Gaelic Football: A Short History

Gaelic Sports History  Gaelic Football is part of a series of sports known as the Gaelic games  Also includes hurling, camogie, and handball  The Origins of the games are not clearly known  Irish games and sports were the main attractions of the Tailteann games  An ancient Celtic sporting festival  Occurred annually during the feast of Lunagsha (August 1)  Lasted for 4000 years

Leading Up To The Modern Game  Played in Ireland as far back as the 14th century.  The game was handed down from generation to generation  Gaelic football games were cross-country marathons involving hundreds of players, and violent exchanges were the norm  a typical game of football in Ireland involved hundreds of people playing across miles of open countryside, with the obligatory frequent pauses for bouts of wrestling and fist fighting.

Banning of The Games  Banned due to the amount of violence and lack of organization  Statutes of Kilkenny in the 14th century banned all Gaelic games  Statutes of Galway allowed only football to be played  In later centuries, prohibition of the games had more to do with religious Puritanism than political control  Unbanned in the 17 th century due to their popularity and organization through the ruling class

The Great Famine (1840s)  survival of the people became a more immediate concern  The famine created a sense of militarism and rebellion, not a sense of culture  The GAA is Born!  establishment of the GAA took place at a time when the Irish people had an intense desire to gain national independence

“The Ban”  Legislation banned members of the Northern Ireland security forces from participation.  Additionally, it banned GAA players and its members from participating in “foreign” games such as football association, rugby, cricket or hockey

“Founded out of national pride, sustained through the lean times with that same emotion, few things run so deeply through the core of Irish society than the connection with place and home which the games provide.” Prior, 1997

The Rules  The ball is in play once it has been thrown in or kicked after the referee has given a signal to start or restart play, and it remains in play until:  (a) the referee signals a stop;  (b) the ball has passed completely over any boundary line or strikes any flag marking the boundary lines;  (c) the ball has been prevented from going over any boundary line or is touched in play by anyone other than a player.

The Rules  When the ball is on the ground, it may be played by any part of the body except the hand(s). It may be lifted off the ground with the feet.  When the ball is not on the ground, it may be played by any part of the body.  Player(s) may tackle an opponent for the ball.  Provided he has at least one foot on the ground, a player may make a shoulder to shoulder charge on an opponent

The Rules  When a player is in possession of the ball, it may be:-  (a) carried for a maximum of four consecutive steps or held in the hand(s) for no longer than the time needed to take four steps;  (b) played from the foot to the hand(s) -toe- tapped;  (c) bounced once, and once after each toe- tap;  (d) changed from one hand to the other once, with the original holding hand maintaining contact until the change is completed;  (e) played away with:  (i) a fist  (ii) an open hand-in which instance there shall be a definite underhand striking action  (f) released for a kick, a toe-tap or a pass with a fist or an open hand.

How to Score Points  A goal is scored when the ball is played over the goal- line between the posts and under the crossbar by either team.  A point is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts by either team.  A goal is equivalent to three points.  The team with the greater final total of points is the winner.

Full Match 

Resources   official_guides/Official_Guide_2012_Part2.pdf official_guides/Official_Guide_2012_Part2.pdf