Hurling is a sport of Gaelic origin, perhaps 2000 or more years old. It has been described as “a cross between soccer and baseball”, “field hockey in the air”, or “airborne hockey on grass.” Whatever the comparisons, hurling is a truly unique game.

Hurling is played on a field larger than a soccer field with ash sticks called hurleys and a baseball-sized leather ball called a sliotar. It has nets similar to soccer with football-style uprights attached. Putting the sliotar into the net scores a goal worth three points, while putting the ball through the uprights (over the bar) scores a point. It is a fast-paced game, and a capable player left open can score from 60 (or more) yards out.

Overview of Hurling Rules

Moving the Sliotar:

• The sliotar (ball) may not be picked up directly off the ground with the hand. The hurley may be used to lift or flick the sliotar into the hand.
• The sliotar may be caught in the air or while bouncing.
• The sliotar may be carried in the hand for up to four steps. It may then be played off the hurley and back into the hand for another four steps. It can only be taken to hand twice, and then must then be passed, shot, or played off the ground.
• The sliotar may be struck directly off the ground with the hurley.
• The sliotar may be kicked.
• The sliotar may be struck with an open hand (hand pass).
• The player may run with the sliotar balanced on the hurley for an unlimited amout of time.
• The sliotar may be dropped out of the hand and struck in the air with the hurley.
• A player may not throw the sliotar.

Physical Contact:

• Shoulder-to-shoulder contact is permitted while attempting to gain possession of the sliotar.
• Hard contact away from the ball is a foul.
• Pushing or checking in the back is a foul.
• Holding another player's hurley is a foul.

Fouls

• Most fouls (such as illegal contact, touching the ball while it is on the ground, or taking the sliotar to hand more than once) result in a “Free” being awarded to the opposition at the point of the foul.
• To take a “Free” a player is allowed to lift the ball with the hurley and strike it in the air uncontested. If the player swings and misses, he must strike the ball directly on the ground without lifting it.

Boundaries

• If a ball is played past the sideline, the opposing team is awarded a “side cut.” When taking a side cut, a player must strike the ball directly off the ground with the hurley.
• If the offense plays the ball past the endline beyond the opposition's goal, the ball is given to the goal tender for a “puck in.” The goal tender may take the ball to hand and hit it back into play with the hurley.
• If the defense plays the ball past their own endline, a free is awarded to the other team at the 65 yard line.

Though the official rules indicate teams play with 15 players a side, our division in North America plays 13 a side.

For the complete official rules, see the GAA website.

For an example of what hurling should look like watch this hurling video.

To see what it looks like at our level watch a bit of a game we played versus the Barley House Wolves in New Hampshire. (In our defense it was early in the season.)

Check out the TV news story on our 5/30/09 home game on WCSH 6. (Video is available in the upper right corner of the webpage.)