Section 1: Introduction
Hurling is a stick-and-ball field game administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the amateur governing body for Gaelic games headquartered at Croke Park, Dublin. The playing rules set out in this document are drawn from the Official Guide - Part 2, published by authority of the Central Council of the GAA and stated to be "effective from 27th March 2026." This publication replaces all previous editions and governs both hurling and Gaelic football; the rules cited below relate specifically to hurling.
Two teams of fifteen players compete to score by driving a small leather ball, the sliotar, over or under the crossbar of the opponents' goal using a wooden stick called a hurley (camán). The game combines aerial and ground striking skills, one-handed catching, and controlled shoulder-to-shoulder physical contact within a framework of Technical Fouls, Aggressive Fouls, and Dissent set out respectively in Rules 4, 5, and 6 of the Official Guide - Part 2.
This rulebook reflects the Official Guide - Part 2 as it applies to adult, Senior-grade play; several provisions (for example field and equipment dimensions, and the 2.3(i) substitution count) carry explicit exceptions for Under 15 and younger grades that are noted where relevant but not exhaustively reproduced.
Section 2: Equipment
The Sliotar (Ball) - Rule 4.4(i): The diameter of the sliotar, not including the rim (rib), shall be between 69mm and 72mm. Its mass shall be between 110 and 116 grams. The rim (rib) height shall be between 1.8mm and 2.6mm, and the rim (rib) width shall be between 3.6mm and 5.4mm. The thickness of the leather (chrome or synthetic) cover shall be between 1.8mm and 2.7mm and shall not be laminated with a coating greater than 0.15mm. Sliotars are approved for use only on the basis of compliance with standards and tests set by Central Council, and Approved Match Sliotars must carry the GAA mark of approval; annual independent testing verifies continued compliance.
The Hurley (Camán) - Rule 4.5: Hurleys shall only be approved for use based on compliance with standards and tests set out by Central Council. In Underage Hurling, up to and including Under 12 age grades, the use of metal bands on hurleys is prohibited unless the metal bands are taped over.
Helmet with Facial Guard - Rule 4.2(i): In all Hurling Games and Hurling Practice Sessions it is mandatory for, and the responsibility of, each individual player to wear a helmet with a facial guard that meets the standard set out in IS:355 (or a replacement standard determined by the National Safety Authority of Ireland). Such helmets shall not be modified from their original manufactured state in any circumstances. A Referee shall not permit a player to take the field, or continue playing, without this equipment; a failure to comply with an instruction to wear an approved helmet with facial guard is itself a Dissent infraction under Rule 6.2.
Team Colours and Jerseys - Rule 4.1: Club teams shall wear their registered distinctive colours in inter-club competitions, and County teams shall wear their registered distinctive colours in inter-county competitions; where there is a similarity of colours the teams change to alternative registered colours. In all games, the goalkeeper shall wear a jersey which is distinctive from both the goalkeeper's own team's and the opposing team's outfield colours.
Central Council adopts a Code for Playing Gear and Equipment, and only sliotars, footballs, and hurleys complying with the provisions of that Code may be used; Central Council may also approve the use of a smart chip for sliotar authentication purposes in specific official games.
Section 3: Playing Area
Field Dimensions - Rule 1.1: The field of play shall be rectangular. Length shall be a minimum of 130m and a maximum of 145m; width shall be a minimum of 80m and a maximum of 90m. These dimensions may be reduced by local Bye-Laws for Under 15 or younger grades.
Field Markings - Rule 1.2: At distances of 13m, 20m, 45m, and 65m (the hurling-specific distance line) from each endline, lines are marked across the field parallel to the endline, with their intersections with the sidelines marked by flags. A 10m midline is marked at the centre of the pitch, parallel to the endlines, with 5m dashed lines marked out from it at 5m intervals across the field, their sideline intersections also flagged. All lines on the field of play shall be 90mm ± 13mm wide and marked in white with a suitable marking material.
