RMIT Gaelic Football Club

What is Gaelic Football?
Gaelic Football is a form of football derived from traditional Irish ball games. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch.

Players advance the football up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing, and soloing (dropping the ball and then toe-kicking the ball upward into the hands). 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 (3 points) is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, signalled by the umpire raising a green flag.

Positions in Gaelic football are similar to that in other football codes, and comprise one goalkeeper, six backs, two midfielders, and six forwards, with a variable number of substitutes.

Similarities between Gaelic Football and Australian Rules Football (AFL) have allowed the development of International Rules Football, a hybrid sport, and a series of Test matches has been held regularly since 1998. Gaelic Football has been played across Australia and New Zealand for many decades by Irish immigrants, visa workers and backpackers keen to maintain a connection with the national sport of their youth. These days men and women from all backgrounds now play Gaelic, think Australian Rules Football except with a round ball and no tackling.

How to get involved:
Contact the sports team at: sport@rmit.edu.au