Hurling is a fast paced stick and ball field game, which is extremely popular in Ireland. It is typically played on a rectangular grass pitch and can be described as a combination of Lacrosse, Hockey and Baseball.
It is played with a small ball which is referred to as a ‘Sliotar’ and a stick called a ‘hurley’, the aim of the game is to score as many goals as you can against the opposing team. Doing this means you have to use your hurley to smack the Sliotar into or over the goal, there are many ways to break teams down which will be explained later in this guide.
With hurling awareness on the rise though it is important to know how and where it all started.
The History of Hurling
Before we get into the game itself, we will provide you with a brief history of how it became the most popular sport in Ireland. It is said that the first references to hurling were recorded in Brehon Laws around 1272 BC.
The ancient Irish sport is over 3000 years old which makes it the oldest field game in the world and started off as a game played by neighbouring villages, the people who took part in this game were known as the Anglo-Irish.
The game was initially varied in play but in 1884 the Gaelic Athletic Association was established and built the foundations of how the game should be played. Hurling now is the official sport of Ireland and has started to gain traction in Europe and the United States, with over 120 clubs springing up all over the world.
The Rules of Hurling
How long is a hurling match?
Hurling matches are divided into two halves, with each half lasting 25 – 35 minutes depending on the age-group and level of play.
Senior inter-county hurling matches last 70 minutes (2 x 35 minute halves), with all other senior matches lasting 60 minutes (2 x 30 minute halves).
Youth matches for players competing in the under-13 and younger leagues and/or tournaments, are often shorted to 50 minutes. Additional time is added at the end of each half depending on injuries or delays.
Hurling scoring system explained
Before we explain the points it’s good to know how scoring actually works. The goal that is used in hurling is called a H goal, this is a combination between a football goal as it features a net and rugby posts. The adaptation of the goal suits the score system as you can score one point by hitting the Sliotar with your hurley stick over the crossbar, or three points for getting it in the goal. Goals and points can be scored from open-play and set pieces.
Basic hurling rules
The gameplay rules for hurling might seem quite overwhelming at first glance. In this guide we will cover the fundamental rules and techniques of hurling, so you can follow the action on TV and have a basic overview of what to expect if you are thinking of joining your local club.
In hurling you can use your stick to hit, flick and pass the ball, you can also use your hands in hurling to grab the ball or set up a shot. However, there are rules around this, for example you cannot just simply pick the ball up from the ground you would have to use your stick to grab it or catch it in mid air.
Other rules related to holding the ball include only being able to transfer hands twice unless it hits the ground causing a reset and you can only keep it in your hand for four consecutive steps.
The sliotar can also be kicked or hand passed, it can not be thrown but can be balanced on the hurley stick for an unlimited amount of time.
Hurling Fouls
Learning the rules of hurling can definitely help to prevent fouls. There are many different ways to concede a foul which could lead to potential cards and a threatening set piece.
Touching the Sliotar on the ground or grabbing the ball more than twice is seen as a foul, as is taking more than four steps with the ball. Typically, physically challenging a player who has not got possession of the Sliotar, grabbing another player’s hurley or being aggressive can also result in a foul.
Once a foul is conceded it is down to the referees discretion to make the decision on whether a card is dealt. There are three types of cards in hurling, a yellow card which symbolises a warning, a black card meaning the player is sent off for 10 minutes and a red card which is a sending off for the rest of the match.
Proceeding through the cards can be confusing however, much like football two yellow cards equal a red card and two black cards equal a red, of course depending on the severity of the challenge and the players retaliation it could result in a straight red card.
Hurling Player Positions
Hurling teams are normally comprised of 15 players a side. A full squad will include one goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six attackers. Each role has an immense importance on the pitch however, their objectives vary.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers are the last line of defence between the attackers and the goal. Although there is not much to be done about Sliotars hit over the crossbar, the potential cost of 3 points if they go in the goal could be the difference between winning and losing a game. Which is why goalkeepers need to be agile and attentive to stop the opposition from scoring.
Defenders
Defenders have the important task of blocking the opposing team’s attacks. This can be done in many ways whether it be tussling for the ball or swipe/catching a shot in mid air. There are normally six defenders on the pitch and they are distributed down the right, the left and the centre.
Positions include the backline of the fullback and corner backs, then the wing backs which push up to the midfielders.
Midfielders
Midfielders normally feature in the heart of the pitch, although there are only two players they are the bridge between the defence and offence. They start the match and try to maintain possession where possible, being able to pass as a midfielder is a must as you will be the main supply to the forward players.
Each team usually has two midfielders.
