Gaelic Games

**Gaelic games** are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Caid and hurling are the two main games. Other games organised by the GAA include Gaelic handball and rounders.

Women's versions of hurling and football are also played: camogie, organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland, and ladies' Gaelic football, organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. While women's versions are not organised by the GAA, they are closely associated with it and are strictly amateur.

Almost a million people (977,723) attended 45 GAA senior championships games in 2017 (up 29% in hurling and 22% in football on 2016 figures) combined with attendances at other championship and league games generating gate receipts of €34,391,635

## Rules that are in both Caid and Hurling

* Neither game doesn't have the offside rule but they have the 'square ball' rule. A player cannot be in the square rectangle before the ball is played.

### **Playing field, teams and the ball**

* The pitch is rectangular, stretching 145m long and 85m wide. There are H-shaped goalposts at each end, formed by two posts 6.5m apart, and connected 2.5m above the ground by a crossbar. A net extending behind the goal is attached to the crossbar and lower goal posts.
* A Technical Area is 8m long and 0.5m back from the side line with a depth of 4m should be marked at the side of the field. All substitutes and coaches (up to 9 in total) should stay within this area for the duration of the game unless authorized to leave the area by the fourth official. Substitutes can leave the area to warm up but must not interfere with the game.
* The lines across the goals joining the goalposts are the goal-lines. The center of the field is marked with a circle of a 5m radius. The corner area is mark with a quarter circle of a 1m radius from each corner flagpost. The penalty spot is marked in front of the goal, 18m from the mid-point of the goal line. The penalty area are 2 lines are drawn at right angles to the goal-line, 16.5m from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for 16.5m and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal-line. A line will be marked 30m from the goal-line.\*Teams consist of 13 players. A goalkeeper, 2 center backs, 2 full back, 2 midfielders, 2 wing forwards, a center forward, 2 corner forwards and a full forward.
* Teams are allowed to make 5 substitutions, if a substitution is made the player must wait in the technical area.
* The Caid ball is round leather made of 18 stitched leather panels with a circumference of 70cm and weighing 480g. It may be kicked or hand passed.
* The sliotar has a diameter is between 69 and 72 mm (2.7 and 2.8 in). The mass is between 110 and 120 g (3.9 and 4.2 oz). The rib height is between 2 mm and 2.8 mm, and width between 3.6 mm and 5.4 mm. The leather cover can be between 1.8 mm and 2.7 mm and is laminated with a coating of no more than 0.15 mm

### **Duration and team kit**

* The game is split into 4 quarters of 18 minutes, the clock stops for player injuries, short corners (or corner kick). If the match is tied then 2 halves of 10 minutes of extra time is played, if still tied then a timeless golden point commences. U19 game is played for a two halves of 25 minutes (50 minutes in total). The half-time break lasts for 10 minutes. If a match reaches 35 or 70 minutes play continue stops unless a.
* Before the game, the referee will flip a coin and the winner determines which directions the teams will play.
* It then begins when the umpire throws the ball in the air and the forwards contest for the ball at the centre circle. A ball up may also occur if many players are struggling for the ball
* Players kit's must be distinctive from the other team. If both teams wear colours that may clash the away team must wear there 2nd kit. Unlike football, goalkeepers wear the same colours as outfield players. This is because no special rules apply to the goalkeeper and so there is no need for officials to differentiate between goalkeeper and outfielders.

