PEAI CONFERENCE OCT 2011 TGfU AND GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS LIAM O REILLY 2011 -The following is a brief introduction and outline of the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association (G.A.A.) and the rules and regulations governing how the sport of Gaelic Football is played. Also included is a breakdown of the various individual skills of the sport that should be taught to the young player so as to allow the learning athlete the best opportunity to perform the skills aptly in a match situation through teaching games for understanding. These skill cards are to be used by the teacher with an interest in teaching Gaelic Football. They offer clear instruction and easy to use diagrams that can be used or even adapted to be very effective in teaching pupils the fundamental skills required for effective participation and inclusion in Gaelic Football. SKILL CARDS SHOULD B E USED WITH THE LESS O N P L A N S (MY THANKS TO D AVID O ’ D ONOVAN ) GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly Gaelic folklore: Cuchulainn with his Hurley. (Caman) Introduction Hurling precedes the introduction of football with tales of the first hurling match in 8th century Ireland The following Gaelic Football skills cards are prepared for teachers and coaches to assist in the preparation, planning and implementating of the skills. Each skill is presented to inform the teacher/coach of the components of the skill and is broken down in a manner to follow the sequence of each movement. The visual aspect-using colour will cater for all abilities and the pupils will engage with the skill guided by the steps outlined in the cue cards. The history of Gaelic Football along with the ancient and modern rules may be used to examine the pupils in a fun way to assess their knowledge of the origins of this Irish traditional game. Gaelic football dates back to the earliest record of a recognised forerunner to modern Gaelic football from a game in County Meath in 1670, in which catching and kicking the ball was permitted. The first All-Ireland football final took place in 1887 in Clonskeagh Dublin between Limerick and Louth. Limerick won the game by 1-4 to 0-3. 2 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly HISTORY OF THE SPORT: Gaelic football (Irish: peil ghaelach), commonly referred to as "football", "Gaelic" or "GAA ('gah')", is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. Teams of 15 players kick or hand pass a ball around a grass pitch towards opposing goals to either score a point over the bar or a goal. Gaelic football is one of four Gaelic sports run by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The others include Hurling, Camogie and Handball. The game is believed to have descended from ancient Irish football dating back to 1537. The modern game however has its origins dating to 1887 after the foundation of the GAA in 1884. The Tailteann Games, which was an ancient Celtic festival, took place annually during the feast of Lunagsha (August 1th) and began in 1829 BC (Oregan 2006). There are historical references to a form of Irish or Gaelic football being played in Ireland as far back as the 14th century. It appears that Gaelic football games were cross-country marathons involving hundreds of players, and violent exchanges were acceptable. This cross-country football was called ‘caid in County Kerry, taking its name from the ball of horsehide or oxhide which had an inflated natural bladder inside it (Healy, 1998). These events that did not have the defined rules of the modern game and could continue over a number of weeks. They were not confined to one field or even on parish. The ball could be carried from one parish to another where on completion a social event would take place. History contrived to challenge the survival of this native game. In 1695, the Sunday observance Act banned hurling, communing (support) and football on Sundays and imposed 12 pence or the equivalent or 12 pennies penalty for each offense (Tierney, 1972 cited in Oregan 2006). The Great Famine in 1845 saw depletion in the Irish population and a sea change in sporting participation. National pride and a desire for self identity led to the formation of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Cumann Luthchleas Gael) on All Saints Day the 1th November 1884. The founding members included, Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin who attended a meeting at Hayes’s Hotel 3 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly THE RULES OF THE GAME: The rules of specification outline certain factors relating to the playing set up of Gaelic Games. They specify limitations relating to: 1. The Field of Play. 2. The Players. 3. Time. 4. Equipment. FIELD OF PLAY Pitch Dimensions The field of play for Gaelic Games is rectangular and its dimensions are as follows: Length - 130m minimum to 145m maximum. Width - 80m minimum to 90m maximum. Pitch Markings At distances of 13m, 20m, 45m (football) and 65m (hurling), lines are marked parallel to the end lines. The intersection of these lines and the end lines with the sidelines are marked with flags. The midline of the field is marked parallel to the end lines and has a maximum length of 10m (Note: the dimensions may be reduced by local bye-laws for U15 or younger grades). THE PLAYERS: A team consists of 15 players. These are made up of one goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six attackers. (Note: the positional line up is as below, but no player is restricted in his movement around the field. A team may commence a game with 13 players, but must have fielded 15 players (inclusive of any players ordered off or retired injured) by the start of the second half. A maximum of five substitutes are allowed. A substitution is not allowed in the case of a player ordered off (Note: in the case of extra time, an additional three substitutes are allowed. A player ordered off, in any circumstances, during normal time may not play in extra-time, but may be replaced). Substitutions/temporary replacements may only be made during a break in play. 4 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly Before all official games, the referee must be given a list of players. The first 15 names on the list indicate those players constituting the actual team, unless otherwise clearly indicated. TIME: The playing time consists of two periods of 30 minutes each, but time is added on in each period for incidental or deliberate delays at the discretion of the referee. In Senior Inter-county Championship and National League games, the playing time consists of two periods of 35 minutes each. Playing time may be reduced for U15 or younger grades. A team must take the field not later than 10 minutes before the appointed starting time for Senior Inter-county Championship and other selected games. In all other cases, a team must take the field not later than 5 minutes before the appointed starting time. 5 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly Some Basic Rules In the Game of Gaelic football: When the ball is on the ground, it may be played by any part of the body except the hand(s). It may be lifted off the ground with the feet. Exceptions (i) The goalkeeper may play the ball on the ground with his hand(s) inside his own small rectangle. (ii) Any player who falls or is knocked to the ground while in possession of the ball may fist or palm the ball away on the ground, and may score by so doing. (iii) The ball may not be lifted off the ground with the knees. When a player is in possession of the ball, it may be: - (a) carried for a maximum of four consecutive steps or held in the hand(s) for no longer than the time needed to take four steps; (b) Played from the foot to the hand(s) -toe tapped ;( Solo) (c) Bounced once, and once after each toe tap; (d) Changed from one hand to the other once, with the original holding hand-maintaining contact until the change is completed; (e) Played away with: (i) a fist (ii) an open hand-in which instance there shall be a definite underhand striking action (f) Released for a kick, a toe-tap or a pass with a fist or an open hand. The ball may be knocked from an opponent’s hand(s) by flicking it with the open hand. When a ball has not been caught directly it can be bounced more than once in succession. The Referee, facing the players, starts the game and restarts it after half-time, by throwing in the ball between two players from each team, who shall stand one behind the other in their own defensive sides of the half-way line. All other players shall be in their respective positions behind the 45m lines. http://www.gaa.ie/coaching-and-games-development/resources-and-publications/ this site is an excellent resource. 6 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly THE SKILLS OF GAELIC FOOTBALL Gaining Possession Maintaining Possession Releasing Possession Contesting Possession The Crouch Lift The Bounce The Fist Pass Side to Side Charge The High Catch The Toe Tap/solo The Hand Pass Checking/Shadowing The Body Catch The Feint/Side step The Punt Kick The Near /Hand Tackle The Low Catch Evasion/Roll off The Hook Kick The Block Down The Reach Catch The Penalty Kick 7 GAELIC FOOTBALL SKILL CARDS TGfU 2011 Liam O’ Reilly CARD 1 CROUCH LIFT AIM: Is to teach the crouch lift, which is one of the primary methods of gaining possession in the game of Gaelic football.