Hurling – Skills and Drills

There are many different skills involved in the game of hurling. One renowned hurling coach outlined over 170 skills in the game!

The skills can be broadly broken down into those that involve Gaining Possession, Maintaining Possession, Releasing Possession and Contesting Possession. Below are a few example skill development tips and drills for some of the core skills in each category.

Gaining Possession

Involves gaining possession and control of the sliotar. Thus, skills such as catching, and lifting are included along with skills involved in getting control of the sliotar using the hurley.

HURLING SKILLS – THE ROLL LIFT

HURLING SKILLS – JAB LIFT

HURLING SKILLS – OVERHEAD CATCH

Maintaining Possession

Once the sliotar is under the control of the player, there are a number of skills which help the player in possession to maintain possession. These skills encompass ground skills, handling skills and evasion skills.

HURLING SKILLS – SOLO RUN

HURLING SKILLS – DRIBBLE

Releasing Possession

Involves striking the sliotar, with either the hand or the hurley. Many of these skills can be performed with a stationary sliotar or a moving sliotar, while the player is stationary or while the player is moving.

HURLING SKILLS – STRIKING FROM THE HAND

HURLING SKILLS – HAND PASS

HURLING SKILLS – GROUND STRIKE

HURLING SKILLS – GRIP AND SWING

Contesting Possession

Involves many of the skills used to tackle an opponent in possession, or to contest for possession when neither player is in possession of the sliotar.

HURLING SKILLS – HOOK

HURLING SKILLS – FRONTAL BLOCK

HURLING SKILLS – BATTING

It should be noted that this method of “grouping” skills is only a suggestion that may help coaches to ensure that as many skills as possible are developed, and there are a number of different ways of matching the skills together.