Touch is for L.I.F.E.

(CRFU): Playing a sport you love and raising money for charity is a powerful combination and on Saturday September 7th,all those that love the sport of Touch will have the opportunity to do both in the Genesis Trust Touch Festival. One of the main beneficiaries of the proceeds will be L.I.F.E. (Literacy Is For Everyone) – a Cayman organisation aimed to improve literacy in the Cayman Islands. Their objective is to improve literacy through empowering parents to help their children read, develop paired-reading programs to assist students. It also recognizes the need to help adults with literacy problems.

Organised in conjunction with Genesis Trust, the Cayman Pirates Touch team are hosting this great event as they want to raise money for this great cause and also promote the sport they love, as they look to go to the US National Championships in October.

Touch has a number of differences from the more traditional forms of rugby and is loved for its simplicity. Very little equipment is needed, the rules are easy-to-learn and with no tackling the risk of injury is much less. Teams are mixed with three guys and three girls on the pitch at any one time. The basic principles are simple – run forwards, pass backwards and each team attempts to advance the ball up the field to score a try. When an opponent touches you (on any part of the body, clothing or ball) you have to stop and start the next phase, you get six touches and if a try isn’t scored then the ball gets turned over and the opposition have a go.

The emphasis of this tournament is fun with teams getting prizes for the best dressed line-up. There is even a separate competition for family teams with children under 14 to participate with their parents. Everyone is welcome to play whether you are a seasoned Touch player or completely new to the game.

Played at the Camana Bay Sports Complex, games will be held all day from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 pm and each team is guaranteed at least three games. Refreshments will be heavily subsidised to quench the thirst of those running around or even if you are just watching from the sidelines.

So whether you’re a team of individuals or a corporate group looking to help the community contact www.caymantouch.com for further details or to submit your entry form. But don’t delay as this promises to be a very popular festival of Touch indeed as, for one day only, Touch is for L.I.F.E.