There’s something about playing a sport that makes exercise much more fun than working out solo at a gym. Did you know that Indianapolis has a dedicated ladies’ sports team that anyone can join? The Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association (Indy GAA) is an Irish recreational sports club that is always looking for new members.

If you’ve never played Gaelic football before, we’ll be happy to teach you. Our league is made up of women of all ages and athletic abilities who want to be a part of a team and get a good workout while playing a fun game. Let’s explain what ladies’ Gaelic football is, how it is similar to soccer and other sports, and how you can get involved with the Indy GAA.

What is Ladies Gaelic Football?

Ladies Gaelic Football is a dynamic and inclusive sport that holds a significant place in Irish culture. It is essentially the female counterpart to traditional Gaelic football, featuring similar rules and gameplay.

Played by women and girls of all ages, Ladies Gaelic Football emphasizes skill, teamwork, and athleticism. Just like its male counterpart, it is played on a rectangular field with H-shaped goalposts at each end. The objective remains the same: to score points by kicking or punching the ball into the opponent’s goal (a goal, worth 3 points) or between the upright posts above the goal (a point, worth 1 point). Ladies Gaelic Football provides opportunities for women and girls to participate in organized sports, develop physical fitness, and build camaraderie within their communities.

The sport has gained widespread popularity across Ireland and beyond, with organized leagues, clubs, and competitions at various levels, from local community teams to national championships. The Indy GAA played in the finals at the United States Gaelic Athletic Association National Championships in 2022.

What Are The Rules of Ladies Gaelic Football?

Ladies Gaelic Football combines elements of soccer and basketball, with its unique set of rules and gameplay. The ball is similar in size to a volleyball and not like an American football. Players can move the ball down the field using a variety of techniques, including kicking, punting, handpassing, or bouncing it on the ground.

The goal resembles a soccer goal but with a field goal over it. To score points, players must either place the ball into the goal, guarded by a goalie, for 3 points, or send it over the crossbar for 1 point. The score is kept separately, relying on spectators and players to so some math to know who is winning. A team with 3 points over the bar, and 4 points in the goal would have a score 4-3, (or 15).

In Ladies Gaelic Football, tacking is prohibited, but ladies can block kicks and other passes from other players. The game moves very quickly and is incredibly physical, which makes it fun to both enjoy and watch.

Is Ladies Gaelic Football Like Soccer?

Many of the women who play Ladies Gaelic Football in the Indy GAA were former soccer players who were looking for a new sport to try. Making the transition from soccer to Gaelic football was easy was fun and they enjoy learning a new sport while still being able to use the skills from previous sports.
Many ladies Gaelic footballers are also former rugby players. While rugby is much more physical than Gaelic football, the movement of the ball from the feet to the hands is very familiar to those who try Gaelic football after playing rugby.

How Do I Play Ladies Gaelic Football In Indianapolis?

The Indy GAA is an inclusive club in the heart of Indiana. We have two dedicated women’s sports teams: ladies’ Gaelic football and camogie. Women can choose to play one or both sports, it’s up to them. If Ladies Gaelic Football sounds enticing to you, there are many ways you can participate in our club.

Practice

We have regular practices in Broad Ripple Park in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Practices are open to anyone interested in playing with us, male or female. If you don’t have the equipment, we can provide some for you, but it’s a smart idea to bring cleats and a mouthguard if you have them. Check out our events schedule or Facebook page to see what is on the agenda for our next practice.

Premiere Nights

If you want to try playing a game of Ladies Gaelic Football or want to see it in action, premiere nights are a great opportunity. On certain Friday nights in the summer, we play at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, where spectators can drink local beer while watching the games from the bleachers. This is a great way to see a game in action.

Pub League

Once you’ve learned how to play Ladies Gaelic Football, you’ll want to get as much playing time as possible. On Sundays from April – August, we play co-ed Gaelic Football and Hurling games. Players are assigned to a team for the season and enjoy playing for a trophy at the end of the pub league season. This is a great way to meet other club members, gain valuable experience, and become familiar with the rules.

Tournaments

If you can’t get enough of Gaelic football, there are plenty of opportunities to play more outside of pub league and premiere nights. There are Gaelic Athletic clubs just like the Indy GAA all over the country, and we participate in tournaments they host throughout the summer.

All of these clubs are overseen by the USGAA which puts on a national tournament, in which Indy often participates. The Indy GAA also hosts a tournament in June at the Indianapolis World Sports Park where our Ladies Gaelic Football team puts on a fierce competition.

While many of our club activities are co-ed, there are lots of opportunities for our women to play as a team against other women. However, we understand that many of our players have full-time jobs and families that depend on them, and there is no pressure to participate in tournaments if you are unable to do so.

Join A Women’s Sports Rec League in Indianapolis – We’ll Be Happy To Have You!

If you’re looking for a fun way to make female friends in Indianapolis, or are just looking for that team camaraderie that miss from playing sports when you were younger, the Indy GAA would be happy to have you on our team. If you’re interested in playing Ladies Gaelic Football, check out our events calendar and see what practices or games you want to watch, or contact registration@indygaa.com to join.