Everybody needs to blow off some steam on a Monday, so come and join us for some Touch Rugby League, Monday nights, from 7pm, at MK Powerleague. It's a fun and social sport that ANYONE can play.

Whether you played in our Spring / Summer season, or are completely new to the sport, you'll be very welcome to join us.

Here’s what you need to know:

Where?
We've teamed up with Powerleague MK, Fyfield Barrow, Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes, MK7 7WH - and they've let us use their state-of-the-art facilities. Powerleague’s reception and their 3g pitches are just behind Walton High School – come through the school gates off Fyfield Barrow and follow the path round to the left to find us.

When?
We'll play 7.00pm - 9.00pm every Monday night. Get there with enough time to change, as we’ll start playing at 7pm.

How to register?
To make it quick and easy, register at: http://www.playtouchrugbyleague.co.uk/where_to_play/session_finder. Click on “London & South East, then on “Milton Keynes Wolves”, then on “Book Now”.

What to wear?
We're playing on MK Powerleague's astroturf pitches - so you'll want to wear astroturf trainers or moulded boots - but regular trainers would also be fine. The only thing not to wear is metal studs - that's to protect Powerleague's playing surface. As for the rest of it - shorts & t-shirt will be fine.

And if you're planning on a spectacular swallow dive over the line, maybe you'll want to think about covering your knees and elbows!

What will it cost?
£5 per 2 hour session - please pay at reception on arrival.

How old do I have to be?
14 to any age… Teenager or pensioner. Basically, if you can run, you can play Touch Rugby League.

Can women play?
Absolutely. Teams can be all male, all female, or mixed... Anything goes.

What if I turn up on my own and don't know anyone?
You won't be the only one. And you'll quickly make friends with your new teammates!

Will I enjoy it?
If you don't, we'll be very surprised…!

OK, got all that. Now HOW do I play?
At it's most basic, the object of the game is simple: Your team needs to get the ball up to the opposition's end ("try line"), and the opposition need to stop you. If the opposition have the ball, they'll be trying to get the ball up to your try line, and you'll need to stop them.

You score points by grounding the ball over the opposition's try line (a "try"). The team that scores the most tries wins.

You can stop them by "tackling" them (simply touching the ball carrier's body - but touching their clothes or the ball also counts). After the sixth "tackle", they have to stop attacking, hand over the ball so your team have possession and you now have six "tackles" to try to score.

Oh yeah - and you're only allowed to pass the ball backwards.

Not as complicated as you imagined? Good! It's simple - and you'll quickly get the hang of it.

It's about quick thinking, communication and great teamwork. Nail that, and you have touch rugby down!

Want to know more? We'll explain the rules as we play, but boiling it down:

BASICS

How many in a team?
Usually 6 on the field per team (on smaller pitches it's 5). But you can have a few extra substitutes, who can come on and off as many times as necessary. Importantly, everybody will get a game.

How does the game kick-off?
With a "tap restart". Place the ball on the floor, tap it with your foot, pick it up and either run with it or pass it. This is how the game kicks off, and also how it restarts after each try and after each penalty.

DEFENDING

How to defend?
Each defending team must retreat 10 metres (7m on smaller pitches) in a line from the ball at the tap restart. Once the ball is played, defenders can advance towards the opposition. After each tackle, the defending team must retreat 5 metres (or - if the attackers are within 5m of the try line, to the try line).

How to tackle?
A tackle is a simple touch by a defender anywhere on the body, clothing or ball of the ball-carrying attacking player. Once done, raise your hand and shout "touch!" to alert the referee. However, if you're too aggressive with your touch, or you claim a touch when you've not actually touched them, you could be penalised.

ATTACKING

Passing the ball
The ball must always be passed backwards to a teammate (imagine a line across the pitch from where you are - you must pass it to a teammate who is behind that line).

Running with the ball
Once you receive the ball, you can either pass it (backwards) to another team-mate, or run with it until you get tackled, or score a try (grounding the ball over the opposition's try line).

How does the game re-start after each tackle?
With a "roll-ball". At the point where the "touch" occurred, the tackled player places the ball on the floor, and rolls it backwards to a team mate with his foot. The team mate who picks it up is the "Acting Half-Back" for that play (also known as the "Dummy Half") who can either run with it (not recommended - if he's touched, possession and six tackles is handed to the opposition), or pass it. Importantly, the "dummy half" cannot score a try.

At a "roll-ball", the defence must retreat to a line 5m from the roll-ball. Defenders can start moving forward once the ball is on the floor.

When possession is handed over after six tackles, the new attacking side restarts with a roll-ball.

Tries
If you carry the ball over the opposition's try-line and touch it on the ground in the in-goal area, you'll score a point for your team. There are no conversions, or kicks at goal.

INFRINGEMENTS
Things you DON'T want to do - your team-mates won't love you for these, 'cos it'll give the opposition the ball AND the next six tackles...

Slap or hit instead of touch
Pass forwards
Fumble / knock the ball forwards
Not retreating the appropriate distance at a roll-ball or tap restart (hint: watch the referee's position. He'll be back the appropriate distance. Keep in line with him)
Claiming a touch has been made when it hasn't.
Passing the ball after being touched.
Kicking the ball: For those used to playing full rugby league, no cheeky grubbers on the last tackle - no up n' unders. No kicking whatsoever.
Interfering with the opposition roll-ball.
Being an idiot. See "Spirit of the game" below...

IMPORTANT OTHER STUFF

Spirit of the game
The referees won't get it right all the time. It's not the end of the world. And win, lose or draw, just enjoy it! Shake hands with the opposition, and the referee, and have a drink with them afterwards. It's competitive, but it's also social. We're here to enjoy it.

If you want to find out more, fuller laws / rules are here: http://media.rladmin.co.uk/docs/Touch%20Rugby%20League%20Playing%20Rules.pdf