Archive for the ‘Uncategorised’ Category

Apr 19
Winter Touch Options 2022
TOUCH BY WEEKDAY SUNDAY Morning TOUCH - Coxes Bay (Westmere) Starts: 8th May for 14 Weeks Location: Coxes Bay Grades: Mens / Masters / Mixed / Women / Kids Click Here to Enter MONDAY Night TOUCH & TURBO - Newmarket Starts: 2nd May for 12 Weeks TOUCH (St Peter' College Cage) - FULL: Live Draw Here TURBO TOUCH for Mixed teams (St Peter's Gymnasium) - Click Here to enter Turbo Location: St Peter's College Newmarket) TUESDAYS Lunch-time TOUCH at Victoria Park (CBD) Starts: 3rd May for 9 weeks Times: 12:10 and 12:45pm each week. Grades: Mixed Location: Victoria Park - Grades Mixed Teams Click Here to Enter THURSDAY Nights TOUCH & TURBO - Takapuna - (Its a "Shore" Thing) Starts: 28th April for 11 Weeks Location: Westlake Girls - Just next to Smales Farm in Takapuna TOUCH: On the WGHS Artificial Pitch - Grades: Mens / Masters / Mixed - Click Here to enter Touch TURBO TOUCH (Westlake Indoor Courts) - Mixed teams Only - Click Here FRIDAY-Night-Lights TURBO - Trusts Arena - Henderson Starts: 28th April for 10 Weeks Location: Trusts Stadium Henderson Times: from 6:30pm Grades for Mixed teams - Click Here to Enter West Turbo TOUCH BY CATEGORY ELITE TOUCH - You have to get your team to play at Coxes Bay on Sunday where all the top Touch Clubs strut their A teams TURBO TOUCH - 4 Sports in One - Indoor - Mixed Fun - Try it Love it - Click Here MIXED SOCIAL - Tuesday Lunch at Vic Park - Turbo Touch any night - Sunday 11:30am at Coxes Bay MASTERS TOUCH - Sunday around 12:15pm at Coxes Bay or Thursday night Takapuna at WGHS JUNIORS TOUCH - Click Here - We encourage Juniors to play in the Whanau Grade at Coxes Bay on Sunday WOMENS ONLY TOUCH - Sunday at Coxes Bay - 10am - Click Here INDIVIDUAL - No Mates, New to the City, Team mates playing other sports? Read this and then Sign up to play at any one of our venues STD's - (SAVE THE DATES) 28th April Autumn Touch and Turbo Season Commences 8th May - Coxes Bay Sunday Winter Commences 1 July - Entries for Summer Touch open 1 August - Winter Touch and Turbo Seasons Commence 18th September - Spring Warm Up Tournament - War Memorial Park - Panmure - Enter 25th October - Summer Touch Taps Off
COVID POLICY (dated 4th April at 10am)
- We are legally allowed to, and will continue to PLAY TOUCH in the RED, ORANGE and GREEN LIGHT Covid Protection Framework settings.
- We acknowledge that it is likely that there might be a degree of transmission of Covid amongst teams and individuals participating at our competitions. If anyone is uncomfortable with that possibility, we would advise them NOT to participate.
Cancellation / Default Procedure
- It is polite for Captains to inform Organisers of their intention to default. It give us time to plan and arrange a meaningful game for your opposition. Simply NOT ARRIVING is rude and disrespectful to all parties, opposition and officials.
- The internal Email confirmation system used by teams and captains IS NOT an acceptable way to inform organisers of a default.
- Time and space permitting, we will do our best to catch up a defaulted game, although as the season nears its end, this will become harder to do this and most likely your team will be recorded a 5-0 loss.
- Short of Numbers: If your team is short of numbers, we strongly advise you to arrive with whoever can play. We will attempt to arrange “ringers” to fill in. At best the opposition will be delighted you have made the effort and at Worst the game can be officially defaulted yet still played.
- Before each game, if you are using ringers please have a chat to the opposing captain and clarify if the results will “stand” or if its just a muckaround game
Here is our evolving Vaccine / Covid Policy and Plan. At any time, the latest update appearing live here, will be our official stance.