Forwards
The offence consists of 6 forward players, the main focus in this position is to score goals. Whether that be to attack from the wings or through the centre, the midfield distribute the balls to the attackers so they can use their agility and skill to squeeze past defenders. Forwards have to be able to hit shots with power and accuracy as they will need to get past the goalkeeper to achieve the maximum of three points.
The forward positions include wing forwards, centre forwards, corner forwards, and a full forward.
Hurling Pitch Dimensions & Markings
Hurling pitches are bigger than your average football pitch, considering there are 15 players per team, there is a great distance between opposition ends. Typically, the pitch is represented as a rectangular grass field that stretches 130-145 metres long and 80-90 metres wide.
Depending on the age and experience of players though this can be reduced, there are also reductions for smaller teams if there aren’t 15 players per side. The lines and markings represent areas of the pitch, for example the half way line, the penalty boxes, substitution zones, these are all marked and measured to the GAA’s requirements.
Hurling Goals
Although we touched on these earlier, we thought it would be good to go into more detail on the goal as it is quite a unique adaptation off two of sports most popular goals.
The H goal is used in hurling and Gaelic football, the reason for this is that players can choose to shoot the sliotar over the crossbar for one point or into the goal for three points. Having this combination of scoring techniques can make the game more exciting as most players will more likely opt for the more challenging option, but it also means the game could completely change at any moment.
Hurling goals follow a standard sizing which is set by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the overall height for goals is 23ft with the top posts being 15ft and the goal height at 8ft, the width of the goal is 21ft. These are the dimensions for senior sized goals which are used in match, if you are interested in learning about other sizes of GAA goals you can check out our goal sizes guide here.
Hurling Terminology
There are many terms and phrases that are used in hurling that you will hear if you watch or have an interest in the game.
There are already two examples which have been used throughout the article which are the ‘Sliotar’ (hurling ball) and the ‘hurley’ which is the stick.
But there are more, for example:
- A “puck” is where the ball is struck with the hurley from the hand or ground.
- A “hook” is used to prevent a player from striking the ball by breaking their swing with the hurley
- A “field” is where you catch the sliotar over head
- A “pull” is an attempted strike on the ball in the air or on the ground
- A “solo run” is when a player has played the ball hand to toe while carrying the Sliotar on the hurley
- A “block down” means a player has used their hand to prevent the opposition from striking the ball with the foot or hurley
Hurling Equipment
Sticks (Hurley’s)
Hurley sticks are used in hurling to hit/dribble and flick the ball. They are widely used as the main utensil to move the sliotar as opposed to using your hands and feet, mainly because there are no restrictions to how much you can use it in comparison. Hurling sticks unlike, hockey sticks have a rounded off edge which is called the bas, it is the part of the stick which is used to strike the ball.
The heel which is the opposite end of the bas is used to hit the sliotar whilst on the ground, then the toe which is at the end of the stick is used to lift/flick the ball up. The handles of the hurley are normally wrapped with tape to sustain grip of the stick so it doesn’t slip through the players hands. When buying a hurley stick it is important to check what size stick you require, it is a good idea to consult a sizing guide, normally stick size is based off the height of the player.
You can learn more about these sticks in our hurling stick guide.
Hurling Ball (Sliotar)
The hurling ball is commonly known as the ‘sliotar’, it is very similar to a baseball in size and strength. One of the main reasons for wearing head gear in hurling is down to the pace and power of the sliotar which if hitting a player could do some damage. However, the power and pace of the sliotar is exactly what makes hurling such an exciting sport.
When buying a sliotar it is important to consider the skill level of the players, the heavier the ball the harder, which is why most people start off with a lighter ball until they are more confident. If you want to learn more about these balls check out our hurling sliotar guide.
Helmets
Hurling helmets are much like Lacrosse helmets, they go around the head and feature a metal grate at the front. Helmets were introduced into Hurling in 2010 by GAA, the reason for this being the risk of injuries to the head normally by the sliotar as the ball is not soft. Having the correct head gear is really important when playing any kind of hurling to ensure health and safety.
Gloves
Players can wear gloves in hurling, it is recommended to use finger less or open fingered gloves to protect your fingers, thumbs and knuckles from shock absorption. They are usually only worn on the players dominant hand, wearing the gloves properly can help players catch the ball with confidence.
Boots
Whether you are playing Gaelic Football or Hurling, the boots do not change as the pitch is the same. All players will wear football boots as they grip better to grass pitches and since you are still technically kicking the ball football boots are more effective. Just make sure not to buy metal stud boots as most clubs like to steer clear from these due to the damage they can cause to the pitch.
So why did we write this article you may ask? With hurling becoming more popular day by day, especially since the all Ireland championships appeared on the BBC, we thought it was important to give you a full scale view of the sport.
Don’t forget to check out some of our FORZA hurling equipment which you can find here, get started on your hurling journey today.