Scoring Space - Rule 1.3(i)-(iii): The scoring space sits at the centre of each endline, formed by two goalposts (circular in cross-section) not less than 7m high and 6.5m apart, with the inside edge of the endline tangent to the front edge of the goalpost bases. A crossbar is fixed to the goalposts at a uniform height of 2.5m above the ground; when rectangular it has a depth of 140mm ± 10mm and a width of not less than 50mm, and when circular a uniform diameter of 125mm ± 5mm. Goalnets are fixed to the back of the crossbar and each goalpost, with the net roof supported for a horizontal distance of not less than 900mm at crossbar height; net mesh diagonal length must not exceed 50mm for hurling. These Scoring Space dimensions may be reduced by local Bye-Laws for Under 15 or younger grades.
Rectangles and Arc - Rule 1.3-1.4: Two rectangles are formed in front of each scoring space: the small rectangle (goal area), 14m by 4.5m, formed by lines 4.5m long at right angles to the endline, marked 3.75m from the inside of each goalpost; and the large rectangle, 19m by 13m, formed by lines 13m long at right angles to the endline, marked 6.25m from the inside of each goalpost. A semi-circular arc of 13m radius, centred on the mid-point of the 20m line, is marked outside each 20m line.
Substitution Zone - Rule 1.6: An area of the sideline extending 5m on either side of the centre-line is marked as the Substitution Zone; players entering or leaving the field for substitution or temporary substitution must go through this point with the Referee's permission, except that an injured player may leave the field at the nearest point to the player.
Section 4: Players & Officials
Team Composition - Rule 2.1-2.2: A team consists of fifteen players, a goalkeeper and fourteen outfield players (a Council or Committee in charge may reduce outfield players to a number not below eleven). A team may commence a game with thirteen players; players arriving late may join during a break in play after reporting to the Referee, provided the game is played for the full playing time. Provided a team has fielded thirteen players, including any players ordered off or retired injured, the final score stands as the result of the game.
Substitutes - Rule 2.3: The maximum number of substitutes permitted during Normal Time is five (a Council or Committee in charge may permit additional substitutions at Under 18 or younger grades for league or non-championship competition, or reduce the number where fewer than fourteen outfield players are used). A maximum of three substitutions is allowed during Extra Time. A substitution is not allowed for a player who has been ordered off. A substitution may only be made during a break in play, after the player has given a substitution note to the Referee (or, in an Inter-County Senior game, to the Sideline Official).
Extra Time - Rule 2.5: A player ordered off in Normal Time may not play in Extra Time and may not be replaced. A Caution (Yellow Card) or Black Card issued in Normal Time carries over into Extra Time. A player sent to the Sin Bin on a Black Card with less than ten minutes remaining in Normal Time shall serve any remaining time in the Sin Bin during Extra Time.
Match Officials - Rules of Control, Rule 1: Control of the game is entrusted to a Referee, four Score Umpires, and two Line Umpires, with a Sideline Official appointed for all Inter-County Senior games. The Referee's decision on any question of fact, and in regard to time, is final (subject to Hawk-Eye Score Detection consultation where in operation). The Referee has powers including declaring conditions unsuitable for play, consulting Score/Line Umpires or the Sideline Official on infringements, ordering a bleeding player off for treatment, overruling an Umpire's decision, awarding a score prevented by non-player interference, and terminating a game after a three-minute warning where a team or player refuses to leave the field or continue playing.
Section 5: Rules of Play
The Play - Rule 1: The ball is in play once thrown in or pucked to start or restart play, and remains in play until the Referee signals a stop, the ball passes completely over a boundary line or strikes a boundary flag, or is prevented from crossing a boundary by anyone other than a player (Rule 1.1). It may be struck with the hurley on the ground, in the air, or lifted with the hurley (Rule 1.2). A player may run with the ball balanced or hopping on the hurley (Rule 1.3). A player may catch the ball, play it on the hurley, and bring it back into the hand once; a player who has not caught the ball may play it from the hurley into the hand twice (Rule 1.4). The ball may be struck with the hand, kicked, or lifted off the ground with the feet (Rule 1.5), but may not be touched on the ground with the hand(s) except when a player is knocked down or falls and the ball in hand touches the ground (Rule 1.6). A player in possession may carry the ball in the hand for a maximum of four consecutive steps, or hold it no longer than the time needed to take four steps, before it must be released and struck with a definite striking action of a hand (Rule 1.7).
