Here you will find lots of info on "How to Play Gaelic Football & Hurling." For more information on the game, you can also download "Skills" cards and Players Documents here.
Gaelic football and hurling/camogie are the hottest and fastest growing sports in the United States, and are being played at schools like Notre Dame, Stanford & Saint Joseph’s Universities, and at high schools and elementary schools across the county!
Have you ever wanted to touch the ball in Soccer or get a score for sending it over the net? Both sports combine the skills of soccer, basketball, hockey and volleyball, and no, it’s not Rugby.
Boys and girls will have fun, fun, fun learning these sports, and a bit of blarney along the way. Football and Hurling are two of the fastest games in the World and are replacing PlayStations and X-Boxes everywhere.
Would you like to play the games?Here’s your chance! Learn How......
Quick Facts - Football
Quick Facts - Hurling
- A Gaelic field is 137m long and 82m wide
- A football is round and slightly smaller than a soccer ball
- You can carry the ball in your hand for four steps
- You can kick the ball from the ground or your hand
- You can "hand-pass" the ball (striking with the hand or fist)
- You must bounce or "solo" the ball after four steps
- Soloing - drop the ball onto the foot and kick it into your hand
- You can bounce the ball but not twice in a row
- To score 1 point, you put the ball over the crossbar
- To score 3 points, a goal, put it into the net
- Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged in the square
- You can cause a bad pass or block a pass by the Goalie
- Players can switch positions
- You cannot enter the goalie square prior to getting the ball
- Players wear a jersey with their team colors and number
- Teams must have different color jerseys
- The goalkeeper's jersey must be different to the team
- Referees wear black jerseys, shorts and socks
- Ladies Gaelic football rules are very similar
- Girls may pick up the ball without using their foot.
- Rules are modified for youth games in regard to contact
- The length of youth games varies based on the tournament
- The number of players varies based on the game format
Click on the the video clip below to see the game played
at its highest level.
- A Hurling field is 137m long and 82m wide
- The stick used is called a hurley
- The ball used is called a sliothar
- A hurling ball is the size of a hockey ball, with raised edges
- You may strike the ball on the ground, or in the air
- You can pick up the ball with your hurley
- You can carry it for four steps in the hand
- You can bounce the ball on the hurley and back to the hand
- You cannot catch the ball more than twice
- You can run with the ball balanced on the hurley
- To score 1 point, you put the ball over the crossbar
- To score 3 points, a goal, put it into the net
- Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged in the square
- You can cause a bad pass or block a pass by the Goalie
- Players can switch positions
- You cannot enter the goalie square prior to getting the ball
- Players wear a jersey with their team colors and number
- Teams must have different color jerseys
- The goalkeeper's jersey must be different to the team
- Referees wear black jerseys, shorts and socks
- Camogie is the Ladies version of Hurling
- Rules are modified for youth games in regard to contact
- The length of youth games varies based on the tournament
- The number of players varies based on the game format
Click on the the video clip below to see the game played
at its highest level.
