Scoring and Goals the GAA scoring System
By Justin Parks | November 29, 2009
Yep, the scoring in GAA is as odd as hell, but it makes sense. I swear to god it does.
Scoring
In Gaelic football and hurling there are two types of score, a goal or a point.
A point is scored by playing the ball over your opponents’ end line, between their goalposts, and over the crossbar.
A goal is scored by playing the ball over your opponents’ end line, between the goalposts, and under the crossbar. A goal is worth three points.
Goals
Players may score from either the hand or the foot in football, or the hurl and foot in hurling. A goal cannot be scored using the hand pass method, although points can be scored this way. A goal scored by hand will count if the referee deems it not to have been by the hand pass method e.g. if a player is in possession of the ball, drops it, and punches the ball into the goal this will count.
A set of goals in Gaelic football/hurling are similar to those of rugby. The two vertical posts (goalposts) are placed 14 yards apart, with a horizontal bar (crossbar) between them, 8 feet from the ground.
If a defender plays the ball through his own goalposts, whether by foot or by hand, the appropriate score is awarded to the attacking team. A defending player may score an own goal with a hand pass.