Players may tackle an opponent for the ball (Rule 1.8). Provided the player has at least one foot on the ground, a shoulder-to-shoulder charge is permitted on an opponent who is in possession of the ball, playing the ball, or moving in the direction of the ball to play it (Rule 1.9). The goalkeeper may not be charged while within the small rectangle, though the goalkeeper's possession may be challenged and the goalkeeper's puck, kick, or pass may be blocked; incidental contact while playing the ball is permitted.
Set Play - Rule 2: The Referee starts the game, and restarts it after half-time, by throwing in the ball between two players from each team standing on their own defensive side of the halfway line (Rule 2.1). After a foul, play restarts with a free puck or throw-in where the foul occurred, subject to specified exceptions for fouls inside the large or small rectangle (Rule 2.2). A Penalty Puck for an Aggressive Foul by a defending player within the large rectangle is awarded from the centre point of the 20m line; a Free Puck is awarded for a Technical Foul in the same circumstances (Rule 2.2(a)). A Penalty Puck is struck either from the centre point of the 20m line or from within the semi-circular 20m arc, brought back to 7m from the 20m line; only one defending player may stand on the goal-line before the ball is struck (Rule 2.4(b)).
When the ball is played over the endline by the attacking team, or after a score, play restarts with a puck-out taken from within the small rectangle; the ball must travel 13m before being played by another player of the defending team, and all players other than the goalkeeper and the player taking the puck-out must be outside the 20m line until the ball is struck (Rule 2.6). A team playing the ball over the sideline concedes a free puck (sideline puck) from the ground to the opposing team at the point the ball crossed (Rule 2.8).
Section 6: Scoring
Rule 3.1: A goal is scored when the ball is played over the goal-line, between the posts and under the crossbar, by either team. A point is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar, between the posts, by either team. A goal is equivalent to three points, and the team with the greater final total of points is the winner. A player attacking a goal who is in possession of the ball may not score by carrying the ball over the opponents' goal-line or by scoring with the hand(s).
Rule 3.2: A score may validly be made by striking the ball in flight with the hand(s).
Rule 3.3: A score is allowed if, in the Referee's opinion, the ball was prevented from crossing the goal-line by anyone other than a player or the Referee. If part of the goal-posts or crossbar is displaced during play, the Referee awards the score that would have resulted had the equipment not been displaced. If an opposing player interferes with the goal-posts while the ball is in flight from a free or sideline puck and no score results, the Referee orders the free or sideline puck retaken; a score is otherwise allowed if it was prevented by opponent interference with the posts during general play.
Rule 3.4: If a defending player plays the ball through the defending team's own scoring space in any manner, this counts as a score for the attacking team.
Rule 3.5: A score may not be made directly from a free puck awarded under Rule 2.9(i), which covers restarts following a stoppage for serious injury.
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Technical Fouls - Rule 4: These cover ball-handling infringements such as overcarrying or overholding the ball (4.1), throwing the ball or handpassing it without a definite striking action (4.2), lifting the ball off the ground with the knees (4.3), lying on the ball (4.4), touching the ball on the ground with the hand(s) outside the permitted exception (4.5), catching the ball more than twice before playing it away (4.6), an attacking player entering the opponents' small rectangle before the ball (4.10), and standing too close to a free puck, sideline puck, or puck-out before it is taken (4.11, 4.17). The standard penalty for Technical Fouls is a free puck from where the foul occurred, except as otherwise provided under Rule 2.2.
