Oliver Lee, age 16, of Rutland, Vt., for his question:

WHEN DID GAELIC FOOTBALL ORIGINATE?

Gaelic football is a type of football played principally in Ireland, where it originated and where it became popular in the 16th Century. At that time a team consisted of all the able bodied men of a town or parish. The number of players on each team ranged from 25 to 100.

Frequently the game started at a point midway between two towns or parishes and ended when one team had driven the ball across a boundary line into its opponent's town or parish.

The rules of the modern game were developed in 1884 by the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Fifteen players are on a Gaelic football team today. The players may kick, punt or punch the bail, or they may "hop" or dribble it, that is, keep bouncing it while advancing. Throwing or carrying the bail is not allowed.

At each end of a field is a goal consisting of two vertical posts and a horizontal crossbar. Behind the goal, under the crossbar, is a net. Kicking or punching the ball over the crossbar counts one point. Punching or kicking it into the net counts three points.

The game is played today in Ireland and in some large cities in Canada and the U.S.