Stockland Park hosts National Touch League March 10-13

Australia's best Touch Football players, coaches and referees will unite on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for four days of action packed Touch Football this month (March 2010).

The National Touch League (NTL) is Australia's premier Touch Football event featuring affiliated regional and state representative teams from all states and territories throughout Australia. The NTL will be held at Stockland Park, Kawana, Queensland from Wednesday, 10 to Saturday, 13 March. Grand Finals will take place on Saturday from 11:30am and will conclude at 8:00pm. The top three divisions will be played at 4:50pm, 6:00pm and 7:10pm.

The Sunshine Coast Pineapples will have thirteen teams competing in the 2010 National Touch League; Men's Open, Women's Open, Mixed Open, Men's Under 20's, Women's Under 20's, Women's Over 27's, Men's Over 30, Women's 35's, Men's 40's, Women's 40's, Men's Over 45, Men's Over 50 (Division 2) and Senior Mixed.

The 2010 XBlades National Touch League has ventured to Queensland after previously being held in New South Wales cities Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, and will consist of 146 teams - the largest NTL on record.

Touch Football Australia's Events and Communications Manager, Mark Spear, is looking forward to the tournament after months of preparation.

"With the event moving to Queensland for the first time and a record 146 teams competing, it should be a wonderful tribute to Touch Football which is marking 30 years of national tournaments."

"With numerous new teams competing in the 14 divisions, it will be exciting to see which teams will rise to the top and claim the NTL title," Spear said.

2010 marks 30 Years of National Competition, with the first Touch Football National Championships held at Southport, Queensland in 1980. A 30 year Celebration will be held at the Caloundra RSL following the National Touch League on Sunday, 14 March.

During the event, senior players will be vying for selection in the Australian Masters teams to contest the 2010 Masters Trans Tasman Series (MTTS) between Australian and New Zealand in Townsville in June this year.

In addition, Touch Football Australia will be refreshing Youth and Open's National squads in the preparation for the 2011 Youth Trans Tasman Series and the Open's World Cup.