Touch Football Gear: The Full Kit Checklist for Players and Clubs
Touch football gear is short: a numbered team shirt, shorts or tights, socks and moulded-sole footwear. Add a ball, water and sunscreen. No protective equipment exists in the sport.
New players usually overbuy in the wrong places. They spend on footwear and forget what actually ruins a season. Sun exposure and a shirt that fails inspection cost more. Team Spirit Sports works with touch clubs and schools across Australia.
This guide covers all the touch football gear you need, what the rules require and what clubs should carry.
Key Takeaways
- The essential kit is a numbered shirt, shorts, socks and suitable footwear.
- Screw-in studs are banned for every player and referee.
- Shirt numbers must be at least 16 centimetres high.
- Jewellery must be removed or securely taped.
- There is no protective gear in touch, so sun protection matters more.
Touch Football Gear: The Complete Checklist
Everything in one place, for players and committees:
Every player needs
- Numbered team playing shirt
- Shorts, skirt or tights
- Sports socks
- Moulded-sole boots or suitable trainers
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
Worth having
- A hat for before and after play
- Strapping tape
- A spare shirt
- A snack for evening fixtures
- Warm layers for the sideline
Clubs should carry
- Match and training balls
- Markers or cones
- A first aid kit and ice
- A ball pump
- Spare numbered shirts
The Essentials in Detail
The Playing Shirt
Every player on a team needs a matching shirt. It must carry a unique number on the back. This is the item most likely to cause a problem at sign-on.
Avoid white as a base colour. Referees wear it, and associations discourage teams from doing the same.
Shorts, Skirts and Tights
All three are acceptable. Choose based on comfort and the weather rather than convention. Tights suit cooler evenings and players who prefer more coverage.
Socks
Ordinary sports socks are fine, though club colours look better. More importantly, socks are the difference between a comfortable season and blisters by round three.
Most clubs include custom sports socks in the kit order. It is a small addition that finishes the look.
Footwear
Touch is a game of evasion, so grip matters more than cushioning. Boots with soft moulded soles are the standard choice. Trainers work on firm, dry surfaces.
The specifics of surface choice deserve their own conversation. For gear checklist purposes, moulded soles and a good fit cover it.
What the Rules Require
Three equipment rules catch teams out at registration:
- Numbers must be unique and at least 16 centimetres high
- Screw-in studs are prohibited, with moulded studs limited to 13 millimetres
- Jewellery must be removed, or taped if it cannot be
These apply to referees as well as players. Check them before ordering rather than on the first night.
The Ball
Any oval ball works for a casual game in the park. Affiliated competitions use an official touch ball, which is smaller and grippier than a rugby ball.
The approved size is 36 centimetres long with a 55 centimetre circumference. Most clubs keep several, since one always goes missing.
Sun and Heat Gear
Sun Protection
Touch is played through the Australian summer, often at the worst time of day for juniors. There is no helmet or padding to hide behind. Sunscreen is genuinely part of the kit.
A hat can be worn during play in most competitions and should be worn on the sideline regardless. Fabric matters too, which is why UV protection in sportswear is worth understanding before a club orders.
Hydration
Unlimited interchange means you can drink whenever you come off. Keep a bottle in the substitution area rather than in your bag. Evening fixtures also benefit from a small snack beforehand.
Cold and Wet Weather Gear
Not every competition runs in summer. Winter and early morning fixtures call for more:
- Long-sleeved base layer under the playing shirt
- Tights instead of shorts
- A jumper or tracksuit for before and after
- A towel and a change of shirt
Wet grass also changes footwear needs. Moulded soles handle it far better than flat trainers.
Training Gear
Training needs less than people expect. Two balls and a dozen markers cover most sessions.
The one thing worth adding is a separate training top. Players who train in their match shirt wear it out twice as fast, and it never dries between sessions.
