Highland Games
History
Scottish Highland Games are believed to have originated in Ireland around 2000 BC and were later brought to Scotland in the 4th and 5th centuries. The first recorded Highland Games occurred during King Malcolm III's reign. They featured competitions to find Scotland's fastest, bravest, and strongest clan members. Musicians and dancers also competed for clan honor.
The Ceres Games in Fife, dating back to 1314, are Scotland's oldest continuous Highland Games. The Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, held in August, is the world's largest Highland Games. The Braemar Gathering is also well-known, tracing its history to King Malcolm III.
The Highland Games faced suppression during the 18th century due to the British's efforts to erase Scottish culture, including the 1746 Proscription Acts. However, the law was repealed in 1782, leading to the revival of the Highland Games in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The first Highland Games in the United States were organized by the Highland Society of New York in 1836, with the first games on the West Coast taking place in San Francisco a few years later.
Highland Games have now become a global phenomenon, featuring traditional events such as caber toss, stone put, Scottish hammer, weight for distance, and weight for height. The sheaf toss, an American event, is not commonly seen in competitions outside the US.
Florida Highland Games
Florida boasts one of the largest Scottish Highland Games communities in the United States! With an average of 8 games annually, the athletes have an entire game season from December to May.
The divisions available at most games (determined by field size) are:
Men’s A (must meet specific requirements)
Men’s B (18-39)
Master Men’s 40+ (40-49)
Master Men’s 50+ (50-59)
Senior Masters (60+)
Men’s Novices (3 games total until moved into a division. Men 40+ years can start in a Master’s division instead of the Novice group due to the weight of the implement.)
Juniors (14-17 years male and female)
Women Open (18-39)
Women Masters (40+)
Lightweights (Men under 200lbs. and women under 150lbs.)
The guidelines for the Florida Highland Games— for example, the weight of the implements used, how to set up a field, rules, and scoring are a culmination of regulations used by organizations like the North American Scottish Games Athletics (NASGA) and Scottish Masters Athletics International. Florida does have some unique rules that have developed over the evolution of the sport, e.g., entering and exiting the back of the box to show control of the throw.
Essential things to know the first time you compete at a game:
You need to wear a kilt and something under your kilt! No going commando!!
You must compete in every event for your scores to count.
Due to most games being “festival” games, we have to provide a family-friendly event. While competing, athletes are asked to refrain from profanity/obscene gestures, t-shirts with filth, and drinking/drug use on the field. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.
To sign up for a game or to see a list of upcoming events, go to our Store or the Events page. To find a practice group near you, visit our Practice Groups page or check out Call to Arms Highland Games Practice.
Below is a general overview of the Highland Games events. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us through the website or at info@f4sa.org.
Events
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Stone: Braemar & Open
Stone Weights
Men: 20-26lb Braemar, 16-22lb Open
Women: 12-18lb Braemar, 8-12lb Open
Juniors Females: Women Stones
Junior Males: Men Stones
There are two techniques for throwing stone; Braemar where athletes stay in place, and Open where athletes can use any throwing style as long as it’s safe. The athlete enters the back of the painted box, makes their throw, and then exits out of the back of the box.
Rules:
The athlete may not start past the 7’6” back line.
Touching the 7’6” back line with any part of your foot is a foul.
The stone must be thrown with one hand.
For Braemar, the athlete must stay in place and can only switch feet once the stone leaves the hand.
If the athlete touches the ground with their hand, it is a foul.
If using a winged trig, both feet must remain inside of the box at all times.
If using a traditional trig, one foot must stay inside of the box at all times.
An athlete must be in control when requesting a “reset”. -
Caber
Cabers are selected for each division by the Athletic Director before the game.
Rules:
Two judges are required- side judge and back judge.
The caber is set up right for each athlete with the heavy end on top.
Each athlete will have three attempts.
When attempting a lift, as soon as the caber leaves the ground, the caber can not be set back down. It will counted as an attempt.
If a judge says to drop the caber for safety purposes, and the athlete does not, even if being able to regain control, the turn will be fouled.
