A new ball game- GAA set to introduce yellow sliotar

The GAA looks to follow in the footsteps of the sport Tennis and are set to introduce yellow sliotars for the 2020 hurling championship pending approval at this month’s Central Council. The purpose of this color change is two fold. One reason is so officials have a better view when determining if a ball has gone wide against the white goal post. Secondly, as the demographics are changing in Ireland, it is becoming more important for people watching the game on TV to be able to see the ball in order to keep interest in the game. Future state, the technology that is embedded in the core of the new sliotar may allow for data on the speed of the ball and the trajectory of the sliotar. This type of technology would surely confirm that hurling is the fastest sport on grass! Check out the full article here. 

American Football points the way for GAA

Before the 1970’s, in America, every fan thought that their city was the best football team and until the playoffs, there was no proof unless you won your conference. The feuds between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) were so bitter that some even described it as a war rivalry. Then the AFC and NFC came together to play teams in opposing conferences, which would allow teams to see where they stacked up against the competition. This change provided the clarity to create divisions based on talent instead of geography. The GAA is starting to catch on to this type of scheduling as we see the changes with the Super 8s and Round Robin Play.  Will the GAA begin to propose changes to the traditional provinces as an effort to pair counties based on talent rather than geography? Read more about this concept here

Masita is calling all clubs

New year, new club gear! Start this new decade with a completely new kit and what better way to do so than to support our National Sponsors, Masita.

10 Divisions, 1 mission

USGAA has 10 divisions and we all have the same mission to promote Gaelic Games, with meaningful competition. Don’t wait for USGAA Finals to see how you fair out against the competition! Host a tournament in your division and invite other divisions to attend. Complete a tournament request form here

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Did You Know?

In 1884, the Gaelic Athletic Association was set up to regulate and promote Ireland’s national games. As a result, GAA football or Gaelic football became the third form of football to be codified in Ireland, after soccer and rugby. Although Gaelic football played a minor role compared to athletics and hurling in the GAA’s early years, football became increasingly popular. This popularity demanded a specific rule book be written to regulate the many football games being played throughout Ireland.

This small GAA football rules book measures only 7.5cm high and 5cm wide. The original red book cover, now badly faded, contained similar wording to the books title page. The body of the book comprises of 12 pages which detail 13 football rules as adopted by the GAA in January, 1888.