Our Teams

If you're new to Gaelic sports, that's fantastic! You're about to discover a whole new world of sports and the amazing community that comes with them. You might be wondering about the different sports, such as hurling (played with a stick and a small ball) or Gaelic football (similar to soccer, but played with your hands). And of course, you may be curious about how to get involved and start playing.

What are these games?

If you're looking to explore Gaelic games, there are two primary sports that we play - Camogie/Hurling and Gaelic Football. Both games are played by men and women alike, with only slight rule differences. These sports are traditionally played on a field approximately 150 by 90 yards, which is almost twice the square area of an American football field.

Camogie/Hurling and Gaelic Football follow a similar scoring systems. Each end of the field features a goalpost that resembles those in traditional soccer games but with tall posts on top. In Hurling, hitting the ball above the goal through the uprights (similar to kicking for an extra point in American football) earns your team one point. On the other hand, in both games, scoring a goal past the goalkeeper (similar to soccer) earns your team three points.

~90 yards

~150 yards

Camogie/Hurling

Camogie/Hurling involves using a stick called a hurl or hurley to hit a small ball called a sliotar. The sliotar is similar to a baseball, with a cork center and a leather covering. Players are allowed to run with the ball in their hands for four steps, then they must either pass the ball to a teammate or touch it off their hurley and continue running for another four steps. The ball can be moved either by striking it with the hurley or by doing a hand pass, which involves slapping the ball with the hand. Throwing the ball is not allowed in the game.

Learn more about our Camogie/Hurling teams here.
If you'd like to learn more about the skills of the sport and practice some drills, please visit here.

Gaelic football

Gaelic football is a high-energy sport played with a round ball that is similar in size to a soccer ball, but with a slightly harder and heavier construction. It is a fast-paced game where players can run with the ball in their hands for up to four steps before either dribbling the ball off the ground (like in basketball) or kicking it back to themselves. Unlike hurling, players can continually solo the ball like this as long as they want.

To move the ball, players can either kick it or pass it by hitting it with their palm or fist. Throwing the ball is not allowed in the game. Players can score by kicking or hitting the ball over the crossbar for one point, or by kicking it into the net for three points. Both men and women play Gaelic football, with just a few small rule differences. It's a thrilling game that requires speed, skill, and teamwork.

Learn more about our Gaelic Football teams here.
If you'd like to learn more about the skills of the sport and practice some drills, please visit here.

Where did they come from?

Hurling and Gaelic football are both sports that originated in Ireland and are wildly popular there. Both sports are all-amateur games and community-centered, pulling teammates only from the local area. Hurling in particular is a game that has a history going back centuries, even millennia.

If you're interested in the history of these games, check out this podcast we made with Paul Rouse, a professor and historian of Gaelic games:

Can I play them?

We would love to have you as a part of our club. It doesn't matter if you have previous experience with sports or not; we always welcome new players to our teams. Joining the Gaels not only gives you the opportunity to play sports in a competitive and fun environment but also introduces you to a new community of people who share similar interests. Find out where the next practice or club social is by viewing our Events page.