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Shinty

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description Shinty Overview

Shinty, also called camanachd or iomain, is a team sport originating in the Scottish Highlands, played with a curved wooden stick called a caman and a small hard ball. Two teams of twelve players compete on a large grass pitch, aiming to strike the ball into the opponent's goal. The Camanachd Association, founded in Kingussie in 1893, governs the sport and codifies its rules. Shinty is historically related to the Irish game of hurling.

help Shinty FAQ

How many players are on a shinty team?

A standard outdoor shinty team has 12 players, including a goalkeeper. Two teams use wooden camans and a hard ball on a large grass pitch.

What is the stick used in shinty called?

The curved wooden stick is called a caman, and the sport is also known by the Scottish Gaelic terms camanachd and iomain. Players can use either side of the caman to control or strike the ball.

How is shinty related to Irish hurling?

Shinty and hurling developed from related Celtic stick-and-ball traditions, but they have different rules and equipment conventions. Scotland and Ireland have also played international composite-rules matches combining elements of both sports.

Where did modern shinty develop?

Shinty is strongly associated with the Scottish Highlands and with Highland communities in Scotland's cities. The Camanachd Association is the sport's governing body and oversees its modern competitions and rules.

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