### **Officials**

* There are 9 officials: a réiteoir (referee), 2 réiteoir cúnta (assistant referees), a ceathrú oifigeach (4th official) and a maor ama (timekeeper)
* The Réiteoir (referee) is positioned within the field of play and is responsible for controlling general play. He has the authority and right to award free kicks & penalty kicks (or free-hits and penalty hit in hurling), yellow card or red card a player, initiate stoppages in play, and executes ball-ups to begin & restart play. If a match is televised the referee is mic'd up for transparency.
* Réiteoir cúnta (assistant referees) are responsible for indicating whether the whole ball has passed outside the field of play and which side is entitled to return the ball into the field of play as well as identifying 'square ball' or other infringements where the referee does not have an adequate view. He may replace the ref if the referee is too injured to continue.
* The Ceathrú oifigeach (4th official) is responsible for overseeing substitutions, indicating the players substituted using an electronic board and managing the technical area. He may also replace an assistant ref if a assistant ref become the ref due to the ref suffering a injury.
* The maor ama (timekeeper) is the official keeper of time as well as keeping time of a player been black-carded, he will signal the end of a half by sounding a siren.
* A Oifigeach cluiche teilifíse (OCT; Irish for Television Match Official, TMO) can be called upon by the referee for a penalty or a foul leading up to a goal. VAR has 90 seconds to make a decision otherwise the original call stands. The captain can also challenge a referee's decision 30 seconds after the call was made for the same reason. The captain has 2 challenge throughout the game, if it's successful then the original call is overturned and the team keep their 2 challenge, if it's unsuccessful then the original call stands and a team loses their challenge. If 90 seconds elapses during the challenge then the original call stands but the team keep their challenge.
* A Réiteoir (referee) can cite players for reportable offences

===**Scoring system and start** ===\*If the ball goes over the crossbar it is called a over and is worth 1 point. If the ball goes below the crossbar it is called a goal, worth 5 points and a green flag is raised by an umpire. The goal is guarded by a goalkeeper.

* **Liathróid suas (Ball-up):** (a) The field umpire starts play by blowing his whistle and bouncing the ball in the centre circle so that it rebounds vertically to be contested by the players in the centre square. (b) At the start of play, no player may enter the centre circle, and only 4 players from each team are permitted in the centre square until after the ball has been bounced. (c) After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the centre of the ground in the manner described above.

### **Penalty cards**

Red and yellow cards were introduced to Caid and Hurling following an incident during the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Caid Championship Final when the referee sent Charlie Redmond from the field of play but he refused to leave\***Cárta buí (yellow card)** means a warning/caution for the offending player, who will be given a black card for a 2nd offense, & a red card for a 3rd offense

* **Cárta dubh (black card)** means a 10-minute sin-bin. Teams would not allowed to replace the player while he is in the sin-bin so would be at a numerical disadvantage for that 10 minute period. If a player commits another black card offence after returning to the field he is red-carded**.**
* **Cárta dearg *(R*ed card)** means to be sent off for the rest of the game and no replacement is allowed. Given usually for serious fouls, violent conduct or depriving a team of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. A player who receives 2 yellow cards is sent off and receives a red card. A red card player must leave the field of play immediately and cannot return the field

### **Fouls**

Bréan Teicniúil (Technical fouls):

* **Caid:** Going 3 seconds without bouncing the ball or hopping it off the ball
* **Caid:** Bouncing the ball twice in a row
* **Caid:** Holding the ball - A player is deemed to be ‘holding the ball’ if; (1) They possess the caid ball for more than 3 seconds (prior opportunity) and are tackled without correct disposal. (2) They drag the caid ball underneath them and fail to successfully dispose of the caid ball.
* Throwing the ball/sliotar
* Hand passing or striking the ball with the hand into the goal.
* Charge the goalkeeper during a goal kick
* Lying over the ball
* Voluntary tackle
* **Hurling:** Strike an opponent’s hurley unless both players are in the act of playing the ball
* **Hurling:** Hold an opponent’s hurley or pull it from his hands
* **Hurling:** Use the hurley to obstruct an opponent

Bréan pearsanta (Personal foul) resulting in a cárta buí (yellow card):

* Wasting time, deliberately or inadvertently, by kicking the ball forward after one's team has conceded a free kick
* Deliberately wastes time in returning the ball to the player who is to take the kick.
* Holding the player who is to take the kick thereby preventing play continuing
* Block or attempt to block with the boot when an opponent is kicking the ball from the hand(s)
* Prevent or attempt to prevent an opponent from lifting or kicking the ball off the ground by striking an opponent’s hand, arm, foot or leg with the boot
* Pulling an opponent's jersey
* Jump at an opponent
* Block or attempt to block an opponent with the boot when an opponent is kicking the ball from the hands
* Engage in any form of rough play
* A player barrack or angrily confronts the referee but no bad language was used or many players surround the player. All players involved in the surrounding will be yellow-carded
* **Hurling:** Use the hurley in a careless manner
* **Hurling:** Throw the hurley in a manner which constitutes a danger to another player(s)