- We take guidance from the following resource SportNZ – Click Here
- We are legally permitted to, and plan to play in Red and Orange light phases of the Covid Protection Framework (CPF).
Adults (and anyone older than 12 yrs) who haven’t been double vaccinated cannot participate in our competitions.All Adults (over 12 yrs) must be prepared to show a valid Vaccine Passport QR Code, either printed or on a charged and present mobile phone.Children under 12 – Are not required to show their vaccine pass, and it not mandatory for them to be vaccinated to participate.TouchRugby reserves the right to insist that this Pass be presented before playing. (Any leniency granted in NOT requesting a pass, does not become a right as in, “you never asked me last time”).Team Organisers: MUST check players vaccine Passes and should not knowingly allow unvaccinated adults to participate. We suggest they gather copies (printed or electronic) of their respective members passports for Presentation to referees and venue managers.Vaccinated Spectators are Encouraged to be at our games AND events: Mask Up, distance by 1 metre and use your common sense. DO NOT enter the field of play. For one-off games spectators may join their team in their gather. For Tournaments spectators may not join the Team bubble at any stage and may keep their own supporters bubble / gathering.Jurisdiction – TouchRugby is a private organization, whilst affiliated to TouchNZ and Regional Sport Organisations, the right to participate in our competitions is totally reserved.
REFUND POLICY: Specifically as it pertains to COVID
- If our competitions are unable to proceed owing to a newly instituted LOCKDOWN, teams will be refunded pro-rata the games they cannot play, less a 10% admin fee. These fees are calculated on a 14 game adult season and a 7 game Junior season.
- If we are NOT in lockdown, our competitions will be proceeding irrespective of the Colour status of the CPF (red / orange / green). This means our services will be proceeding with requisite manpower and expenses associated with presenting the competition. Teams that have signed up for the competitions will be liable for fees as agreed up on at registration.
- Regrettably teams that cannot play because certain members need to be isolated, will not be refunded. We will do genuine best to schedule double-headers, arrange fills ins and to play catch up games where possible.
Feb 02
Junior Touch – Covid Info
PARENTS / TEACHERS / COACHES of Juniors – Happy reading..
Here is how TouchRugby will be operating their Junior Touch Modules in the red Light of the CPF. We have used the following 2 resources; Government – and Sport NZ.
Summary: Touch in Red Light
Players: There are no requirements for physical-distancing while playing outdoor community sport. Multiple groups can operate simultaneously if they remain separated within defined spaces. (A Touch field is a defined space).
Coaches and Managers: Are allowed into the defined space of the players and are not included as participants for gathering numbers. (Ideally managers and coaches should wear a mask)
Spectators: Must not join the players on the field (defined space) and Must follow the general rules for life in Red Light (ie.Social Distance, Mask Wearing, Sanitise). A group of parents watching a game, may technically constitute their own gatherings in red light, but they must confidently remain in an isolated defined area and not mix with other groups. (Is this worth it, for the privilege of supporting without a mask?)
Vaccine Pass:
We are operating our leagues as a MY VACCINE EVENT. This sets our gathering numbers to 100. (Notwithstanding the fact that most of our Touch games will consist of less than 25 people per defined area, and therefore even in Red Light may proceed as an unvaccinated gathering, we choose to operate as such).
Players and Spectators over the age of 12: No Vacc – No Gather – No Play. All managers and / or coaches and / or responsible parents must sight these passes. If you enter a defined space (A touch field), to participate or support, you must carry your pass and MAY be requested to show it. * Good Faith Below
Multiple Teams: A player / coach may play in 2 different teams, but no more than 2. (Our logic is that a general Touch game involves 25 people at most, and being involved with more than 2, will be exposing us to above 100 people gathering).
Children u12: Children under 12 are not obliged to be vaccinated to participate. Children under 12, if vaccinated, are not required to show proof.
Good Faith: We are happy to allow parents, managers and volunteers to mask up and check passes on our behalf. In Good faith, we assume managers and participants will comply with these rules.
Jurisdiction: TouchRugby is a private organisation, one that works closely with schools, clubs and Regional and National Sports Organisations such as Touch NZ. That said, we have full jurisdiction and control of our competition and right of admission rests solely with us.
