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| WHAT IS GAELIC FOOTBALL? |
Gaelic football, commonly referred to as "football" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. It is, together with hurling, one of
the two most popular spectator sports in Ireland today. It has been described as a mixture of Soccer, Basketball and American
Football, although it pre dates all of these games. It is also steadily increasing in popularity in other countries around the world
especially here in the USA. Although often played by members of the Irish diaspora many players are American born.
It is a field game which has developed as a distinct game similar to the progression of Australian Rules. Indeed it is thought
that Australian Rules evolved from Gaelic Football through the many thousands who were either deported or emigrated to
Australia from the middle of the twentieth century. The first record of Gaelic football is in the Statutes of Galway (1527) which
allowed the playing of football but banned hurling. The earliest reported match took place at Slane, Co. Meath in 1712 when
Meath played their neighbors, Louth.
Gaelic Football is played on a pitch approximately 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same shape as on a
rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than a rugby one and slightly higher than a soccer one. The game is played with a round
leather football, similar to a soccer ball, but heavier, and with horizontal stitching rather than the hexagon and pentagon panels
often used on soccer balls, and similar in appearance to a standard volleyball. It can be carried in the hand for a distance of
four steps and can be kicked or "hand-passed", a striking motion with the hand or fist. After every four steps the ball must be
either bounced or "solo-ed", an action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. When played by men,
the ball may not be picked directly from the ground. You may not bounce the ball twice in a row. To score, you put the ball over
the crossbar by foot or handfist for one point or under the crossbar and into the net by foot or the handfist in certain
circumstances for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points. Physical contact is allowed, shoulder to shoulder.
Football is one of four Gaelic games run by the Gaelic Athletic Association, the largest sporting organisation in Ireland. It has
strict rules on player amateurism and the pinnacle of the sport is the inter-county All-Ireland Football Final.
A football match is overseen by eight officials: The referee - Two linesmen - Sideline official/Standby linesman (inter-county
games only) - Four umpires (two at each end) The referee is responsible for starting and stopping play, recording the score,
awarding frees - and booking and sending off players. Linesmen are responsible for indicating the direction of line balls to the
referee. The fourth official is responsible for overseeing substitutions, and also indicating the amount of stoppage time
(signaled to him by the referee) and the players substituted using an electronic board.
The umpires are responsible for judging the scoring. They indicate to the referee whether a shot was: wide (spread both
arms), a 50 yard kick (raise one arm), a point (wave white flag), square ball (cross arms) or a goal (wave green flag). A
disallowed score is indicated by crossing the green and white flags.
Contrary to popular belief within the association, all officials are not obliged to indicate "any misdemeanours" to the referee,
but are in fact only permitted to inform the referee of violent conduct they have witnessed which has occurred without the
referees knowledge. A linesman/umpire is not permitted to inform the referee of technical fouls such as a "double bounce" or
an illegal pick up of the ball. Such decisions can only be made at the discretion of the referee.
Why not watch the videos linked below to find out more about the game? Simply click on the picture and the video will open.
the two most popular spectator sports in Ireland today. It has been described as a mixture of Soccer, Basketball and American
Football, although it pre dates all of these games. It is also steadily increasing in popularity in other countries around the world
especially here in the USA. Although often played by members of the Irish diaspora many players are American born.
It is a field game which has developed as a distinct game similar to the progression of Australian Rules. Indeed it is thought
that Australian Rules evolved from Gaelic Football through the many thousands who were either deported or emigrated to
Australia from the middle of the twentieth century. The first record of Gaelic football is in the Statutes of Galway (1527) which
allowed the playing of football but banned hurling. The earliest reported match took place at Slane, Co. Meath in 1712 when
Meath played their neighbors, Louth.