Bréan ciniciúil (Cynical foul) resulting in cárta dubh (black card) and free kick on the centre of the 30m line:

* Tripping an opponent with hand, arm or foot.
* Deliberate body collide with an opponent after he has played the ball away or for the purpose of taking him out of the movement of play.
* Uses abusive or provocative language or gestures towards players.
* Prevent or attempt to prevent an opponent from lifting or kicking the ball off the ground by striking an opponent’s hand, arm, foot or leg with the boot.
* Depriving a team of a clear goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
* Attempt to achieve an advantage by feigning a foul or injury
* Performing a sliding tackle on an opponent while the ball is not on the ground
* Pushing an opponent
* Jumping at an opponent when the ball is not in the air.
* Use abusive or provocative language or gestures to an opponent or team-mate.
* Spit at an opponent
* Fighting with an opponent

Salach bréan (Flagrant foul) resulting in a cárta dearg (Red card):

* Tacla contúirteacha (Dangerous tackle; spear tackle, chickenwing tackle, dump tackle, coathanger, slam tackle, slinging, grappling tackle and horse-collar tackle)
* Tacar ard (High tackle) – any tackle which infringes on the opponent's neck or head
* A front-on bump endangering the head
* Striking or attempting to strike an opponent with the head, arm, elbow, hand or knee (or hurley in hurling).
* Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
* Stamping on an opponent.
* Using abusive or threatening language or conduct to a match official
* Pushing, pulling, jostling the match official
* Assaulting a match official (e.g. striking or attempting to strike a match official)
* Contribute to a melee
* Inflict an injury recklessly
* Mhuirearú ("Charging" i.e. lines up and charges / run-up and attack an opponent for a bump).

**General gameplay**

* A goal scored is worth 5 points
* 2-points scored for kicks outside a 45 arc
* There is no offside rule.

## **Caid**

### **Starting and re-starting play**

* If the ball leaves the sidelines a sideline kick is given to the team that didn't touch it last, it can be taken from the hands or off the ground. The player who is taking the sideline kick must not pass the boundary line while taking.  If a foul is committed a free-kick is given at the spot of the foul, it must be kicked from the group and you can directly score from a free-kick. Players are allowed to take quick free-kicks and pass the ball to themselves. If a foul is committed but the attacking side still has the ball for 6 seconds, play continues (called an advantage)
* If a foul occur in the penalty area a penalty kick is awarded. The produce is exactly the same as in football
* If an attacker has put the ball wide of the goals, scored a point or a goal, the goalkeeper takes a kick out (either from hands or on the ground) anywhere in his penalty area. All players must be beyond the 20m line and it must be kicked beyond the 45m line, failure to do so will result in a free kick to the opposition from the 45m line. If a defender has put the ball wide of the goals, a corner kick is awarded (similar to football).

