`S e gèam luath is cruaidh a th’ann an camanachd, air a chluich a-muigh son a’ mhòr-chuid (le buaidh na sìde) air a riaghladh le Comann na Camanachd.`S e adhbhar gach gèam tadhail a chur ann an lìon le ball. Gheibhear riaghailtean cluiche a’ ghèaim ann am byelaws Chomann na Camanachd. Tha atharrachaidhean rim faighinn, leithid àireamhan ann an sgiobaidhean agus meud an raon-cluiche, ann an gèam nam ban (women’s shinty) agus ann an geamaichean do dh’òigridh agus clann.

Ann an geamaichean àbhaisteach le fir tha 12 anns gach sgioba – aon neach an còmhnaidh na neach-glèidhidh a’ dìon an lìn. Tha cuideachd riochd eile ann do gheamaichean son sianar – cleas mar a tha a’ tachairt ann an rugbaidh le 7s. Ann an geamaichean nam ban, agus geamaichean òigridh agus chloinne bidh nas lugha de chluicheadairean gu math tric anns gach sgioba agus bidh na raointean-cluiche nas lugha.

Shinty is a fast, physical contact sport played outdoors and governed by the Camanachd Association. The object of the game is to score goals.

The rules of play for shinty are contained in the  Association’s byelaws, but variations to these rules, mainly to do with numbers in a team and the dimensions of the field of play, exist for women’s shinty and for children and young people.

In men’s shinty there are 12 players in each team – one of whom is always the goalkeeper, although there is a very popular six-a-side variation which is also played .

In women’s shinty and in some competitions for children and young people, there are fewer players in the team and the pitch dimensions may be smaller.

Bidh caman aig gach cluicheadair agus tha am ball le còmhdach leathair mun aon mheud ri ball son tennis. Ann an geamaichean aig àrd-ìre, faodaidh am ball a bhith a’ siubhal còrr is 100 metre agus aig fìor astar.

Tha geamaichean na camanachd air an cur air dòigh tro dhiofar fharpaisean biodh sin mar lìogaichean agus cupaichean aig diofar ìrean, mar as trice air an roinn tro aois.

`S e prìomh fharpais na camanachd Cupa na Camanachd, a chaidh a chluich ann an 1896 airson a’ chiad uair. Ann an geam nam ban, `s e Cupa Valerie Fhriseil a’ phrìomh dhuais. Bidh ana cuairtean deireannach de na farpaisean mòra sin mar as trice gan cluich anns an t-Sultain.

Bidh Alba a’ cluich an aghaidh sgiobaidhean Èireannach aig ìre eadar-nàiseanta gach bliadhna – aig diofar aoisean agus eadar na boireannaich – le gach sgioba a’ cleachdadh an camain fhèin, ann an Alba agus ann an Eireann. Tha an dà gheam camanachd, no iomain ag èirigh bhon na h-aon freumhan, ach tha iad air a bhith a’ fàs agus a’ leudachadh ann an dòighean gu math eadar-dhealaichte. Bidh na geamaichean eadar-nàiseanta gan cumail anns an Dàmhair mar as trice, fo riaghailtean a chaidh a dhealbh a dh’aona-ghnothach le Comann na Camanachd agus Comann LuthChleas Gael a tha a’ stiùireadh a’ ghèaim ann an Èireann.

Each player has a caman, or curved stick, and it is with the caman that the small leather ball is struck. A well-struck shinty ball can travel over 100 metres at very high speed.

Competitive shinty is organised into league and knock-out cup competitions at various levels and grades. In the men’s game the most coveted trophies are the Camanachd Cup, first played for in 1896 and in women’s shinty the ultimate competition is the Valerie Fraser Cup. Both these events take place in September each year.

Internationally,  there is an annual match between shinty and the Irish game of hurling (Camogie when played by women) – the games have the same historic roots, although each has evolved in its own way – and the normally take place in October. A composite set of rules has been agreed between the Camanachd Association and its Irish counterpart, the Gaelic Athletic Association.

A well-struck shinty ball can travel over 100 metres at high speed.

Ràith na camanachd

Tha ràith foirmeil na camanachd a’ tòiseachadh mar as trice air a’ chiad sheachdain dhen Mhàrt agus tha còir gum bi a h-uile farpais deiseil mu dheireadh Sultain. Tha Comann na Camanachd a’ ceadachadh gheamaichean air latha sam bith dhen t-seachdain, air falbh bho Dhisathairne, ma tha an dà sgioba ag aontachadh. Gu math tric nuair a tha sìde mhath ann agus an latha a’ sìneadh as t-sàmhradh, bidh geamaichean gan cluich am beul an fheasgair, gu h-àraidh aig ìrean chloinne na measg sgoiltean.

Ma dh’fheumas sgiobaidhean geamaichean a chluich air falbh bho Dhisathairne, thèid sin a chomharrachadh dhaibh nuair a thathas a’ coimhead ri cur a-staigh son farpaisean.

When shinty is played

The shinty season normally starts at the beginning of March and is normally due to conclude by the end of September. The Camanachd Association is supportive of shinty matches being played on any day of the week in circumstances where a team involved in any individual fixture/ game indicates acceptance of the chosen day, if it is other than a Saturday.  Young people’s or school games are very often played in summer evenings.

If an open competition/ league is known to require play on a day other than a Saturday then those entering a competition will be made aware of any variation in expected day of play at the time of entry.