Gaelic football is a fast, exciting, catch and kick style field game played with a round ball similar to a soccer ball. It has often been described as a mixture of soccer and rugby, although it also has some elements that are similar to basketball and volleyball. The game  is also similar to Australian Rules Football, sufficiently so that an International Series with compromise rules regularly takes place.
 
A full-size Gaelic Football pitch is typically 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same shape as rugby, with the crossbar lower than rugby and slightly higher than soccer. Each team consists of fifteen players, lining out as follows: one goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. The actual line out on the playing field is as follows:

The ball used in Gaelic Football is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball. It can be carried in the hands for a distance of four steps and can be kicked or "hand-passed", a striking motion with the hand or fist. After every four steps the ball must be either bounced or "soloed", the action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. The ball may not be bounced twice in a row. To score, the ball must be put over the crossbar by foot or hand for one point, or under the crossbar and into the net by foot or hand for a goal, which is equivalent to three points.