Gaelic Hurling/Camogie

Description

Women play camogie and men play hurling!

These are the fastest field games in the world. They are played with a small ball, called a sliotar, which is similar in size to a field hockey ball but with raised edges, and a curved wooden stick, called a hurley, which is curved outwards at the end to provide the striking surface. Hurling is played on the same field as Gaelic football and with the same style of goalposts. The methods of scoring also are the same -- three points, or a goal, for striking the ball into the net or one point, or a point, for striking it through the uprights.

A player may strike the ball on the ground or in the air. Unlike field hockey, however, a player may pick up the ball and carry it for no more than four strides. After those steps, the player may bounce the ball on the hurley and back into the player's hand, remembering not to catch the ball more than twice. While running, the player must balance the ball on the hurley stick.

Basic Rules

A hurling team consists of 15 players and a number of substitutes. The substitutes can be called into play at any stage of the game. The team's manager chooses his starting fifteen and substitutes from a 'panel' of players. A maximum of three substitutes may be used in a game. Every hurling team has a goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six forwards.

Players use sticks called 'hurleys' to strike the ball. The part of the hurley used to strike the ball is known as the 'bas'. At its widest point the bas shall not be more than 13cm.

The ball in hurling is known as a 'sliotar'. The sliotar is made of a cork filled leather shell and weighs between 100g and 130g. The circumference of the ball is between 23cm and 25cm. It is stiched similarly to a baseball, with raised seams along the outside of the ball.

Championship hurling matches last 70 minutes and league matches last 60 minutes.

Inter county and Inter club teams will wear their own registered distinctive colours. In all hurling games the goalkeeper will wear a different colour jersey to the rest of his team. Hurlers are advised to wear protective headgear in the form of helmets. But wearing helmets is not compulsory.

Each year Inter County and Inter Club teams compete in various competitions. The most famous and respected competition of all is the All-Ireland Championship. This is a knockout championship that runs from May to September for Inter County teams only. Early in the year a draw is made in each of the four provinces to decide which teams play each other. Venues are decided upon and the matches are then played.

Our Teams

The Baltimore GAA in conjuction with the Washington GAA offers co-ed hurling leagues in the Spring and Fall. Most games are played in the DC Metro area. As interest grows, the Baltimore GAA would like to offer mens and womens competitive teams.