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Gaelic football
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What is Gaelic football?

Gaelic football is Ireland's national sport, alongside hurling, played and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the governing body since 1884.

Gaelic football is played in teams of 15 on a rectangular pitch with a scoring system of goals and points gained either by kicking or punching the ball into the net of the opponent or over the crossbar.

What equipment do you need to play Gaelic football?

A lot like association football, the basic equipment required for a game of Gaelic football are a ball and some goalposts – regulation size or otherwise.

Ball

The ball used in Gaelic football is round and slightly smaller than a soccer ball. Typically, the game is played with the O'Neills approved match ball.

Gaelic football pitch size

The field of play is between 130m and 145m long and 80m to 90m wide. The dimensions may be reduced for underage games or games of less than 15 a side.

Lines are marked across the field parallel to the endline at distances from each endline of 13m, 20m and 45m. The midline of the field is marked parallel to the endlines and is 10m long.

Two rectangles are formed in front of the goals at either end. The first, known as 'the square' is 14m by 4.5m, and the second is 19.5m by 13m. A semi‑­circular arc of 13m radius, centred on the midpoint of the 20m line is marked outside of each 20m line. A point is marked 11m from the centre of the goal line, from where a penalty kick is taken.

For the 2025 season a new arc starting on the 20m line and extending 40m out from goal has been introduced, scores kicked from outside this arc are worth two points.

Gaelic football rules

The ball can be caught, kicked and hand-passed between teammates to try to move around the pitch into scoring positions before shooting for scores.

To score, you put the ball over the crossbar by foot or fist for one point or under the crossbar and into the net by the foot, or the hand in certain circumstances, for a goal, which is worth three points. A ball cleanly kicked from play or a free over the bar from on or outside the 40m scoring arc without touching another player on either team (it may bounce over) is worth two points.

The two-point arc is one of several rules changes for 2025. After a score or a wide, a kickout to restart must travel beyond the new 40m arc for the team taking the kickout. If not, it is a free against that team from the place of the foul. The other team can intercept the ball inside the 40m arc.

In an effort to make the game more attack-minded, teams must always keep a minimum of three outfield players in each half of the pitch.

Indiscipline in Gaelic football carries punishments of yellow and red cards used as they are in soccer, while there is also a black card where a player must leave the field for 10 minutes, and no replacement can come on during that period.

Should a player receive a black card followed by a yellow card later in the match, or vice versa, they will be issued a red card. Black cards are issued for deliberate fouls or remonstrating aggressively with match officials.

Running with the ball

The ball can be carried in the hand for a distance of not more than four steps before it must be kicked or "hand-passed", a striking motion with the hand or fist.

If a player wants to retain the ball after 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. Players can solo the ball repeatedly, but may not bounce the ball twice in a row.

Tackling

In order to tackle an opponent in possession, players can contest for the ball by playing it with the hand or by shoulder charging an opponent side-to-side.

How long is a game of Gaelic football?

At inter-county level, the highest in Gaelic football, a game lasts for 70 minutes plus stoppage time. It is split into two halves of 35 minutes. Where extra-time is required, two halves of 10 minutes are played before a penalty shootout to decide the outcome if needed.

Gaelic football officiating

Officials for a game comprise of a referee, two linesmen and four umpires.

Referees and linesmen

The referee controls the game and makes decisions on fouls etc. similar to soccer. Linesmen indicate when the ball leaves the field of play at the side and to mark '45’ free kicks awarded when the ball goes over the endline off a defender. This is the equivalent to a corner in soccer, but taken 45m from goal parallel to where the ball went over the endline.

Umpires

Four umpires, two behind each goal, signal when a score is to be awarded by raising their flags. White for one point, orange for two points and green for a goal (three points). Umpires and linesmen can assist the referee in controlling the game by advising what they have witnessed.

Scoring in Gaelic football

To score, a team must kick or punch the ball either over the crossbar or into the opposition net.

How to score in Gaelic football

Points are awarded as follows

·         Over the crossbar from inside 40m – one point

·         Over the crossbar from outside the 40m arc – two points

·         Over the crossbar from a '45' (free kick awarded when a team put the ball over their own endline) – one point

·         Goal (into the net) – three points

When displayed, Gaelic football scoring reads 1-10, where a team has scored one goal and ten points in a game, making a total of 13 points and their opponent might have scored 0-12 (12 points), making it a one-point game.

Over the crossbar

Players can kick or hand-pass the ball over the crossbar from anywhere for one or two points.

Under the crossbar

The ball can be kicked or punched into the opposition net for a goal, which is worth three points.

Gaelic football positions

The standard set of positions is one goalkeeper, six backs (defenders), two midfielders, and six forwards on a 15-player team.

Goalkeeper

The role of goalkeeper is evolving. Once a shot-stopper charged with punting the ball long up the middle on restarts, they now require laser-like accuracy on kickouts and often roam out the field to create an 'extra man' for the team in possession.

Backs

Six backs are divided into two banks of three, full backs and half backs.

Corner Back

Two corner backs – left and right – have a primary objective of man-marking their opposite corner forward. The success or otherwise of their performance is often judged on how many scores that direct opponent achieves. They require pace and strength to match speedy forwards and make strong tackles, as well as the discipline to avoid silly fouls in the scoring zone that give up easy frees.

Full Back

The full back operates in the middle of the backline, protecting their goal centrally and often doing a marking job on the opposition full forward. Strength, power, marking ability and no-nonsense style are key traits in this position.

Wing Back

Playing in advance of the corner-backs, the wing backs are stamina-laden, with inter-county wing backs often covering more than 10km during a game and nearly 2000m in sprint distances. They are versatile, with defensive ability matched with transitioning into attack when winning possession.

Centre Back

The No.6 slot is the glue that holds the backline together. They require the skills of a wing-back but often play with more discipline in terms of roving forward.

Midfield

A traditional Gaelic football team has two out-and-out midfielders in the engine room. They often cover as much as 12km in a game and have to have tackling ability, strong passing ranges and an eagerness to win kickouts in the air not dissimilar to a line-out in rugby, only with less assistance.

Forwards

Six starting forwards traditionally lineout directly against the opposing backline.

Wing Forward

Two wing forwards operate in the half-forward line. They have defensive and offensive duties and are often in possession when their team has the ball, attempting to prize open tight defences with a key pass or a surging run in possession.

Centre Forward

The player with a heavy burden of creativity on their shoulders, the centre forward plays behind the three main forwards and needs the vision, passing ability and eye for a score to lead their team. They have to work for possession, tackle, score and pass accurately to orchestrate what the team is looking to achieve.

Corner Forward

Two corner forwards play left and right and scoring is the primary aim. Nimble and fleet of foot, they need upper-body strength to hold off tackles as well as razor-sharp shooting accuracy under pressure both from play and dead balls.

Full Forward

The full forward operates centrally and is charged with finding scores and battling their direct marker. Tireless running into spaces to make room for passes and the aerial ability to compete for high balls and win possession to either score or lay off to a corner forward or late-running half forward are key.

Gaelic football league structure

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the top level of Gaelic football competition, with teams competing on an inter-county basis after the provincial championships at the start of the season

Gaelic football league structure, All-Ireland Senior Football Championship format

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