive a payment of $15.00 for every match they referee. All referees who ref 10 games or more, will receive a bonus payment of $50.00 cash at the end of the season. Touch SA will deliver a Level 1 referee program, here in the Barossa on Sunday 26 October. This is a nationally-accredited program and your association will cover all costs, as long as you agree to ref just 3 B-Grade games for no fee. These games are used as assessment toward the Level 1 qualification. If you are interested in participating, please see Simon Millcock or Nick Slape.
The committee is keen to see that refs are encouraged to participate and that they’re supported. All players are asked to recognise all the Rules of Touch but in particular Rule 17 (6) and Rule 18 (2) and to support our refs.
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Rule 17 (6) Misconduct. Players guilty of misconduct will be penalised and could be excluded from the match. Misconduct includes: • continual breaches of the rules; • swearing; • backchatting referees or other match officials; • bad sporting behaviour; • fighting; • using physical force in making a touch; • attacking the head of an opponent; • tripping; • any other action which is not in the spirit f the game. Rule 18 (2) The Referee. The referee is the sole judge on matters of fact and is required to adjudicate on the rules of the game during play. The referee may impose any sanction necessary to control the game and in particular, award penalties for infringements against the rules.
A full copy of the Australian Touch Association Playing Rules (7th Edition) is available from our website. Anyone interested in helping out with refereeing, please see Simon Millcock or Nick Slape.
And a Word from our Sponsor!
Our mates at the Tanunda Club have offered us welcome sponsorship this season. On a Monday nite following their game, all players can buy their first beer, wine or softie and have their second one on the house. And we will have the support of The Club for our presentation night after the grand final. It’s Tanunda’s best venue by a street – and now they’re welcoming us on a Monday night. Hopefully, we can stitch something up long-term and make The Club the home of touch footy in the Barossa.
Any Questions....??
If any player has any questions at any time regarding our comp, referees, rules or interpretations, please ask one of the following Barossa Touch committee members: Nick Slape Ashley Ratcliff Darryl Everson Nigel Blieschke Bob Smart Steve Wendt Jarrod Sieber Simon Gerlach Simon Millcock __________________________________________________________________________________
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