International Rules
It will no doubt come as a surprise to many that the first attempts to combine Australian football with another code did not involve Gaelic, but American, football. The hybrid sport was called Austus. However, it would be to Ireland, and not the USA, that VFL administrators would eventually look to for international competition.
There is no denying the similarities between Australian football and Gaelic football. Indeed, there are those that have suggested that Australian football owes its origins to Gaelic football. See below for an interesting article on the subject.
The rules of Gaelic football game were promulgated in 1884 by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The GAA still controls and regulates the sport.
Fifteen players constitute a team in Gaelic football. The players may kick, punt, or punch the ball; or they may "hop" or dribble it, that is, keep bouncing it while advancing. Throwing or carrying the ball is not allowed. At each end of the field is a goal consisting of two vertical posts and a horizontal crossbar; behind the goal, under the crossbar, is a net. Kicking or punching the ball over the crossbar counts one point; punching or kicking it into the net counts three points.
