Gaelic football is often described as a mixture of rugby and soccer, with elements of basketball thrown in for good measure.
However It is older than all three, more free flowing, faster than rugby and more physical than soccer. It developed from ancient Gaelic pastimes, being properly codified towards the end of the 19th Century. Today it is played throughout Ireland, and wherever the Irish have emigrated, principally the United States and Great Britain.
The ball used is round like a soccer ball, but slightly smaller and heavier, and can be passed with both the foot and the hand. It cannot be picked directly from the ground with the hand, but must be scooped up with the foot.
It may be kicked on the ground or from the hand, and may be caught or punched in the air. The ball cannot be thrown, but can be passed with the hand by striking it with the fist.
You cannot tackle below the waist, but must rather try to knock the ball from the opponent�s hands (but only using one hand). Shoulder to shoulder contact is permissible, and you may block someone passing the ball with your hands.
Both hurling and Gaelic Football are played on a pitch approximately 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same 'H' shape as on a rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than in rugby, and slightly higher than in soccer, and a net in the lower section.
The teams line out in the same formation in both hurling and Gaelic football. Each team consists of fifteen players, lining out as follows: 1 goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. Players wear a jersey with their team colours and number on the back. Both teams must have different colour jerseys. The goalkeepers' jerseys must not be similar to the jersey of any other player.
Match officials for a game comprise of a referee, two linesmen (to indicate when the ball leaves the field of play at the side and to mark '65m' free kicks and 4 umpires (to signal scores, assist the referee in controlling the games, and to assist linesmen in positioning '45m' frees).
