In the sport of Hurling, the uprights are the two tall, vertical posts that extend upward from the goalposts.
The Hurling goal looks like a combination of a soccer goal and American football uprights. It features a net at the bottom and two long poles reaching high into the air.
Scoring and the Uprights
The uprights are essential for scoring points.
- Over the Bar: If a player hits the ball (the sliotar) between the uprights and above the crossbar, they score 1 point.
- The “Wait”: When the ball flies high, the referee and umpires look specifically at the uprights to see if the ball stayed inside the vertical lines of the posts.
- Hitting the Post: If the ball hits an upright and bounces back into the field of play, the game continues. If it hits the upright and goes over the bar, it counts as a point.
Dimensions
The uprights are positioned 6.5 meters apart. While the crossbar sits 2.5 meters off the ground, the uprights themselves usually reach a height of at least 7 meters (though often much higher) to help officials judge high shots.
The Role of Umpires
Two umpires stand at each end of the pitch, one behind each upright. Their job is to watch the ball as it passes the plane of the uprights.
- If the ball goes between the uprights, the umpire raises a white flag to signal a point.
- If the ball goes outside the uprights, they wave their arms to signal a wide.
Why They Matter
Because hurling is the fastest field sport in the world, players often strike the ball from over 80 yards away. The uprights provide a massive target, allowing players to score from great distances and sharp angles without needing to get past the goalkeeper into the net.