### **General gameplay**

* The ball can be propelled in any direction by way of a foot or clenched fist (a handpass) but it cannot be thrown under any circumstances. A player cannot pass to the goalkeeper, if he does then the opposition is awarded a free kick outside the penalty area. The player can kick the ball out of his hands and kicking it along the ground. A player may run with the ball, but it must be bounced or hoped of the foot at least once every 15 meters and a player cannot bounce the ball twice in succession. If they run too far without bouncing or soloing the ball or they bounced the ball twice in succession, it's a free kick for running too far to the opposition  A hand pass is not a punch but rather a strike of the ball with the side of the closed fist, using the knuckle of the thumb.
* Defending players are allowed to make shoulder-to-shoulder contact, strip the ball from the attacker, slap the ball from the opponent's hands and intercept any pass (ground or in the air). They are allowed to also block shots with their hands and feet (must not be too high) and slide tackle if the ball is on the ground.
* Any cynical play that occurs anywhere behind the 30m line will receive a yellow card and a free-kick centre of the 30m line. They however can only handle the ball in the penalty area
* The goalkeeper can no longer kick the ball to himself from the kick-out
* No sweeper in front of the full-forward area
* No pass to the goalkeeper otherwise concede a free-kick, similar to backpass rule in football
* Kickout must be beyond the 20m line.
* "65"/Short Corners: When the ball is played over the end-line and outside the goal-posts by the team defending that end, a free puck shall be awarded to the opposing team. The free puck shall be taken from a point 8 yards on the side of the goal on which the ball went out of play. Only 1 defending player may stand on the goal-line and a maximum of 4 other defending players (2 on each side of the goal) may stand on the end line no closer to the goal than 3 and a half yards. 3 attacking players may stand on the 20 yard line. All other players shall be in the other half of the field. Following the taking of the free puck the attacking team shall be allowed 2 touches of the sliotar with the hurley to attempt to score a goal. The next touch has to be by the defending team. The defending players on the endline may not encroach onto the field of play until the referee signals the free puck may be taken.

## **Hurling**

### **Playing equipment**

* A sliotar is a hard solid sphere slightly larger than a tennis ball, consisting of a cork core covered by two pieces of leather stitched together with a diameter of 69mm and a mass of 110g.
* The stick is known as a camán. It’s between 45 and 96cm long with a flattened, curved base at the end, which provides the striking surface.
* The wearing of helmets with faceguards became compulsory for hurlers at all levels in the hope of significantly reduce the number of injuries. The referee will be obliged to stop play if any player at any level appears on the field of play without the necessary standard of equipment.

### **Starting and re-starting play**

* Before the game, a coin toss occurs which is organized by the referee, the winning team determine which direction the teams will play. It then begins when the referee throws the ball in the air and 2 players contest for the ball in the air.
* If a foul is committed a free hit is given, the player must strike the ball from the ground on the spot of the foul and all the other players must be 5m away. If the ball goes out on the sideline the team that touched it last is awarded a hit-in. The player must strike the ball vertically in the air. If a defender has put the ball wide of the goal then a corner hit is awarded, the player places the ball in the corner quarter circle and hit the ball from the ground. If a foul is committed in the penalty area then a penalty hit is awarded to the attacking team. The ball is placed on the penalty spot and it’s one shot at goal with the goalkeeper and 2 players guarding the net.

### **General gameplay**

* The sliotar can be propelled in any direction. The sliotar can be hit with the hurley on the ground or in the air. The sliotar or hurley cannot be thrown under any circumstances of gameplay. The sliotar can be transferred to the hand but only twice and they cannot run with the sliotar in hand. If the sliotar touches the ground, the count is reset, the sliotar can be balanced on the hurley for an unlimited time
* The sliotar can be caught while in the air and the player is allowed to chest the ball. The sliotar cannot be picked up from the ground directly with the hand, the hurley must be used to roll, jab, lift or flick the sliotar into the hand. The ball cannot be kicked or dragged by use of boot, but it can be controlled by use of one or both feet. To score you can hit the sliotar out of the hands, hit the sliotar on the ground or hit the sliotar in the air.
* The defending side are allowed to make shoulder-to-shoulder contact, use their hurley to block shots, intercept a pass, steal/strip the sliotar. They are also allowed to poke check, sweep checking, stick check, lift check and press check. Goalkeepers don’t have a stick and are allowed to use their hands or feet to save, but just like in association football they can only handle the ball in the penalty area. Any cynical play that occurs anywhere behind the 30m line will receive a yellow card and a free-kick center of the 30m line.
* If a foul occur in the penalty area a penalty kick is awarded. The produce is exactly the same as in football with 1 exception, the goal is guarded by 3 players, a goalkeeper and 2 defenders, all 3 must be on or behind the goal-line