Gaelic football and Hurling positions

The following are the positions in the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Like rugby and baseball, and unlike soccer, these have set positions which haven't changed in decades. In most cases, each player sticks firmly to his position, although players sometimes switch positions at the order of their coach, manager or captain.

Each team consists of one goalkeeper (who wears a different colour jersey), six backs, two mid fielders, and six forwards: fifteen players in all. Some under-age games are played 13-a-side (in which case the full back and full forward positions are removed) or 11-a-side (in which case the full back, centre back, centre forward and full forward positions are removed).

The positions are listed below, with the jersey number usually worn by players in that position given.

=Goalkeeper=

The role of goalkeeper who wears the number 1 jersey in Gaelic games is similar to other codes; to prevent the ball from entering the goal. The goalkeeper in Gaelic football and hurling also has the keep role of kicking the ball out to the outfield players, which known as fielding. A good goalkeeper most often has good agility and bravery as well as strength and height. In Gaelic football a keeper's shot stopping ability is of equal importance as their fielding. There is no limit to where on the field the goalkeeper can travel, although once they are outside of the 'penalty area,' they are subject to the same rules as all other players. A goalkeeper in men's football may touch the ball on the ground within the 'penalty area', and is the only player permitted to do so.
It is not permitted to physically challenge a goalkeeper while inside their own small parallelogram, but players may harass them into playing a bad pass, or block an attempted pass.

=Right Corner Back=

The role of the right Corner Back number who wears the number 2 jersey is to defend against opposing attackers, in particular the left corner forward. The right corner back will play most often from the end line to the 45 metre line.

Full Back

The role of full back who wears the number 3 jersey is one of the most important in Gaelic football or hurling. As well as defending against attackers, the Full Back is responsible for organizing the defense and is the key defender in front of goals, and is usually one of the physically strongest players on the team. The full back plays most often from the end line to the 45 metre line.

=Left Corner Back =

The role of the left Corner Back who wears the number 4 jersey is to defend against opposing attackers, in particular the right corner forward. The left corner back will play most often from the end line to the 45 metre line.

Right Half Back

The role of the right half back who wears the number 5 jersey is less defensive than that of the corner backs. The right half backs operate most often in between the 45 metre line and the midfield. The right half backs are expected to defend against the opposition's half forward line but also has a responsibility to make runs from the 45 metre line in order to advance the play to the half forward and full forward lines.

Centre Half Back

The role of the centre half back who wears the number 6 jersey, is less defensive than that of the full back. The centre backs operates from the 45 metre line and forward to the midfield. The centre back will help win the breaking ball in the midfield and can be used as a 3rd midfielder. The centre half back generally marks the centre half forward.

Left Half Back

The role of the left half back who wears the number 7 jersey is less defensive than that of the corner backs. The left half backs operate most often in between the 45 metre line and the midfield. The left half backs are expected to defend against the opposition's half forward line but also has a responsibility to make runs from the 45 meter line in order to advance the play to the half forward and full forward lines.

Midfield

The role of the midfield who wears the number 8 or 9 jersey is to win kick outs / puck outs from either team's goalkeeper, and to act as the main link between the defending and attacking sections of the team. Midfield is often described as the most important role on the pitch.
If the opposing goalkeeper is kicking the ball to the middle of the field, the midfielder has the responsibility to retrieve the ball and therefore prevent the opposing team from taking advantage and bringing the ball forward. This then gives a new responsibility to the midfielder to get the ball moving forward to the half forward and full forward lines.
It is important for the midfield to have a good understanding of their goalkeeper. They must anticipate where their goalkeeper will place the ball and therefore take advantage and bring the ball forward.
Note that there is rarely a "left midfielder" and "right midfielder" - both play 'off' each other as a combined unit. Darragh Ó Sé of Kerry has been the best midfield player over the last 15 years.Fact|date=April 2008
Ciarán Whelan, with his immense high catching abilities, and Sean Cavanagh with his skill in creating attacks, are considered to be among the best football midfielders in Ireland at present. Paul Kelly of Tipperary and Jerry O'Connor of Cork were voted two of Ireland's best hurling midfielders in 2005.

Midfield

There are two midfielders on the field for one team. This is the second one.

=Right Half Forward= The role of the right half forward who wears the number 10 jersey is to build up attacks and to feed the ball to the full forward line and also taking shots on goal or above the bar when opportunities present themselves. The half forwards will cover a lot of ground and utilizing speedy half forwards to run at defences is a common tactic. The right half forward operates from the midfield to the opposition's 45 meter line. The right half forward's main opposing player is the left half back.

Centre Half Forward

The role of the centre forward (often called "centre half forward") who wears the number 11 jersey, is to build up attacks and feed the ball to the full forward line. The centre half forward is responsible for taking shots on goal and points when opportunities present themselves. The centre forwards will cover a lot of ground and utilizing speedy half forwards to run at defences is a common tactic. The centre forward also helps win breaking ball in the midfield, helping to win the possession in order to bring the ball forward. The centre half forward operates from the midfield to the opposition's 45 metre line.

Left Half Forward

The role of the left half forward who wears the number 12 jersey is to build up attacks and to feed the ball to the full forward line and also taking shots on goal or above the bar when opportunities present themselves. The half forwards will cover a lot of ground and utilizing speedy half forwards to run at defences is a common tactic. The left half forward operates from the midfield to the opposition's 45 metre line. The left half forwards main opposing player is the right half back.

=Right Corner Forward= The role of the right corner forward who wears the number 13 jersey is to score points and goals. The full forward line is from the opposition's 45 meter line to their end line. The right corner forward is generally marked by the left corner back.

=Full Forward= The role of the full forward who wears the number 14 jersey is to score goals in particular although points are usually the outcome of their attempts on goal. The full forward line operates from the opposition's 45 metre line to their end line. The full forward is generally marked by the full back.

Left Corner Forward

The role of the left corner forward who wears the number 15 jersey is to watch the full forwards breaks and to score as many points and goals as possible. The full forward line is from the opposition's 45 metre line to their end line. The left corner forward is generally marked by the right corner back.