The Last Say: The longer we operate in the Red Light setting of the protection framework the more we realise the simplicity of what we are trying to achieve. Mitigate and slow the spread of Covid, yet somehow continue doing what we love. The irony of “not gathering” while doing the exact opposite is not lost on us. Do not in any way enjoy our services if you are not comfortable with the way we operate.
Touch is always going ahead as per the fixtures online – Click Here
When there is rain in the air (especially during Spring) I am sure team members, parents and concerned parties will want to know – “ARE WE PLAYING?”
The answer will always remain YES. There are no MAYBES. The answer will continue to remain “YES” until we specifically inform your team that it is cancelled.
Then with regards to the actual decision to cancel, here is how we make the decision. We won’t CANCEL because its raining per say. We cancel if there is danger to life or limb, the chance of irreparable damage to the field and finally if we can afford to postpone fixtures, i.e. Weeks remaining in the season, daylight etc.
Here is how we cancel, if we do 1: We post and immediate update on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/touchfiooty 2: We send an email from our IT SYSTEM like this 3: Your captain gets a text 4: As soon as possible we update the fixtures online (might take a day or 2).
We tend to leave the office after 3pm,so if ever you are mildly worried about rain you are welcome to TEXT to 021 249 3678 or the designated TOUCH line of 027 666 5668.
Thanks and see you pitch side – Graeme and the Team
The 29th November seems like a line in the sand and when we can look forward to playing some touch again. ” Insert subject to …. clause here 🙂 ”
We are gearing up to squeeze in 3 weeks of Adults touch before the XMAS break holidays.
We are then gearing up to play 9-10 weeks between Jan and March.
At this stage Juniors will be played in Term 1, however we are considering some form of one-off Tournament.
Tentative dates – Adults
Monday Touch @ Vic Park & Cox’s Bay – 6th, 13th, 20th December 2021
Tuesday Touch @ Cox’s Bay, Mangere (Manukau Rovers), Vic Park Lunch – 7th, 14th, 21st December 2021
Wednesday Touch @ Massey, Cornwall Park, Fearon Park, East Coast Bays – 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd December 2021
Thursday Touch @ Orakei Domain, Cornwall Park, East Coast Bays – 2nd, 9th, 16th December 2021
Friday Touch @ Grey Lynn Park, Panmure – 3rd, 10th, 17th December 2021
Juniors
Regrettably, there will be insufficient time to squeeze in a JUNIOR Term 4 competition, however we WILL be running Junior Touch in Term 1, commencing in the first week of School.
Juniors & Seniors One-Day Tournament interest
We are “pivoting”, which means thinking on our feet :-). We are putting in place plans for a welcome back TRAFFIC LIGHT TOUCH TOURNAMENT, in lieu of our missed popular Spring Warm up Tournament. This is venue dependent and the tentative dates are the 4th and 5th December – Let us know if your team would be interested in taking part in this Comp so we can start gaging interest? We are considering having Juniors on Saturday and Seniors on Sunday. (Basically the belated Spring Warm up Tournament).
Other Important Stuff
We will be implementing whatever Vaccine Passport requirements are mandated.
We will be operating strict Covid health policies, including cleaning equipment, separating fields and possible entrances.
Pro-rate Reduction in Fees – If for whatever reason competitions are cut short, we will be refunding teams for the games that haven’t been played, less a 10% Admin fee.
So dust off & polish those boots. Start stretching those lockdown muscles and get ready for touch again in a few weeks!!
Covid is not playing ball. If and when, we get the go ahead, we at TouchRugby.co.nz are ready run leagues at the drop of a hat! The draws, the refs, the fields & the equipment can be fired up within a week of Level 2+ restrictions being met.
If you haven’t signed up, because you are just NOT SURE, please still go ahead and enter your team online. Click Here. Don’t stress about paying fees, or potentially having to withdraw. Your entry helps us guage true demand and to get our grading sorted.
If it helps with your planning please take a look at the following info: These are our intentions!.. When can we play?… How are you protected?… What systems are in place?
When we get to gatherings of “20 or more”, in an outside environment, we feel we can safely being competitions. This was known as Level 2 in previous lockdowns, however with the new scenarios maybe this will be stage 2 or 3. (Like everyone we are waiting on more clarity).
