Club Manual - Ulster GAA

• 4.5m approx (15ft) apart.
• Under-14 and up – Full size
Goalnets
Rules of Specification: Official Guide
(iii) Goalnets shall be securely fixed to the back of the crossbar and the back of each goalpost. The roof of
the net shall be supported for a horizontal distance of not less than 900mm, at crossbar height, by a
metal net support fixed to the back of the goalposts. The mesh of the net shall have a diagonal length
not exceeding 150mm for football and 50mm for hurling.
Backdrop to Goals
• Goalposts should NOT be located on the horizon. Where this is not possible posts should be marked to
help differentiate posts from a clear or white sky
• Vegetation surrounding a pitch and behind goals especially improves visibility for participants and
spectators alike. Vegetation can also reduce noise emissions from playing areas to surrounding areas.
• Avoid locating goalposts in front of club facilities.
• Ball stop nets should be located behind goalposts Such nets should not impede the view of spectators.
• Floodlighting should not be located behind goalposts.
8. Guidelines and Recommendations for Floodlighting
GAA Policy Objective: To support the provision of floodlighting at GAA grounds where this will
increase opportunities and participation
Floodlighting is now an integral part of many GAA facilities, particularly all-weather playing fields and practice areas.
Floodlighting and the intensification of use it can bring can, however, be intrusive in some locations. This can be an
issue in both urban and rural areas.
Any Club currently considering options for development, looking at their present and future training/coaching and
playing requirements should explore the possibility of erecting Floodlighting.
Clubs considering the installation of Floodlighting for either training or playing purposes should remember that such
schemes are not for the amateur but should be designed, installed by qualified lighting specialists.
Prior to planning, the club should ask themselves the following questions.
What will the club use the Floodlit area for?
A. Physical Training
B. Ball Work, including mini games
C. Competitive Games
• Design and layout of floodlights should be implemented by a competent lighting supplier and or an electrical
and mechanical engineer.
• Clubs should ensure that playing surfaces where floodlights are to be provided will have sufficient capacity to
accommodate extra practice sessions and games including the provision of ancillary facilities such as changing
rooms.
• Fast action small playing objects and long viewing distances (Hurling, Rounders and Camogie) require higher
lighting levels than larger playing objects and closer viewing distances (Gaelic football).
• Floodlighting columns must be located so as to minimize obstruction to on site spectator or television viewing
where appropriate. Galvanized steel masts (Numbers will vary depending on height and distance from playing
area) should be positioned on each side of the field and for safety reasons located a distance of at least 5m from
the sideline.
• The height of floodlight columns will influence the evenness of the light falling on the pitch, how many lights are
required and what lux levels (the illumination level).
• The lighting type will influence lux levels on the pitch, level of power required to run the lights and the level of
maintenance required.
• Locating pitches close together creates the possibility of one column lighting pitches in multiply directions.
Lighting should be provided in such a way that it is capable of being redirected where this is appropriate and
should be designed to be of optimum efficiency to minimize wasted light and associated financial costs.
• The size and use of the pitch will have a direct influence on the design of floodlighting.
• The target for illumination should be 50 Lux with a uniformity of 1:3 where the lights are used for training
purposes only (Uniformity level is the difference between the bright spots and those not so bright).
• If the lights are for playing purposes, the recommended minimum lighting level for Gaelic Football is 250 Lux
and Hurling 500 Lux. For competitive games at County and Provincial Grounds where TV cameras will be used
the lighting should be of the highest quality therefore 1000 Lux is recommended at least. In grounds such as
Pairc Ui Rinn, Parnell Park and Austin Stack Park where 1000 Lux has been achieved the lights are mounted at a
height of 30 meters.
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