Saints Shinty

Saints Shinty welcomes players from all backgrounds and experiences. The club is inclusive and offers lots of support throughout sessions.

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Saints Shinty

Shinty at St Andrews is more than just a club, it’s a close-knit community. Although our club’s roots stretch back to at least the 19^th Century, the sport is much more ancient and was originally used as battle practice in Scotland and so the game inherently encourages camaraderie and finesse. We’re sure you’ve probably not heard of this sport, nor had most of us when we join first joined so we welcome players of all skill levels.

Club sessions

Day	Time	Team	Location
Monday	15:30-17:00:00	Mens	3G Astro
Wednesday	14:00-16:00	Mens	Pitch 11
Wednesday	14:00-16:00	Womens	Pitch 11
Friday	07:30-09:00	Womens	3G Astro
Saturday	10:00-12:00	Womens	Pitch 11
Saturday	14:00-16:00	Mens	Pitch 11

Find out more

The game is played 12-a-side, typically consisting of: a goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 4 attackers. Camans (shinty sticks) are wedged and you can use both sides, unlike hockey. The ball is made of leather and can be hit along the ground as well as in the air. In most matches against other universities we play in separate men’s and women’s teams but we often come together to play 12 a-side or sixes (6-a-side) for tournaments. The Club in St Andrews was officially started in the 1970s by a group of game medics. Practically all of the club have never played Shinty before coming to St Andrews so everyone learns from scratch. We put a large emphasis on the social side of things and so Wednesdays are a big deal for us, we also hold a ceilidh every semester as well as a number of other events both formal and casual.

Through training many members get an opportunity to coach new players, especially at the start of the year where we encourage 1-1 training to help new players learn quickly, as most of us were beginners before coming and can remember our initial struggles. There are also opportunities to learn how to ref throughout the year, with some undertaking a referee course, which is helpful with league games.
Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced player, already attend the University or if you are thinking about attending, please get in touch to register your interest and find out more about our club.

The University hosts a Sports Fayre at the beginning of each academic year during Orientation Week, giving prospective members the opportunity to talk to club members and sign up to ‘Give It A Go’ sessions.

Please email the club to register your interest: shinty@st-andrews.ac.uk

Club Membership

All matriculated students at the University can join the Shinty Club.

Please visit the Saints Sport website for a full list of club membership options, prices and information on how to purchase your membership.