Latest possible start in 2021
Junior Touch – 10th November (latest possible start). This will allow us to run a 5 week Competition. (We will reduce entry fees accordingly)
If term 4 is cancelled, we WILL be back for a 7 week season in Term 1 Season
Adult Touch – We can start any week from now until Xmas. If the remainder of the year is cancelled, we will run an abbreviated Jan-April Season of around 10 weeks. (We will reduce entry fees accordingly)
Playing Areas: Touch Fields count as independent playing areas, so naturally we can accommodate all teams and we are confident of separating them.
Vaccine status: All players will need to indicate their vaccine status in their online profile*. (This information is confidential and strictly for administrators to know). We reserve the right to make vaccines mandatory and will follow Sport NZ’s lead on this one.
Contact Tracing: All players will need to be registered and captains will be required to Tick who is present for each game.
QR codes and signing in will be mandatory
Equipment cleaning will be mandatory between games
Financial and Refund Policy
No Play No Pay – We have 3 options
1: We can issue a Refund on fees direct to your account. 2: Keep a credit against your Team for future competitions 3: Donate your entry fee to our designated Charity – Mass Sport Trust
We are no longer requiring a deposit to enter your team and you are only liable for fees once the season has started.
If the season doesn’t start, we will issue a full refund to any teams that have paid.
If the season starts, but gets shortened, we will issue a pro-rata refund based on the number of games not played, MINUS a $50 admin fee.
Junior Touch refers to fun 7-week term based Touch competitions for kids between Yr1 (5) all the way to Yr 7&8 (12&13). TOUCHRUGBY runs Junior Competitions in Auckland – Central (Cox’s Bay Reserve), Norwest (Massey), Central (Sandringham) and South (Mangere).
Our competitions are FUN, summer competitions, where we encourage mass participation. Our competitions are affiliated to Touch NZ and the respective Provincial Touch associations. We encourage the KEEN, TALENTED children to seek out the representative pathways that are on offer from Harbour, Auckland & Counties Touch.
Cox’s Bay Junior Touch, previously known as Galaxy Touch, is hosted at the picturesque Cox’s Bay Reserve in Westmere. This is a schools competition for Junior and Intermediate children. There are 2 distinct terms of Touch during Term 4 and Term 1. We prefer teams entering under the school banner, however when certain schools are not participating we welcome Club or Private teams that may wish to enter.
Term 4 Touch Kicks off on TUESDAY afternoon 19th October for 8 weeks Finishing 7th December 2021.
Enter League Fixtures Ask a Question Individual Entry
Central Juniors is hosted at Fearon Park in Mt Roskill. Enjoy the smiles and non-competitive nature of this awesome Junior competition that has close links to Eden Rugby as well schools in the Sandringham, Mt Albert and Mt Roskill area.
Term 4 Touch Kicks off Wednesday 27th 2021 for 7 weeks Finishing in the 2nd Week of December.
Enter a League Fixtures Ask a Question Individual Entry
The Mangere Juniors Touch competition is hosted at Williams Park home of Manukau Rovers. There are Grades for Year 1&2 (4pm), 3&4 (4&4:30pm), 5&6, 7&8 (open) (5&5:30). Preferably no more than 8 players in a team but as many as 10 will be accepted. We prefer teams entering under the school banner, however when certain schools are not participating we welcome Rugby and League teams.
Term 4 Touch Kicks off on TUESDAY afternoon 26th October for 7 weeks Finishing 13th December 2021.
Enter a League Fixtures Ask a Question Individual EntryNorwest Junior Touch is hosted at the picturesque Moire Park in Massey. This is a schools competition for Junior and Intermediate children. There are 2 distinct terms of Touch during Term 4 and Term 1.
We prefer teams entering under the school banner, however when certain schools are not participating we welcome Rugby and League teams.
Term 4 Junior Touch Touch Starts on 27th October 2021 for 7 weeks finishing in the 2nd week of December 2021.
Here is some lazy, light lockdown Touch Footy info for your reading pleasure. We have some info around currently “Paused” Winter competitions, some Spring one-off Events and of course Summer Touch. (Summer is 2-months away so we remain positive we will be gathering socially to play sport by then… Hmmm).
