How many players are in a shinty team, and how do substitutions work?
Rule- Scotland
- Camanachd Association
- Shinty
- Camanachd Association Byelaws
- All ages (U12 to adult)
- 2025
- Players
Under Byelaw 1.2 for the adult game:
- Each team has no more than 12 players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
- A competitive match is not valid if either team has fewer than 8 players.
- Up to 5 substitutes can be named in the team lines, and any 3 may be used in a match (4 in representative matches).
- A player who has been replaced can come back on later as a substitute.
- Substitutes enter at the midpoint of either sideline, during a stoppage, after the referee signals. On a player's first substitution, they hand the referee a completed substitution card.
- If an outfield player swaps with the goalkeeper without telling the referee and then handles the ball in the Ten Yard Area, a penalty-hit is awarded.
Age: adult players must be 16 when registering for the season. A club can field a younger player, from a minimum age of 13, if a parent or guardian consent form is completed and countersigned by the club.
Youth competitions use rolling substitutions and their own team sizes.
Added 21 Oct 2026