Gaelic Football is played on a pitch approximately 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same shape as on a
rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than a rugby one and slightly higher than a soccer one. The game is played with a round
leather football, similar to a soccer ball, but heavier, and with horizontal stitching rather than the hexagon and pentagon panels
often used on soccer balls, and similar in appearance to a standard volleyball. It can be carried in the hand for a distance of
four steps and can be kicked or "hand-passed", a striking motion with the hand or fist. After every four steps the ball must be
either bounced or "solo-ed", an action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. When played by men,
the ball may not be picked directly from the ground. You may not bounce the ball twice in a row. To score, you put the ball over
the crossbar by foot or handfist for one point or under the crossbar and into the net by foot or the handfist in certain
circumstances for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points. Physical contact is allowed, shoulder to shoulder.
Football is one of four Gaelic games run by the Gaelic Athletic Association, the largest sporting organisation in Ireland. It has
strict rules on player amateurism and the pinnacle of the sport is the inter-county All-Ireland Football Final.
A football match is overseen by eight officials: The referee - Two linesmen - Sideline official/Standby linesman (inter-county
games only) - Four umpires (two at each end) The referee is responsible for starting and stopping play, recording the score,
awarding frees - and booking and sending off players. Linesmen are responsible for indicating the direction of line balls to the
referee. The fourth official is responsible for overseeing substitutions, and also indicating the amount of stoppage time
(signaled to him by the referee) and the players substituted using an electronic board.
The umpires are responsible for judging the scoring. They indicate to the referee whether a shot was: wide (spread both
arms), a 50 yard kick (raise one arm), a point (wave white flag), square ball (cross arms) or a goal (wave green flag). A
disallowed score is indicated by crossing the green and white flags.
Contrary to popular belief within the association, all officials are not obliged to indicate "any misdemeanours" to the referee,
but are in fact only permitted to inform the referee of violent conduct they have witnessed which has occurred without the
referees knowledge. A linesman/umpire is not permitted to inform the referee of technical fouls such as a "double bounce" or
an illegal pick up of the ball. Such decisions can only be made at the discretion of the referee.
Why not watch the videos linked below to find out more about the game? Simply click on the picture and the video will open.
ABOUT THE GAME THE SKILLS THE RULES
Each team consists of fifteen players, lining out as follows: One goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two
midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. The actual line out on the playing field is as follows:
midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. The actual line out on the playing field is as follows:
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Players wear a jersey with their team colours and number on the back. Both teams must have different colour jerseys. The
goalkeepers' jerseys must not be similar to the jersey of any other player. Referees normally tog out in black jerseys, socks and
togs
Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged whilst inside their own small parallelogram, but players may harass them into
playing a bad pass, or block an attempted pass.
Teams are allowed a maximum of three substitutes in a game. Players may switch positions on the field of play as much as they
wish but this is usually on the instructions of team officials.
A goal is signalled by raising a green flag, placed to the left of the goal. A point is signalled by raising a white flag, placed to the
right of goal. A '45'/'65' is signalled by the umpire raising his/her outside arm. A 'square ball', when a player scores having
arrived in the 'square' prior to receiving the ball, is signalled by pointing at the small parallelogram.
If you see a result like GAELS 2-10, HARPS 1-14, it will mean that GAELS has scored 2 goals and 10 points which altogether
makes 16 points. HARPS has won because 1 goal and 14 points makes 17 points altogether
goalkeepers' jerseys must not be similar to the jersey of any other player. Referees normally tog out in black jerseys, socks and
togs
Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged whilst inside their own small parallelogram, but players may harass them into
playing a bad pass, or block an attempted pass.
Teams are allowed a maximum of three substitutes in a game. Players may switch positions on the field of play as much as they
wish but this is usually on the instructions of team officials.
A goal is signalled by raising a green flag, placed to the left of the goal. A point is signalled by raising a white flag, placed to the
right of goal. A '45'/'65' is signalled by the umpire raising his/her outside arm. A 'square ball', when a player scores having
arrived in the 'square' prior to receiving the ball, is signalled by pointing at the small parallelogram.
If you see a result like GAELS 2-10, HARPS 1-14, it will mean that GAELS has scored 2 goals and 10 points which altogether
makes 16 points. HARPS has won because 1 goal and 14 points makes 17 points altogether
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