What Clubs Should Keep on the Sideline
Committees are usually the ones who notice gaps. A basic sideline kit covers a first aid kit, ice, spare balls, a pump and a spare numbered shirt.
A dedicated bag saves arguments about who forgot what. Many clubs use personalised sports bags so the gear stays with the team rather than in someone’s boot.
What Gear Actually Costs
Touch is among the cheapest team sports to enter. A player arriving with existing trainers and shorts needs only a team shirt.
Costs sit in three tiers:
- Bare minimum. A team shirt, since everything else can be borrowed from a wardrobe
- Proper setup. Shirt, shorts, socks and moulded-sole boots
- Full season. Add a training top, a spare shirt and a bag
Compare that with contact codes requiring headgear and padding. The low entry cost is a large part of why the sport grew so quickly.
Buying Order for a New Player
If you are starting from nothing, buy in this order:
- Team shirt, because it has rules attached and a lead time
- Footwear, because grip affects safety immediately
- Socks and shorts, which are cheap and easy to add
- Everything else, once you know you are staying
Plenty of people play a full first season in borrowed gear. There is no need to spend before you know the sport suits you.
What You Do Not Need
Touch has no protective equipment, and this surprises people arriving from other codes. You do not need:
- Headgear or shoulder padding
- Mouthguards, though some players choose to wear one
- Screw-in stud boots, which are banned outright
- Gloves
Anyone telling a beginner to buy protective gear has confused the sport with rugby league.
Packing Your Kit Bag
The night before is easier than the morning of. A standing list saves the usual scramble:
- Playing shirt, checked for the right number
- Shorts, socks and footwear
- Full water bottle
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Tape and a spare shirt
Leave the bag packed between fixtures. Only the bottle and the washing need to come out.
Gear for Junior Players
Juniors need the same list with two adjustments. Use a smaller ball for younger age groups, and allow room for growth in the shirt.
Buying tight to get a neat fit is the classic mistake. Sensible kids sportswear choices give a season or two of wear rather than one.
Looking After Your Gear
Touch kit lives a hard life in heat and on grass. A little care doubles how long it lasts.
Wash playing shirts inside out and air dry them rather than using a dryer. The full detail on how to wash sportswear is worth reading once and then forgetting about.
Footwear needs attention too, especially after wet or muddy fixtures. Knowing how to clean sports shoes properly keeps the grip you paid for.
Team Spirit Sports and the Real Cost of Kitting a Team
Most committees budget for shirts and stop there. Then socks, training tops, spares and a bag all arrive as surprises. Team Spirit Sports prefers clubs see the whole picture upfront.
Planning the full list at once is usually cheaper than adding items later. Getting sports club budgeting for new uniforms right removes most mid-season scrambling.
It also helps to know what a proper quote contains. Understanding what is included in a teamwear quote makes comparing suppliers far less confusing.
Licensed means something specific here. Touch Football Australia and Queensland Touch Football approve suppliers through a formal apparel program, and ours runs to 2028. The agreement spans seven jurisdictions. Those are Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
Get Your Kit Sorted Before Round One
Touch football gear is refreshingly simple. Four items get you on the field, and the rules only care about three things.
Sort the shirt first, since that is the one with requirements attached. Everything else can be added as you go.
Kit your squad with our 3D design tool, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Touch Football Gear FAQs
What do you need to play touch football?
A numbered team shirt, shorts or tights, socks and suitable footwear. Add water and sunscreen. Nothing else is required.
Do you need boots to play touch football?
Not strictly. Moulded-sole boots give better grip for the direction changes involved. Trainers are acceptable on firm, dry ground.
Can you wear studs in touch football?
Only moulded studs, up to 13 millimetres. Screw-in studs are banned for every player and referee.
Can you wear jewellery playing touch?
No. Items must be removed before play. Anything that cannot come off must be securely taped.
Do you need a mouthguard for touch football?
It is not required, since there is no tackling. Some players choose to wear one anyway. It is a personal decision rather than a rule.