This group is dedicated to the promotion and development of the sport of Touch (Football) in the Asian region – aligned closely with the Federation of International Touch, so as to ensure internationally recognised standards are introduced in regards to tournaments and rules and to maintain uniform technical development of coaches and referees.

Touch is a unique and independent sport played by millions of enthusiasts all around the world – however, in Asia is often incorrectly linked to Rugby Union groups and to their full contact code.

This misunderstanding and often the fact that Rugby Union groups use Touch to promote involvement in their full-contact pathway is seen as detrimental to the correct positioning and overall development of Touch as a unique and independent ‘minimal-contact’ team sport.

Touch did not evolve from Rugby Union; it was an off shoot of Rugby League and developed in Australia in the late sixties. FIT staged their first Touch World Cup prior to the first Rugby Union (IRB) World Cup and the first Rugby League World Cup of the modern era. Although full contact league and rugby union players often enjoy participating in social Touch competition, the large majority of young Touch players today have never and never will play ‘full-contact’ rugby or league.

Touch Football offers a ‘minimal-contact’ team sport development pathways.

Rugby and League groups mostly only recognise Touch as simply a warm-up game to their game. When non Touch groups organise Touch ‘Rugby’ events, they sometimes promote their event as using FIT rules. However the delivery and refereeing is not what is expected from a Touch organised event.

Like any sport, it is essential that Touch establishes independent administrations throughout Asia so as to allow for Touch to evolve as an independent stand alone sport.

FIT and the many affiliated member nations and organised Touch groups around the world welcome all enthusiasts (rugby players, rugby league players, soccer players, netballers and more) to come and enjoy our uniquely family orientated sport, that is, one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

Touch has a genuine future as a unique and independent high participation sport in Asia and the smaller agile frame of Asians is perfectly suited to the game. If you want to know more about how you can become involved in Touch in your region, see the links tab and make contact with your local Touch Football contact.

Touch Football …’What a Game’!