Camogie

What is Camogie?

Camogie (ka-moe-gi) is an Irish team sport sport played with a wooden stick (hurley) and a small ball (a Sliotar). It is very similar to the men’s version, hurling, but has a few key differences, mostly relating to scoring and tackling. It shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goals, number of players, and much terminology. It is typically played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch, although here in North America we play smaller sized games to suit the smaller sports facilities available.

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Positions in Camogie are similar to that in other team games codes, and comprise one goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders, and six forwards, with a variable number of substitutes. These numbers will change depending on the size of the field available. Typically, we play with seven a side when playing indoor during the winter, and nine a side when playing outdoors during the summer and autumn months.

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Camogie

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Camogie

How to Play

  • Unlike in soccer, where players from each team line up in their own half, Camogie players start a game positioned on either side of the half, and pair themselves with an opposing team’s player. For example, the midfielders from each team will line up together at the center-line of the field. The forwards will position themselves in front of the opposing team’s goal, and the fullbacks will line up beside the opposing team’s forwards. Defensively speaking, you are now paired with a player from the opposing team, and you will be “covering” that person for the duration of the game
  • The game begins with the sliotar thrown-in on the ground between all four midfielders in the center.
  • The sliotar may be held in the hand, however if the ball is on the ground, player must scoop the ball up into the hand using the hurl
  • Players are given only four seconds or four steps to advance the sliotar when held in the hand. The sliotar can also be balanced (solo’d) on the hurl for more than four steps.
  • Players can pass the sliotar by striking it with the hurl in the air or on the ground, kicking it, or completing a hand-pass. The ball may not be thrown.
  • Players may jostle, or shoulder-to-shoulder charge, an opponent when racing to win a loose ball, or when trying to knock an opponent off the ball
  • A player may try to knock the ball out of an opponents grasp by hitting it with one of their hands. It is important to play the ball in this case, as striking the opponent is a foul

In the game, two types of scores are possible: points and goals.

  • A point is awarded for kicking or hand-passing the ball over the crossbar, signalled by the umpire raising a white flag.
  • A goal is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, signalled by the umpire raising a green flag.
  • Players may jostle, or shoulder-to-shoulder charge, an opponent when racing to win a loose ball, or when trying to knock an opponent off the ball
  • A player may try to knock the ball out of an opponents grasp by hitting it with one of their hands. It is important to play the ball in this case, as striking the opponent is a foul

In the game, two types of scores are possible: points and goals.

  • A point is awarded for kicking or hand-passing the ball over the crossbar, signalled by the umpire raising a white flag.
  • A goal is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, signalled by the umpire raising a green flag.

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