Gaelic handball

Gaelic handball
Two men playing handball
Highest governing bodyGaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Nicknameshandball, GAA handball
First playedmedieval period or earlier, Ireland
Clubs180[1]
Characteristics
ContactLimited
Team membersSingles or doubles
Mixed-sexNo; some mixed doubles played in juvenile grades[2]
TypeHand and ball-striking games
EquipmentGaelic handball ball, goggles, non-marking gum soled shoes
VenueIndoor or outdoor (with glass court)
Presence
Country or regionIreland and Irish diaspora
OlympicNo
ParalympicNo
World GamesOne-wall handball was included as a Demonstration sport at 2013 World Games, Colombia[3]
Boys playing handball at a handball court in Ireland in the 1930s

Gaelic handball (known in Ireland simply as handball;[4][5][6][7] Irish: liathróid láimhe) is a sport where players hit a ball with a hand or fist against a wall in such a way as to make a shot the opposition cannot return,[8] and that may be played with two (singles) or four players (doubles). The sport, popular in Ireland, is similar to American handball, Welsh handball, fives, Basque pelota, Valencian frontó, and more remotely to racquetball or squash. It is one of the four Gaelic games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).[9] GAA Handball, a subsidiary organisation of the GAA, governs and promotes the sport.

  1. ^ "GAA Handball - Official Website". GAA Handball.
  2. ^ "Gael Linn". 18 January 2016.
  3. ^ "World Games, Colombia – Team GB Battle Hard". UK Wallball. 15 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Ultach » 2010 » March". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Weekly handball preview". RTÉ News. 16 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Handball: Model stars see off alley Cats". Irish Independent. 7 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Record attendance at One Wall festival". 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "St Coman's Handball Club". 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. ^ Our Games | About the GAA | GAA Archived 15 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine