Gary Fixter - Gaelic football What is it? The rules and their history in the world
Gary Fixter -Gaelic football is a game from Ireland, full of singularities and its own personality, which is expressed in the fact that few countries have this type of sport. A game that has been part of their culture since time immemorial, which is why it is quite popular in these territories.
Gary Fixter -What is Gaelic football?
When we refer to Gaelic football we can say that it is a sport of enormous prestige, very similar to rugby, of enormous popularity in Ireland.
A party of this discipline can fill spaces with up to 82 thousand people, so it is really popular. It has been adapted in other nations, given the fun of its game.
The goal of Gaelic football is for the ball to stay inside the opponent's goal scoring 3 points, or over the crossbar getting one. If it is expected to add, it is necessary that the ball be kicked or hit with the knuckles, although it is prohibited to lift it off the ground with the hands or advance 4 steps without having made a pass.
Nor is it allowed to "solo", a term that is called kicking the ball towards the hands. Physical contact is allowed, but limited to shoulder tackles, this includes grabbing or palming an opposing player.
Likewise, you can hit the ball in the hands of another, avoiding struggling with it. It is forbidden to touch the goalkeeper in the area or to block a shot made with the feet.
It is so popular that it has national and international tournaments, making it an excellent discipline to practice.
Among its characteristics, we have that it is played in teams of 15 people on a court made of rectangular-shaped grass, with goals at its ends shaped like the letter "H".
The objective is to score points by kicking or throwing the ball with the hands introducing it into the opposing goal, proclaiming the winner who has the highest score.
This sport is endorsed by the Gaelic Athletic Association, in charge of ensuring this type of sport in Ireland. The organization has strict rules on the fan status of those who play, and annually organizes competitions between counties and clubs.
In order to take full advantage of the characteristics of Gaelic football, it is necessary to highlight that it has quite specific rules that will be analyzed in the next point.
Gary Fixter -Gaelic football rules
To learn more about the rules of Gaelic football, you need to know the positions of the players. There is 1 goalkeeper, 2 corner back, 1 full back, 3 half back, 2 midfielders, 3 halfforward, 2 forward and 1 full forward. All of them compete in a time of 60 minutes, which is divided into 2 times of half an hour each.
In these teams, in addition to the 15 players, it includes the same number of substitutes, although only 5 of them can take the field. They should be numbered from one to fifteen, starting with the goalkeeper who will use a flannel of a different hue.
As for the ball, it is made of leather very similar to that of traditional soccer, with a little more weight, horizontal stripes and very similar in appearance to volleyballs. It can be kicked and passed with the hands, as we have mentioned, the latter is done by hitting it with the thumb or knuckles.
Gary Fixter -International history of Gaelic football
Irish traditional sports have been a part of your nation since time immemorial. During the nineteenth century, some settlers were showing concern about their extinction, taking into account the popularity of some current sports such as soccer or rugby. Therefore, it was sought to standardize and regulate Gaelic games, and to practice them more frequently.
The key to the integration of Gaelic football as a popular sport was demonstrated with a collective Irish identity, and the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), made in 1884 with the aim of regulating the traditional sports of Ireland. Among these, the hurling, the camogle, the handball and the main one, which we have already mentioned.
Such was the success of Gaelic football at that time that a sense of belonging and patriotism was fostered throughout the country. Until 1971 it was a prohibited discipline for those who practiced foreign sports, and the main churches supported and promoted the sport, creating social and identity ties.