Business Details
26 Years
experience
Your Home for Social Touch Football in Melbourne
Princes Park Touch was founded in 2000 by Peter Shaw, a former semi-professional rugby player from England, with a vision to establish accessible, community-driven touch football in Melbourne's inner north. Starting in Royal Park, the organisation relocated to Princes Park in 2007, overcoming initial challenges to grow into Victoria's largest and most successful social touch football competition. Today, we offer structured summer and winter leagues, inclusive programs like SWITCH for women, and preseason training, catering to mixed, men's, and women's teams across all skill levels. Our commitment to fair play, social atmosphere, and quality facilitiesincluding well-maintained fields and partnerships with local venues like the Great Northern Hotelensures a welcoming environment for players and spectators alike.With a focus on community building, we prioritise grading systems to match team abilities, flexible registration options for individuals and teams, and referee development programs that provide training, competitive pay, and post-game social events. Over two decades, we've nurtured long-standing teams like Phantoms and Dunneworthy while maintaining our core values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and grassroots growth.
Services
Touch football competitions
SWITCH women's program
Preseason training
Referee development
Team placement service
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- Founded in 2000 by experienced rugby and touch football leader Peter Shaw
- Largest touch football competition in Victoria with 60% growth in recent years
- Structured grading ensures balanced matches for all skill levels
- Inclusive programs for mixed, men's, women's, and beginner teams
- Dedicated referee development with competitive pay and training support
Services
Touch football competitions
Princes Park Touch operates summer and winter leagues for mixed, men's, and women's teams across five grades. Games follow modified Touch Football Australia rules with 2x20 minute halves. Summer competitions run 13-15 weeks, featuring grading rounds to ensure balanced matches and playoffs for all divisions. Winter programs include full-length mixed competitions and shorter 4-week formats for men's and women's teams.
SWITCH women's program
This award-winning program provides learn-to-play sessions and competitive opportunities specifically for women. Held on Thursday evenings in October, it includes skill development clinics and structured matches. The initiative aims to strengthen female participation in touch football through accessible training and community-building activities tailored to all experience levels.
Preseason training
Our preseason program offers team coaching, refereed scratch matches, and skills workshops for unaligned players. Running from October to November, it helps existing teams improve performance and newcomers learn the sport. Sessions focus on tactical development, rule understanding, and fitness preparation for both competitive and recreational players.
Referee development
We provide comprehensive referee training including paid courses, mentorship, and ongoing support. New referees work with experienced officials during games, receive full payment while learning, and gain formal accreditation. The program includes weekly refreshments and social events to build community among officials who often also play in the same competitions.
Team placement service
Individuals without teams can register through our placement service to join existing teams at no cost. The program successfully places large numbers of players annually, ensuring diverse team compositions across all skill levels. Support includes guidance through registration processes and ongoing assistance with team integration.
People
Peter Shaw
Founder and President
Peter Shaw established Princes Park Touch in 2000 after returning from semi-professional rugby in England. With over two decades of leadership, he transformed the competition from a small local event into Victoria's largest touch football organisation while maintaining its community-focused ethos.
Questions
When does the summer touch football season start?
The summer season starts in early November at Princes Park, running until late February with a break over Christmas.
How can I join a team if I don't have one?
Use our Individual Players form to get placed into a team for free—no prior experience required.
What programs are available for women?
Our SWITCH program offers learn-to-play sessions and competitive matches specifically for women.
Are there referee training opportunities?
Yes—we provide paid training, courses, and ongoing support for new referees.
What are the game formats and rules?
Matches are 2x20 minute halves with modified TFA rules, played 6-a-side on mixed, men's, or women's teams.
How are team grades determined?
Grading rounds in the first two weeks assess team ability, with ongoing adjustments to ensure competitive balance.
Reviews (4)
Michael Gao
Dec 18, 2020
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Best touch competition in Melbourne - great social and relaxed environment and fun at the same time! Highly recommend
Movies Take
Nov 22, 2020
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Not a fake review. There are some great touch rugby organizations around Melbourne but Princes Park Touch Football falls short
Ra Mitchell
Nov 13, 2019
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Friendliest social sport competition in Melbourne. Very popular so be organised as soon as registration is available.
Leata Senitu
Aug 19, 2018
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Great fun, you play two season in two different fields in winter you play JJ Holland fields and in summer you play at the princes park excellent for beginners to advance and social teams of mixed women and men
