the future of hurling

Nowadays the sport of Hurling is played not just in Ireland but in other parts of the world too including north America, Britain, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Continental Europe and South Africa each year more and more people are learning about the sport and hopefully in the future it will be known world wide many people that do learn about this sport are away. Recently sky got some of the broadcasting rights for some of this years hurling championship action many people were angry as they don't have sky and others were angry because they think this is leading to hurling turning professional which I personally wouldn't mind, the players would still be playing for the love of the game while getting payed for it.

The players

I remember the first day my dad brought me down to our club nursery as its called, i stood with all the other children using their hurley's as swords and cried for an hour wanting to go home . This is how most hurlers start off, they play with their local club make friends and enjoy playing the brilliant game of hurling . You train and play matches and as you get older you start to go out with your friends on the weekend and try to develop new skills. Eventually at around under 14 you might make the county development squad and for most senior county players now this is how they developed their skills, they move their way up through the development squads to minor under twenty one and senior if they're lucky. When they make senior they have to do a balancing act with their lives fitting in work or college with club and county training sessions.The word commitment doesn't even cover it,most of these players haven't been on holidays for years they train at least 5 times a week excluding their own gym work and training which they do in the morning. The amazing thing is that these players don't even get payed, hurling is just an amateur sport, they play for the love of the game and to achieve every hurlers dream which is to win an all Ireland with you're county.

Summary and Rules of the Game

To play the game of hurling you need a Hurley and since the 1st of January 2010 you now must wear a helmet. Most people accepted this helmet rule but some people like Diarmaid 'The Rock' o' Sullivan did not and in 2009 he retired from hurling in both club and county, His change of position was a factor also in his decision to retire. Hurling is fifteen aside so there isn't much room on the pitch therefore you have to  use the Sliotar quickly and smartly. On each team there is 1 goalie 3 full backs 3 half backs 2 midfields 3 half forwards and 3 full forwards. This is the same format for Gaelic football Basically to play the game you hit the Sliotar with the hurley you can also run while balancing the sliotar on the hurley.(the solo) and you can only catch the sliotar two times when in possession unless its hits the ground then you can catch it twice again, if you do catch it three times it will be a free against you. Like most other sports there are red and yellow cards which can be given for many reasons like striking an opponent with the Hurley in the past while a new rule has been brought in which has to do with hitting or grabbing a players helmet, this will result in an immediate red card. Hitting the sliotar under the crossbar is a goal and is worth 3 points,hitting the sliotar over the crossbar and between the posts is worth 1 point hurling is a very rough game many times i've came off the pitch after a match with  bleeding shins  from pulls off a hurley there is no rugby type tackling in hurling but shoulder to shoulder tackles are acceptable and bring a great intensity to the game. 

History of hurling

Week 1
history of hurling

Hurling was believed to have been brought by the Celts to Ireland in 500Bc. The acceptance of the game in Ireland has changed rapidly through the centuries. In the 13th century Hurling was banned throughout Ireland because of it's viciousness then in the 18th century the game was said to be in its golden generation. In 1884 the Gaelic athletic association was set up in Hayes hotel in Thurles county Tipperary by a number of people including Thomas croke (who now has a stadium named after him). This association includes the sports Hurling ,Gaelic and handball although you may think the Women's version of Hurling (Camogie) is part of the GAA it isn't it is part of the Camogie association.

introduction

Hello my name is jack and this is my blog on the geography of hurling. I am a huge fan of hurling,it is the worlds fastest field sport and one of the most skillful, in my opinion it is the best sport in the world. I have played hurling since I was four with Ballinteer St Johns GAA club. This is why I chose to do my blog on this topic.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/