Gaelic Football

Gaelic football is a form of football, played mainly in Ireland. Along with Hurling, it is the most popular sport in Ireland. The games history goes back to 1537, but the modern game came into place in 1887.

THE GAME

Gaelic football is played with two teams that have 15 players each on a rectangular grass pitch with H-shaped goals at each end. The main goal is to score by kicking, hitting or throwing the ball in the opponents goal. The team that has the most goals at the end is the winner.

Players run the ball up the pitch using a combination of Carrying and “Soloing” (Gently dropping the ball and kicking it back up), kicking it or passing it by hand to your teammates.

THE RULES

Pitch in Gaelic football:
The grass pitch is rectangular, it can be up to 150 metres long, and up to 90 metres wide. There are H-shaped goals at each end with a net in the lower section.Lines are marked at 13m, 20m and 45m between each “deadline“.

DURATION

At the senior level, matches last 70 minutes split into two 35 minute halves each for men, and 60 minutes split into two 30minute halves for women. In the event of a draw, teams can either play again or play an extra 20 minutes (2 x 10). The variety of a men’s match has changed overtime. Originally, the game would only last 60 minutes. In 1970 the games time was increased to 80 minutes. Today where a football match last 70 minutes applies from the changes in the 1975 season.[2]

TEAMS

The teams consist of 15 players (1 keeper, 2 cornerbacks, 1 centre back, 3 halfbacks, 2 midfielders, 3 half forward, 2 corner forward and a centre forward) plus up to 15 substitutes, 5 of which can be used. Each players is numbered from 1-15, startet with the keeper, who must where a different coloured jersey.

THE BALL

The ball in Gaelic football:
The match is played with a round leather ball, like a Norwegian football, only heavier. The pattern is similar to a volleyball. The ball can be kicked or thrown. Hand passing is not allowed, the ball must be hit to count as a pass.
The following are considered as technical Fouls (doing something “illegal” with the ball):
  • Picking up the ball directly from the ground.
  • Throw the ball.
  • Run 4 steps without a prop, moving or “soloing” the ball (dropping and kicking the ball back up).
  • Drop the ball twice.
  • Hand the ball over the opponent’s head and run round to retrieve the ball.
  • Hand the ball into the goal (it can be hit in from the air).
  • Changing hand (throwing the ball left to right, and vice versa).

SCORING

If the ball goes over the crossbar, then 1 point is scored, and a white flag will be raised by the referee. If the ball goes under the crossbar then a “goal” is scored, and a green flag will be lifted by the referee. A goal is worth 3 points.[4]
The scores are displayed as follows:
(Total Goals) – (Total Points).
For example: Team 1, 0-15 / Team 2, 1-11.
Team 1 won with fifteen points against one-eleven. (1 + 11 = 14  ;  3 + 11 = 14).

TACKLING

The Physicality of the tackling in Gaelic football is higher than European football, but not at physical as rugby. You are allowed to be in contact shoulder “wrestling” and you can knock the ball out of the opponents hand , however, within the rules:

  • Must use 1 hand only when tackling.
  • No pushing.
  • No hitting the opponent.
  • No Pulling.
  • No blocking of shots with your feet.
  • No tap tackling.
  • No stepping on others feet.
  • Must not steal the ball with force.

REFEREES

The match is overseen by 8 referees:

  • One Head referee.
  • Two touch line referees.
  • Two “Stand-by referees.
  • Four “Minor” referees (2 at each end).

 

The head referee is responsible for Starting and stopping of the match, free kicks, noting players positions, giving out disciplinary cards and seeing players in and out.

Touch Line referees are responsible for following the match, and signalling for moments that the main referee may had missed.

The “Fourth” referee’s job is similar to the one in football; Oversee substitutions, show the extra time using an electric board.

The “minor” referees are responsible for singling the goals by lifting a flag; a white flag or a green to show if a point or a goal has been scored. If the ball has gone outside they will lift their hands spread.

All the referees can signal to the head referee that something illegal has happened, although, this rarely happens. The head referee can override any decision made by the other referees if he wishes.

REFERENCES

LITTERATURE

  • Mark Reynolds, Niamh McCoy, Julianne McKeigue, Joanne Clarke (2016). The pocket book of the GAA – Thr official story of the Gaelich Athletic Association (engelsk). Dublin: Gill Books. ISBN 978-0-7171-7071-5.

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