Ruling = A Penalty to the non-offending Team at the point of the Infringement.
17.7 When an intercept has occurred or a line break made, players are not permitted 
to Interchange until the next Touch has been made or ball becomes Dead.
Ruling A = If a player enters the Field of Play and prevents the scoring of a Try, a Penalty Try 
will be awarded and the offending player sent to the Sin Bin.
Ruling B = If a player enters the Field of Play but does not impede the scoring of a Try the 
offending player will be sent to the Sin Bin.
17.8 Following a Try, players may Interchange at will, without having to wait for the 
player to enter the Interchange Area, but must do so prior to the Tap being taken 
to recommence play.
18 Penalty  
18.1 The Tap must be performed in accordance with the Definitions.
Ruling = The Referee will instruct the offending Team to return to the Mark and perform the 
Tap again.
18.2 For Infringements that occur between seven (7) metre lines, the Mark for the 
Penalty Tap is at the point of Infringement unless otherwise indicated by the 
Referee. 
18.3 For Infringements that occur within the Seven Metre Zone the Tap must be 
taken at the nearest seven (7) metre line.
18.4 For Infringements that occur beyond the Field of Play or in the In-Goal Area 
the Mark is seven (7) metres infield from the Sideline, or directly Forward of 
the Infringement on the seven (7) metre line nearest the Infringement or at a 
position indicated by the Referee.
18.5 The Mark must be indicated by the Referee before a Penalty Tap is taken.
18.6 The Penalty Tap must be performed without delay after the Referee indicates 
the Mark.
Ruling = A Penalty to the non-offending team at the point of Infringement.
18.7 A player may perform a Rollball instead of a Penalty Tap and the player who 
receives the ball does not become the Half.
18.8 If the Defending Team is penalised three (3) times upon entering their Seven 
Metre Zone during a single Possession, the last offending player will be given an 
Exclusion until the end of that Possession.
18.9 A Penalty Try is awarded if any action by a player, Team official or spectator, 
deemed by the Referee to be contrary to the Rules or spirit of the game clearly 
prevents the Attacking Team from scoring a Try.
FIT Playing Rules - 5th Edition COPYRIGHT © Touch Football Australia 2020
1519 Advantage  
19.1 Where a Defending Team player is Offside at a Tap or Rollball and attempts 
to interfere with play, the Referee will allow Advantage or award a Penalty, 
whichever is of greater Advantage to the Attacking Team.
19.2 Should the Attacking Team in the act of taking the Advantage subsequently 
infringe, the Ruling on the initial Infringement will apply.
20 Misconduct  
20.1 Misconduct warranting Penalty, Forced Interchange, Sin Bin or Dismissal 
includes:
20.1.1 Continuous or regular breaches of the Rules;
20.1.2 Swearing towards another player, Referee, spectator or other match  
official;
20.1.3 Disputing decisions of Referees or other match official(s);
20.1.4 Using more than the necessary physical force to make a Touch;
20.1.5 Poor sportsmanship;
20.1.6 Tripping, striking, or otherwise assaulting another player, Referee, 
spectator or other match official; or
20.1.7 Any other action that is contrary to the spirit of the game.
21 Forced Interchange  
21.1 Where the Referee deems it necessary to implement a Forced Interchange 
following an Infringement, the Referee is to stop the match, direct the ball to 
be placed on the Mark, advise the offending player of the reason for the Forced 
Interchange, direct that player to return to the Interchange Area, display the 
relevant signal and award a Penalty to the non-offending Team.
22 Sin Bin  
22.1 The on-field Referee is required to indicate the commencement and the end of 
the Sin Bin time.
22.2 Any player sent to the Sin Bin must stand in the Sin Bin Area at the opposition’s 
end of the Field of Play and on the same side as their Interchange Area. 
22.3 Any player sent to the Sin Bin must return to the Interchange Area prior to re-
entering the Field of Play.
22.4 Any action that causes the Touch Count to restart will result in a continuation of 
that Possession. For the avoidance of doubt, should a defender knock the ball 
down or give away a Penalty, this does not mean that the Possession has been 
completed, but rather the Possession continues. 
FIT Playing Rules - 5th Edition
16
COPYRIGHT © Touch Football Australia 202023 Dismissal  
23.1 A player or official dismissed for misconduct is to take no further part in that 
match and is to move to and remain outside the Perimeter for the remainder of 
the match.
23.2 The dismissed player or official cannot be replaced and, in accordance with NTA 
Disciplinary Regulations, that player shall receive an automatic two (2) match 
suspension. 
24 Drop-Off  
24.1 Should a Winner be required in drawn matches, the following Drop-Off 
procedure is used to determine a Winner.
24.1.1 Each Team will reduce their on-field Team to four (4) players and within 
60 seconds take up a position to restart play from the Halfway Line, 
defending the same end of the field as at the End of Play.
24.1.2 The Drop-Off commences with a Tap from the centre of the Halfway Line 
by the Team that did not commence the match with Possession.
24.1.3 The Drop-Off will commence with a two (2) minute period of extra time.
24.1.4 Should a Team be leading at the expiration of the two (2) minute period 
of extra time then that Team will be declared the Winner and Match 
complete.
24.1.5 Should neither Team be leading at the expiration of two (2) minutes, a 
signal is given and the match will pause at the next Touch or Dead Ball. 
Each Team will then remove another player from the Field of Play.
24.1.6 The Match will recommence immediately after the players have left the 
field at the same place where it paused (i.e. the Team retains Possession 
at the designated number of Touches, or at Change of Possession due to 
some Infringement or the sixth Touch) and the Match will continue until a 
Try is scored.
24.1.7 There is no time off during the Drop-Off and the clock does not stop at 
the two (2) minute interval.
24.1.8 Substitution during the Drop-Off is permitted in accordance with normal 
Interchange Rules.
24.2 Mixed gender Teams may have no more than (2) males on the field during the 
Drop-Off.
24.2.1 In the case of a male player serving time in the Sin Bin at the 
commencement of the Drop-Off the offending Team will start with no 
more than one (1) male on the field.
24.2.2 Where a male player has been dismissed for the remainder of the match, 
the offending Team will be permitted to have no more than one (1) male 
on the field for the duration of the Drop-Off. 
FIT Playing Rules - 5th Edition COPYRIGHT © Touch Football Australia 2020
1724.3 At the commencement of the Drop-Off, if there is a player serving time in the 
Sin  Bin and is yet to complete the required time, their Team