Oztag History

The first OZTAG competitions started in the summer of 1992/1993 at Cronulla (Sydney) with 28 teams and St George (Sydney) with 12 teams. Since then OZTAG has grown incredibly throughout the country. The Australian Oztag Sports Association (AOSA) was formed in 1994 as an incorporated organisation. The AOSA currently aims to provide opportunities for people to participate at all levels, by developing, promoting and managing the game of OZTAG in Australia. So it has been go for 19/20 years, and is still growing.

 

OZTAG is a non-tackling game with limited contact and the rules are designed to encourage this. Passing, catching, tagging, and evasive (to avoid or evade the opposition) and kicking are the skills used in OZTAG. It is played over two 20 minutes periods with eight players from each team on the field - 70m x 50m (half a soccer/Rugby field). 

How Oztag Is Played By Jed Dunkley and Rowan Hockey

Oztag is a game played by many people of all ages and genders. The object of the game is to score tries. Defenders stop this by tagging the person with the ball, removing the tag from the shorts. Players must wear Oztag shorts or an Oztag belt with a Velcro patch on each side. The tag is a strip of cloth is attached to the Velcro. Tagging instead of tackling is great for players to play at all skill levels.

A defender cannot interfere with the progress of an attacker, so if you try to get a tag and bump the attacker you may well be penalised. The rule is whoever initiates contact will be penalised. Oztag is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by male, female and mixed teams of all athletic abilities from the ages of 6 – 60. Oztag competitions are run in midweek after school in summer. Many friends, family and work colleagues form teams primarily for fun and fitness. Oztag is good because there is no training, no volunteer duties and team coaches aren’t required.