Camogie
What is Camogie?
Camogie is the female version of hurling. The game of hurling is unique to Ireland
and is one of the fastest field games in the world. It has always been
a huge part of our culture and heritage and is our national sport. Hurling
and camogie are very skillful games.
The game in depth.
Hurleys:
Players use sticks called 'hurleys' which are made of ash wood and are
between 30 and 37 inches in length with a broad end. The part of the hurley
used to strike the ball is known as the 'bas'. The ball in hurling and
camogie is known as a 'sliothar'
Teams:
A camogie and hurling team consists of 15 players and a number of substitutes.
The substitutes can be called into play at any stage of the game. The team's
manager chooses a starting fifteen and substitutes from a 'panel' of players.
A maximum of three substitutes may be used in a game. Every hurling and
camogie team has a goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six forwards.
Lineout
for 15-A-Side Game
Goalkeeper
Right
corner-back Full-back Left corner-back
Right
half-back Centre half-back Left half-back
Midfielder
Midfielder
Right
half-forward Centre half-forward Left half-forward
Right
corner-forward Full-forward Left corner-forward
Matches:
Championship and league matches last 60 minutes. Inter county and Inter
club teams will wear their own registered distinctive colours. Players
are advised to wear protective headgear in the form of helmets. But wearing
helmets is not compulsory.
Each
year Inter County and Inter Club teams compete in various competitions.
The most famous and respected competition of all is the All-Ireland Championship.
This is a knockout championship that runs from May to September for Inter
County teams only. Early in the year a draw is made in each of the four
provinces to decide which teams play each other. Venues are decided upon
and the matches are then played. Winning teams progress to the next round
while losing teams are eliminated and must wait until the following year's
championship to try again.
The
winning teams in the semi-finals proceed to the All-Ireland final. All-Ireland
Finals are always played in Croke Park, Dublin. The All Ireland Camogie
Final is played on the first Sunday in September. 
The winning team receives
the O'Duffy Cup which dates back to 1932. RTE televised the All Ireland
Camogie Final live for the first time in 1998. The holder of the greatest
number of Senior All Ireland Championship medals is Kay Mills, Dublin.
She won a total of fifteen.
During
the spring, the National League is played. The league is looked upon by
many as a warm-up for the championship campaign. As a result of this, new
players are often tried out and regular players play out of position. Managers
experiment with many combinations trying to reach the ideal formation for
the championship games in the summer.
The
sliothar is in play once the referee has given the signal for the game
to start or restart. The sliothar will remain in play until:
the
referee signals the game to stop the sliothar has passed over any of the
boundary lines the sliothar is touched in play by anyone other than a player
The
sliothar can be struck with the hurley when it is on the ground, while
in the air or when lifted from the hurley. Players may run with the sliotar
balanced or hopping on the bas of the hurley. Players can catch the sliothar,
play it on their hurley and bring it back to their hands only once.
A
player can strike the sliotar with the hurley, hand (but not throw it),
by kicking and by hitting it from the ground. If the sliothar goes out
over the end line off one of the defending players a '65' metre free 'puck'
is awarded in hurling and a '45' metre free 'puck' is awarded in camogie.
An attacking player will then take the free puck. If the sliothar goes
out of play over the sideline the referee will award a 'sideline puck'.
The player taking the puck must hit the sliothar from the ground. Under
no circumstances can the player lift the sliothar on to their hurley.
In
hurling and camogie there are two methods of recording scores. A 'point'
is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts by
either team. A 'goal' is scored when the ball is played over the goal line
between the posts and under the crossbar by either team. In hurling and
camogie a goal is equal to three points. Points are generally easier to
score than goals as the goalkeeper will be unable to save a high ball.
The winning team is the one that outscores their opponents.
The
"ref"
The referee is the official in charge of the game. The referee is assisted
by two linespeople and four umpires. The referee plays a central role in
the game following the play on the pitch, while two umpires take up position
at each of the two goals. The linespeople follow the game from the sidelines.
The
referee's decision is final, but the two linespeople and the four umpires
may be called upon for additional input into a decision made by the referee.
The linespeople and umpires, also known as officials, act as extra 'eyes'
for the referee.
There
are many ways that a player can commit a foul.
Technical
fouls include:
To
overcarry the ball and to throw the ball To lift the ball off the ground
with anything other than the hurley To lie on the ball, therefore killing
it To toss the ball with the hand and catch it without playing it with
the hurley. To drop the hurley intentionally or to hurl it at an opposing
player For a player to be in the opposing teams 'square'. This is the square
marked out in front of the goalkeeper. A player can not enter this square
before the ball drops into it during play.
In
the event of foul play players simply have 'their name taken' by the referee.
This is known as being 'booked'. The referee makes a written note of this
in his/her pocket book. If a player has to be booked twice, s/he is 'sent
off'. The referee will point in the direction of the sideline and the player
will leave the pitch.