Ninh explains the Rules of Shinty The object of the game is for your team to
score more goals than the opposing team.
Shinty is a game played predominantly in Scotland, between with two teams of 12 players for men
and 10 players for women.
To score a goal, a player must use their stick known a caman, to hit the ball into the goal.
The ball must completely cross the goal line for a goal to count.
The field is a maximum of 170 yards x 80 yards, with a centre circle and penalty spots marked
on the field.
Goals are 12ft wide and 10ft high, and surrounding the goals is the ten yard area, which is a
10 yard radius around the goal.
The game starts with a throw up, where the referee throws the ball between two opposing
players, and they must play for the ball in the air.
Once a team has possession of the ball, they will try and move the ball towards the opposing
goalkeeper and try and score.
You can pass the ball directly between teammates, play the ball in the air, or dribble the ball
by running and controlling the ball with both sides of the stick.
Unique to Shinty, you are also allowed to play the ball with your chest, or stop the
ball with both feet together.
The idea is to set up in good field position to be able to shoot the ball into the goal.
The opposing team will try and stop you by tackling.
They are allowed to block with the stick, use the stick to take the ball away from you,
and make shoulder to shoulder contact with the ball carrier.
However, they cannot swing their stick into the stick of their opponent.
This is known as hacking and is considered a foul.
They will try and take the ball away from you so that they can score themselves.
The game is played in two 45 minute halves, for a combined playing time of 90 minutes
plus added time for injuries and stoppages.
Highest score at the end of time wins.
That’s basically the gist of it, but there’s a few other things you’ll need to understand
before playing or watching Shinty.
For example:
Substitution.
A team is permitted to have a maximum of 5 substitutes on their bench.
A team wishing to make a change of player can be do this at any time, so long as the
player being substituted comes off first.
Foul.
If you break one of the rules, most commonly for hacking, the referee will blow the whistle
and indicate a foul.
Fouls usually result in a free hit to the opposing team.
Free hit A free hit is awarded to the other team, usually
after a foul has occurred.
The player must strike or lift the ball from the spot of the foul, and all other players
must be at least 5 yards away from the ball before it is struck.
Caution / Sending Off
Dangerous play is punishable by either a yellow card, which is a warning.
or a red card, where you are sent off the pitch without a substitute replacement.
Hit In If a ball leaves the side-lines, the ball
is awarded to the team who didn’t touch it last.
They must play the ball back onto the field by striking it vertically in the air above
their heads.
Failure to do this results in the ball being awarded to the other team.
Corner Hit If a defending team hits the ball out of their
own bye line, a corner hit is awarded to the attacking team.
The attacking team places the ball at the nearest corner quarter circle, and restarts
play by hitting the ball from the ground.
Penalty Hit Any infringement made by a defending player
in the ten yard area will result in a penalty hit.
The ball is placed on the ground at the penalty spot and, as always, its one shot only.
Any goals scored count towards the overall score.
Penalty Playoff.
In the event of a draw for games where a winner must be determined, a penalty playoff is used
to determine the winner.
There are 5 shooters on each team and each one alternates taking a shot at the opposing
goalie.
Team with the most goals after the playoff, wins.
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Ninh Ly - www.ninh.co.uk - @NinhLyUK