Aggressive Fouls - Rule 5: These are graded into escalating categories. Category I infractions (pulling down an opponent, tripping, threatening or abusive language to an opponent, rough play, careless use of the hurley, and similar - Rules 5.1-5.15) carry a caution (Yellow Card) with an order-off on a second cautionable foul, plus a free puck. Category III infractions (striking, kicking, or attempting to strike an opponent with minimal force, spitting, contributing to a melee - Rules 5.16-5.23) carry an immediate order-off. Category IV infractions (striking or attempting to strike with force or causing injury, striking with the head, striking with a hurley with force or causing injury, stamping, reckless infliction of injury, abusive language to a match official - Rules 5.24-5.34) carry an order-off and, per the Official Guide Part 1 suspension schedule referenced in Rule 5, a minimum two-match suspension escalating to three matches on repeat infraction. Category V (interference with, or threatening/abusive conduct toward, match officials), Category VI (racist, sectarian, or anti-inclusion conduct), and Category VII (striking or assaulting a match official) infractions carry an order-off with minimum suspensions ranging from 12 weeks up to 96 weeks, doubling on repeat infraction, with the offender's team liable to disqualification for Category VI and VII repeat infractions.
Denial of a Goal-Scoring Opportunity - Rule 5.45: In Inter-County Senior, Under 20, and Minor (Under 17) competitions only, where pulling down an opponent (5.1), tripping (5.2), or careless use of the hurley (5.6) denies an attacking player a clear goal-scoring opportunity, a Penalty Puck is awarded to the fouled team and the offender is issued a Black Card and sent to the Sin Bin for ten minutes; if the offender has already received a Black Card or a Yellow Card in the game, the offender is ordered off for the remainder of the game, including Extra Time.
Dissent - Rule 6: Challenging the authority of a Referee, Umpire, or Sideline Official is penalised by a caution, with an order-off for a second cautionable foul (6.1). Showing dissent at the award of a free puck moves that free puck 30m further downfield toward the offending team's own goal, up to the opponents' 20m line (6.4); at Under 18 or younger grades, an additional ten-minute Sin Bin period on a Black Card applies. Refusing to leave the field when ordered off, or a team/player(s) leaving the field or refusing to continue playing, triggers a three-minute warning procedure followed by termination of the game if not complied with (6.5-6.6).
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Mandatory Head Protection - Rule 4.2(i): Every player must wear a helmet with a facial guard meeting the IS:355 standard (or its NSAI-determined replacement) in all Hurling Games and Hurling Practice Sessions, and the helmet must not be modified from its original manufactured state. A Referee is empowered to order a bleeding or seriously injured player off the field for medical attention (Rules of Control, Rule 1.1(iii)), and injuries involving blood or a suspected head injury are addressed through the Temporary Substitution provisions referenced at Rule 1.5(b) of the Rules of Control.
Contact Limits - Rule 1.9: Shoulder-to-shoulder charging is restricted to players with at least one foot on the ground who are in possession of the ball, playing the ball, or moving toward the ball to play it; charging outside these conditions is itself an Aggressive Foul under Rule 5.11. The goalkeeper receives specific additional protection from charges while within the small rectangle (Rule 1.9).
Dangerous-Play Sanctions - Rule 5: The graded Aggressive Fouls framework specifically targets dangerous conduct: throwing the hurley in a manner constituting a danger to another player (5.7), careless use of the hurley (5.6), striking or attempting to strike with force or causing injury (5.24-5.29), stamping on an opponent (5.30), and reckless infliction of injury by other means (5.31) all carry an immediate order-off and, at Inter-County and equivalent levels, multi-match or multi-week suspensions that scale sharply with severity and repetition, up to 96-192-week suspensions and team disqualification for the most serious (Category VI-VII) conduct.
Injury Stoppage Procedure - Rule 2.9: Where the Referee stops play in exceptional circumstances to allow a seriously injured player to be treated or removed from the field, play resumes with a free puck to the team in possession at the point of stoppage (or a throw-in if neither team was in possession); a score may not be made directly from a free puck awarded under this provision (Rule 3.5), which removes any incentive to feign or exploit an injury stoppage for scoring advantage.
