Gaelic football is mainly played in Ireland. A match of this fast-paced game involves two teams of 15 players each. The teams play on a rectangular, outdoors grass pitch with H-shaped goals. The main objective of the players is to score by striking or kicking the ball with their hands. A point is earned by hand passing or kicking the ball over the bar. To score a goal, a player must kick the ball into the mouth of the goal. The winner is the team that has the highest score at the time when the match ends. To advance a ball up in the field, players combine soloing, carrying, hand-passing and kicking to their team-mates.

Why Gaelic football is a good game

Gaelic football is seen as a cross between association football and rugby. This game builds your agility, awareness and stamina just like football and rugby. It also enhances the development of hand-eye coordination. Since a player is allowed to make four steps only with the ball, the entire team is heavily involved in the game. Although junior versions of this game are non-contact, physicality is a major aspect of this football in adults.

This game is becoming increasingly popular with fans taking to live Gaelic football betting in online gambling websites. Currently, there are betting markets for All-Ireland Gaelic Football Championships and top games in the National League. Basically, you can easily find odds for your team online.

How to play

As stated, the aim of the players is to get the gall to the pitch over the bar via a goal post or inside the net. A player is not allowed to run with a ball to get it to the net. After making four steps with the ball, a player should hand-pass it to another player, kick it, make a solo run or bounce it. As a player, you are also not allowed to throw the ball. Instead, you should kick-pass or hand-pass the ball. Kicking is used in passing the ball, scoring or making a special free kick. When shooting, passing or making a solo run you must be very careful because it is possible to be tackled.

Tackling is basically being hit the way players hit each other when playing the American football. You cannot pick up the ball from the ground if you lose it after being tackled. Once the ball gets down on the field, your team can attempt to shot it over the bar or the goal post to earn one point or into the net to earn three points. Perhaps, the most difficult Gaelic football skill is dropping the ball from your hand to your foot before you kick it back up to your hand. Players are allowed to make unlimited solo runs. Bouncing the ball consecutively is not allowed while running.

Gaelic football popularity

In Ireland, there are more than 2,500 football clubs. All-Ireland Championships draw 32 teams together for competitions every year. These clubs, the championships and gambling sites that are offering live Gaelic football betting are making this game increasingly popular all over the world.

Gaelic football has been described as a mixture of rugby, soccer and basketball. However, despite the fact that it predates all these games Gaelic football has rules and techniques that new players should learn. This field game has evolved over the years and it is currently one of the most popular sports not only in Ireland but also in other parts of the world like Australia. More Gaelic football fans are also engaging in gambling activities for county players and clubs. This game has become increasingly popular in online gambling sites especially after the announcement of gambling guidelines by GAA and GPA.

Here are some of the major Gaelic football rules and techniques that new players should know:

Gaelic ball and field

Gaelic football is played using a round ball. This ball is heavier but slightly smaller than the soccer ball. The playing field has a rectangular shape. It measures about 82 meters wide and 137 meters long. The goal posts have the same basic shape with rugby goalposts. However, Gaelic football goalposts have a lower crossbar than that of ruby. They also have netting that is similar to that of soccer goalposts.

Scoring

Players have two ways of scoring. Ideally, a player can score a point or a goal. A point is scored when a player hand-passes or kicks the ball and it goes over a crossbar and between uprights. In that case, a player earns his team one point. On the other hand, a goal can be earned when a player puts the ball under the crossbar as well as between uprights to earn three points. To accomplish this, a player kicks the ball in the control or possession of the attackers. A player can also accomplish this when the ball in the air is not in the possession of anyone and the attacker punches it into the net directly just like a volleyball spike.

A kick-out is usually taken from a 21-yard line when the attacking team is awarded a score.

General rules 

Players are allowed to carry the ball in their hands for a maximum of four steps only. The ball can be hand-passed or kicked. After making four steps, a player must solo or bounce the ball. Soloing is dropping the ball on your foot and kicking it back to your hand. Players are not allowed to bounce a Gaelic ball for two consecutive times. In male Gaelic football, players are not allowed to pick the ball from the ground directly. However, this may be allowed in ladies Gaelic football. The possession of the ball goes to the opposing team and a free is given from the foul point when a player picks the ball illegally from the ground.

Techniques

Hand-passing

A player may hand-pass the ball over a crossbar or to a teammate. This entails holding the ball with a single hand and striking it using the other hand. The striking motion must be clear to the referee because throwing is not allowed.

Solo

This technique is accomplished by carrying the ball for a maximum of four steps then bouncing it on the ground and back to the hands or kicking it.

Tackling

Tackling entails blocking a kick, knocking the ball or jostling an opponent.

Learning the basic Gaelic football rules and techniques is important not just for new players. It is also crucial for the fans who want to engage in online gambling on websites that offer Gaelic football betting.