WINTER COMPETITIONS – Status
Winter Touch and Winter Turbo comps are on HOLD owing to the Covid lockdown. We are not cancelling any of them just yet, but will probably reduce the seasons so we can finish in time for Summer Touch. We watch our daily numbers and trends with interest.
Turbo n Vibez – (Turbo Touch Nationals) scheduled for the 12th Sept has been officially Cancelled. Damnn!
SPRING WARM-UP TOURNAMENTS – Jnr and Snrs
We have separate One-Day Tournaments for Junior and Senior Teams respectively. Both these events are OPEN for entry. Play 4-5 warm up games, get your combos sorted, listen to great Music and generally have a fun day out with Friends and Whanau.
Spring Warm Up for Senior Teams – Sun 26th Sept Coxes Bay – Click Here
***SPRING WARM UP Tournament for JUNIOR Teams*** New Event – Sunday 17 October – Kristin College – North Shore – Click Here
Waiheke 2022 – Only space or 30 teams – Sat 12th Feb 2022 – (Already starting to full up) – Click Here
***NEW JUNIOR and SENIOR COMPETITIONS***
We are pleased to announce that TouchRugby.co.nz is now managing Tuesday at Cox’s Bay. Along with our amazing MONDAY night we will add a very popular JUNIOR competition, followed by the old Corporate competition to make TUESDAY at Cox’s Bay great again!
SUMMER TOUCH for JUNIORS
Touch for Juniors – Auckland Wide
Tues – Mangere / Tues – Westmere / Wed – Mt Roskill / Wed – Massey
** New **Spring Warm Up Tournament for JUNIOR Teams – All Teams Welcome – Click Here
SUMMER TOUCH for ADULTS
We have a host of great summer touch locations, each with its own atmosphere, grades and playing level. There should be something for every type of team! Generally each comp taps off in the week commencing 25th October **. If you have a regular team, and know exactly Where you want to play, simply CLICK Here, sign in with the email address you have received this communication on and sign up!
Touch on a Monday
Vic Park Touch ** Early Tap off, Coxes Bay Touch, Vic Park Turbo
Touch on a Tuesday
Coxes Bay (Jnr&Snr), Auckland Grammar, Mangere / Airport (Manukau Rovers) (Jnr&Snr), Vic Park Lunch
Touch on a Wednesday
Massey (Jnr&;Snr) Massey RFC, Cornwall Park, Mt Roskill (Jnr&Snr)
Touch on a Thursday
Orakei Domain (Grammar Tec), Cornwall Park, Massey (Massey RFC),
Touch on a Friday Night for Communities
Grey Lynn (Richmond Rovers), Panmure Mt Wellington (Marist Auckland)
TEAM KIT – Click Here for more information and to get a list of our accredited suppliers. We offer our own funky kit sets too. $250 for a set of 14 Numbered Singlets, perfect for your Social Touch Team. (Big, small and in between). Our order is placed so kits will be here well in time for Spring Warm up events and certainly ready for summer tap-off.
INDIVIDUALS – What if you can’t enter a whole team. Click here for more info on how to enter as an Individual as well as our GURUS touch club. We try to leave no one behind!
MASTERS GRADES – Thurs Cornwall, Thurs Orakei, Wed Massey. (On Monday and Tuesday we put Masters into Mens Social Grades). Click Here
REFEREES – We need Senior and Junior Refs. Click Here Keep Fit, Earn some spending money, but more importantly make a difference – Get in Touch and we will train you, Kit you out
That’s all for now – Stay in TOUCH and hopefully we can get out and about sooner rather than later
The Touch Team
New Zealand moves to Alert Level 4 from 11;59pm 17 August 2021. The initial lockdown period for Auckland is 7-days, which means that ALL Touch and Turbo Touch Comps have been postponed whilst we are in lockdown Level 4.
As and when we receive MORE information from Gov we will make decisions and inform teams about when we can resume.
Lets hope this passes quickly so we can resume playing.
Leagues affected are Cox’s Bay Sunday, Newmarket/ St Peters Monday, Westlake Thursdays and City West Turbo Fridays.
Stay Safe and keep up your skills in your backyard with your Bubble.