Shinty - or Camanachd as it is known in Gaelic speaking areas, is an ancient game, introduced along with Christianity and the Gaelic language over two thousand years ago by Irish missionaries.

The game can undoubtedly lay claim to being Scotland's true national sport - it is even claimed, with some justification, that golf was born out of players practising the art of driving the ball with the caman - the curved stick used by shinty players. It was also the game that evolved in Canada to become ice hockey.

The game itself is played between two teams of twelve players with three substitutes allowed. The field is between 140 and 170 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide. The goals are 12 feet wide and 10 feet high. The ball, with a seamed leather cover, is between 8 and 7.5 inches in circumference, weighing between 3 and 2.5 ounces [slightly smaller and not so hard as a hockey ball].

The stick - the caman - is somewhat like a hockey stick, with a curved end, and is shaped with an angled surface on each side. The angled faces give the ball lift when struck. Defending and attacking players use camans with different angles.

Although many people liken Shinty to Hockey, in fact, the two games have very little in common - the nearest equivalent to Shinty is the Irish game of Hurling. International matches between Scotland and Ireland under a compromise set of rules are held annually. 

The 2007 international was won by Scotland 22 - 11 Ireland. The Scots claimed their biggest-ever winning margin as they enjoyed their third win in succession.

The game is played in two halves of 45 minutes each. The game is started when two opposing players cross camans above their heads and the referee throws the ball into the air above their camans. The game is much more of a physical contact sport than hockey – for instance players may block the swing of their opponent's caman. Both sides of the caman can be used and although the ball is often played in the air, the true skills of the shinty player are very much on the ground.

Shinty is a very fast and open passing game. Defence can change to an attack very quickly and players hold their field positions rather than following the ball much more than in rugby or football. The ball may not be kicked, nor of course an opponent! Feet can however be used to stop the ball.

When the ball goes out of play at the sidelines, it is hit back into play by a player throwing the ball in the air above his head and striking it with the heel of his caman - above his head - with both feet on the ground and parallel to the sideline. It is even more difficult to do this well and consistently than it looks!

Only the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball - and even he may only slap the ball with the flat of his hand - he may not catch or grasp it in any way. The other principal difference between shinty and many other ball sports is in its off-side rule. In shinty, a player is off-side if he enters the ten-yard area around the goal (marked on the pitch) before the ball enters the area - either on the ground or in the air - it is irrelevant how many defending players may be in the vicinity, or goal side of the ball.

For more information visit http://www.shinty.com