Touch football is not part of the Olympics. But its role in one of Australias most glowing achievements at the Rio Games should not be under-estimated.As Australian Rugby Union officials were celebrating their womens sevens success, so too were their Touch Football Australia counterparts; understandable considering the core of the victorious team came from their ranks.In the 12-member Australian gold medal-winning contingent were seven notable touch footballers, many of whom converted to rugby as the Olympics was such a compelling drawcard.Four -- Charlotte Caslick, Nicole Beck, Alicia Quirk and Emilee Cherry -- were Australian touch football representatives, with 51 Test appearances between them. Gemma Etheridge was a national mixed open representative, while Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato were Australian Youth representatives.What they learned and developed on the touch football field, including exceptional ball-handling and passing skills as well as knowing how to elude opponents, were vital elements in the Australian womens sevens triumph.There was also an understanding of success, especially as the Australian womens touch football team boast one of the most impressive winning streaks in Australian sport- victors in all eight World Cup tournaments held since 1988. Its exactly the same with the Australian mens touch football team. Eight out of eight over their chief rival New Zealand.The amateur world of Australian touch football, which has strong links with the National Rugby League competition, has power in numbers -- with more than 700,000, people, including 320,000 women, playing the game nationally. Touch Football Australias target is one million participants in Australia by 2020.Their officials realise the masters of their game are bound to be attracted by those able to dangle Olympic medals and professional programs in front of them- - such as the ARU. However, they argue their aim is to continue developing quality male and female athletes -- including those who can become notable rugby league performers and rugby gold medallists.Touch Football Australia chief executive officer Colm Maguire said the organisation was very proud of the success of their past stars in Rio, who were able to use their touch football skills to represent Australia on a different stage and win gold medals.Then there was the publicity boost for their sport.It has been amazing that there has been so many references since the sevens win to where theyve learnt the game, Maguire told ESPN.So good news week for both womens rugby and touch football. As the Olympics heads into its second week and Australias achievements in Rio continue to inspire, the womens sevens triumph remains a standout.Not since the Wallabies appearance in the 2015 World Cup final has Australian rugby enjoyed such a flourishing moment, with the womens team captivating the nation during the event and then for days afterwards. Now they even boast their own postage stamp.While the Australian women indicated back in 2009 when it won the first Sevens World Cup tournament in Dubai that it was a formidable force, the masterstroke was an ARU talent identification program aimed at making their first Olympic appearance a success. This brought to the team many from other sporting pursuits, including hockey, basketball, athletics, and in particular the touch football ranks -- not surprising considering its attacking and passing qualities are also at the heart of the sevens game.What was then required was for a number of the newcomers to learn proper tackling techniques so they became the complete rugby sevens performer. It took time, but it all began to gel well before the team arrived in Brazil, as shown by their No. 1 world ranking going into the Olympics.Maguire said an important skill the touch football contingent provided the Australia sevens team with was the long passing game.I thought the difference between the teams was the ability of our girls to see space, throw that long pass to open space, and have players run into the hole, Maguire said.Our sport is different to a lot of others in being an evasion game. So our girls are always looking for space. They are always looking to score.They develop an attacking mindset. Their high fitness level is another key element, and helps them to handle the workload.There will be a lot of people now talking about playing sevens football, but those girls (in the Australian team) wouldnt play the way that they do if they hadnt had their skill development in our game.Maguire also believes those who had been enticed elsewhere will probably not be lost to touch football.It is a sport you can play for life. So Ive no doubt that those girls will someday return and again play touch football for Australia, potentially in an over-age category, or definitely at the park level.We have a very strong high performance program, but were really focused on ensuring that more people participate. Touch football usually ends up being a lot of peoples second sport. They play rugby league and touch, or netball and touch, or rugby union and touch. 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RICHMOND, Va. -- Rebuilding or not, Georgia Tech did not want to head into a 10-day layoff for finals coming off a winless three-game road trip.They wont, thanks to Josh Heath, who hit a tie-breaking 12-foot jumper in overtime, and fellow guard Tadric Jackson, who bounced back from one of his worst games with one of his best as the Yellow Jackets beat VCU 76-73 in overtime Wednesday night.To get a win like this in a rebuilding situation when youre starting from Ground Zero is a heck of a win, first-year coach Josh Pastner said after his team, of the Atlantic Coast Conference, handed the Rams of the Atlantic 10 just their 13th loss in the last 87 home games.Weve just got to make sure we take this win and build on it and continue to get better, Pastner said.Jackson scored 19 of his 24 points after halftime for the Yellow Jackets (5-3), who are heading into a break for finals. They won despite turning the ball over 20 times and getting just three points from freshman scoring sensation Josh Okogie, who played 16 minutes.He didnt play as well, but hes a freshman and thats part of the growth, Pastner said.Ben Lammers had 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Yellow Jackets.Justin Tillman had 26 points and nine rebounds and JeQuan Lewis scored 16 for the Rams (6-3), who lost their second straight.The Rams closed regulation with a 7-2 run, forcing overtime when Tillman scored with 54 seconds left and neither team could score again. In the overtime, Lewis scored for VCU, Jackson followed with a 3-pointer and Lewis hit one of two free throws with 1:50 remaining.Heaths jumper made it 75-73, and the Yellow Jackets missed 3 of 4 free throws in the closing minutes, but Doug Brooks missed a pair of 3-point tries for the Rams, and his shot at the buzzer hit off the backboard but wasnt close to going in.VCU coach Will Wade kept his team in the locker room for nearly 50 minutes after the final horn sounded.It felt llike in spurts we played really hard and we fought, but the majority of the game we were on our heels, said Lewis, who had seven assists, but also seven of the Rams 21 turnovers.dddddddddddd Its unacceptable. You cant beat an ACC team like that.BIG PICTUREGeorgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are one of the youngest teams in terms of experience in Division I, and should only get better as the season wears on. They led VCU 36-28 at halftime despite getting nothing but two quick fouls from Okogie (he arrived averaging 17 points) in the half, blocked four shots and altered countless others, taking away VCUs willingness to drive for some lengthy stretches.VCU: The Rams are at their best when they play fast, but under control, and that fine line is not one they have figured out how to navigate yet. Lewis can be dazzling at full throttle, but can only run himself into situations that lead to ill-advised passes or terrible shots, and the frenetic pace the Rams often rely on to create the havoc that was their hallmark can now hurt them as much as it helps them.HEAVE HOGeorgia Techs Corey Heyward swished about a 65-foot shot at the buzzer of the first half, giving Tech the 36-28 lead. The shot came after the ball was inbounded with 00.6 showing on the clock. We won by three points. Thats probably the difference, Pastner said, noting that the team ends each practice by having to make a halfcourt shot, and that it took them about 8 minutes to do it Wednesday.UP NEXTGeorgia Tech takes a 10-day break before welcoming Alcorn State to start a five-game homestand on Dec. 18.VCU goes on the road Saturday to play Old Dominion, its archrival from its days in the Colonial Athletic Association.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr ' ' '