An athlete must take at least three steps to show control. (No “Braemaring” the caber.)
The caber is “turned” when passing the 90-degree vertical plane.
The back judge will use the clock face method to determine the athlete’s score.
The best score possible is a 12:00.
The caber is judged by it’s landing position (where the small end of the caber lands), not where the caber rolls or bounces.
The athlete may change direction as long as they display control.
The side judge is responsible for scoring “degrees” when the caber does not break the 90-degree vertical plane.
The side judge stays perpendicular to the athlete during the “run” for a accurate view of degrees. -
Hammer
Hammer Weights
Men: 16lb Light, 22lb Heavy
Senior Men (60+): 12lb Light, 16lb. Heavy
Women: 12lb Light, 16lb Heavy
Juniors: Males (14 & 15) Women Weights, All Junior Females throw Women weights, Males 16 & Up throw Men’s weights.
Rules:
No sidelines are used. The foul line runs perpendicular to the trig.
Athletes may set up anywhere in this area.
Blades are allowed.
When setting up, the athlete may rest the head of the hammer on either side of the trig, and resting the hammer past the perpendicular foul line before initiating the pull is not considered a foul.
While heel/toe motion is allowed with the ball of the foot staying planted during rotation, the feet can not travel.
While rotating the hammer, if the hammer hits the trig or beyond the trig, it is a foul. -
Heavy & Light Weight for Distance
Implement Weights
Men: 28lb Light, 56lb Heavy
Men’s Masters & Lightweights: 28lb Light, 42lb Heavy
Senior Men (60+): 21lb Light, 35lb Heavy
Women’s Open: 14lb Light, 28lb Heavy
Women Masters & Lightweights: 14lb Light, 21lb Heavy
Juniors: Females- 14lb Light, 21lb Heavy
Males 14-15 under 200- 14lb Light, 28lb Heavy
Males 14-15 over 200- 21lb Light, 35lb Heavy
Males 16-17 under 200- 21lb Light, 35lb Heavy
Males 16-17 over 200- 28lb Light, 42lb Heavy
Rules:
The backline is 9’ from the trig.
For a winged trig, both feet must stay inside of the box.
For a traditional trig, the athlete may start with one foot outside of the box. One foot must stay in the box at all times.
The weight must be thrown with one hand.
Different throwing styles may be uses as long as deemed safe by the judge.
The athlete may not touch the top of the trig with their foot, or step over the trig.
The athlete may not place their hand on the ground.
The athlete’s foot/feet can not touch the back-line.
An athlete may request a reset, but must be in control when requesting the reset.
The athlete will enter and exit the back of the box.Description goes here -
Weight Over Bar
Implement Weights
Men: 56lb
Men’s Masters & Lightweights: 42lb
Senior Masters (60+): 35lb
Women: 28lb
Women Masters: 21lb
Junior Females: 21lb
Junior Males (14&15): Under 200lb, 28lb, over 200lb, 35lb
Junior Males (16&17): Under 200lb 35lb, over 200lb, 42lb
Rules:
Weight must be thrown with one hand.
Any throwing style may be used as long as deemed safe by the Judge.
A successful throw is when the weight goes over the crossbar inside of the ropes the crossbar is suspended from.
The starting height will be determined by the Athletic Director.
The crossbar will advance by one-foot increments. -
Sheaf
Bag Weights
Men: 16lb or 20lb (to be determined by AD)
Men Masters: 16lb
Senior Men (60+): 16lb
Women: 10lb
Women Masters: 10lb
Junior Males: 16lb
Junior Females: 10lb
Rules:
Athletes can use a 2 or 3 pronged fork,
Each athlete will have three attempts.
A successful throw is when the bag clears to the inside of the upright over the crossbar.
The Athletic Director will set the amount of feet the bar will advance. For example, two or three feet.
Athletes are allowed to borrow other athletes forks if they do not have a fork.
Throwing a fork out of anger is grounds for expulsion from the event and possibly the game.