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Buying a hurley for an 8 year old girl

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  • 02-04-2009 6:23pm
    #1
    Orizio
    Registered Users Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭


    So my niece's birthday is coming up, and I told her I'd get her a new hurley and a gaelic football.

    However, I'm out in east Cork countryside, so my options are kind of limited to here or the city. I'm wary about buying hurleys in sports stores like Mahers because of the quality, and thought it might be a bit better if I got one from a specialist hurley maker.

    Any ideas?


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    #2
    cruiserweight
    Registered Users Posts: 5,307 ✭✭✭cruiserweight


    Have you contacted your local club. When I was a kid we got all our hurls through the club


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    #3
    Orizio
    Registered Users Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    Yeah I'd rather not, don't really like the supply officer, bit erratic and unreliable as well. Last resort really.


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    #4
    nice_guy80
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,723 ✭✭✭nice_guy80


    contact anybody involved with underage hurling in a club

    they can get you one without anyone else knowing... otherwise get them directly from the hurley makers. they deliver you know!

    also - go small and lightweight.


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    #5
    IIMII
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Wouldn't worry about the quality too much for an 8 year old - they can't really tell the difference


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    #6
    Orizio
    Registered Users Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    IIMII wrote: »
    Wouldn't worry about the quality too much for an 8 year old - they can't really tell the difference

    I can though, rather not be spending my money on something inferior. Want to get her something good anyway, you know the kind of awful planks that are out there.

    Nice guy, do you know any particular hurley makers that I can contact?


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    #7
    IIMII
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    I got some kids hurleys 2 years ago from Pat Cullen near Wellington bridge a couple of years, if that is of any help. He made one there and then for my son as my son watched - maybe you could do that and let her watch as it's made? (Funnily enough, that hurley has pride of place now as it was signed by Seán Óg and Donal Óg later that year)


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    #8
    nice_guy80
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,723 ✭✭✭nice_guy80


    IIMII wrote: »
    Wouldn't worry about the quality too much for an 8 year old - they can't really tell the difference

    didn't say anything about the quality

    but if its too heavy and too long then she won't be able to lift it, swing it or do anything easily with it. might also get her into bad habit of holding weaker hand at end of hurley like a hockey grip


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    #9
    IIMII
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Sorry, meant it in relation to the post that started the thread, not your own post. I meant that in the 6 - 10 age bracket the main focus seems to be on familiarisation with the game and basic skills, and learning how the hurley is used. The under twelves stuff can be really compeitive and maybe I've just always thought a good hurley can be appreciated or put to good use more from that age on.. But that's just an observation, sure if a good hurley is handy go for it. We've all sorts of kids hurleys here in the house and they all get well used, planks or not


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    #10
    rebel girl 15
    Registered Users, Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 15,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭rebel girl 15


    make sure it is the right size for her - one of the most important things at that age is the correct size and weight. Standing straight, with her hands by her side, a proper size hurley should fit into her hand, holding the hurley at the top of the handle. To check the weight, she should be comfortably able to "shake hands" with the hurley (holding it straight out) for about 20-30 seconds


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    #11
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    A small hurley is far better than a long one, it'll be lighter and easier to use. In the old days, a hurl should come up to the top of your hip, I'd say to the bottom of the hip bone is grand.


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    #12
    rebel girl 15
    Registered Users, Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 15,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭rebel girl 15


    Carawaystick wrote: »
    A small hurley is far better than a long one, it'll be lighter and easier to use. In the old days, a hurl should come up to the top of your hip, I'd say to the bottom of the hip bone is grand.

    it's still too big at the bottom of the hip, all modern coaching guidelines state that it should be measured the way I outlined above. I have seen the difference that an inch can make - a junior A girls team that one of my friends plays with changed all their hurleys from 34/35 to 32/33 and it made such a difference that they won a county title that year.


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    #13
    InchicoreDude
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,443 ✭✭✭InchicoreDude


    What age is appropriate to buy a hurley for a child? Was thinking of getting one as a gift. But that child is only 4 so maybe a bit too young???

    Sorry but I know nothing about kids......


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    #14
    garv123
    Registered Users Posts: 6,576 ✭✭✭garv123


    rebel girl 15 wrote: »
    it's still too big at the bottom of the hip, all modern coaching guidelines state that it should be measured the way I outlined above. I have seen the difference that an inch can make - a junior A girls team that one of my friends plays with changed all their hurleys from 34/35 to 32/33 and it made such a difference that they won a county title that year.

    To be fair that hip thing is only a rough estimate in the olden days.. they were wrong using 34/35 in the first place unless they were all over 6ft.. Most lads I know who are over 6ft and myself included use 33/34/35


    To the Op..

    Fitzgerals Hurleys are in Araglin near kilworth. I used travel to get my hurleys off them. They'll give you one from their stock of will make one to suit the specs you want. They also post too.

    O'Connor hurleys are also in cork too and deliver..
    http://www.oconnorhurleys.com/Home.aspx


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    #15
    garv123
    Registered Users Posts: 6,576 ✭✭✭garv123


    InchicoreDude wrote: »
    What age is appropriate to buy a hurley for a child? Was thinking of getting one as a gift. But that child is only 4 so maybe a bit too young???

    Sorry but I know nothing about kids......

    I got one made for my little brother when he was 3 and he loved it. He was always out in the garden playing with it...


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    #16
    InchicoreDude
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,443 ✭✭✭InchicoreDude


    garv123 wrote: »
    I got one made for my little brother when he was 3 and he loved it. He was always out in the garden playing with it...

    hmm, maybe its an option so.....

    Where did you get it made and how much did it cost? Also, how long would it last for a chile before they had to replace it with another one appropriate to their size?


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    #17
    Mountainlad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,851 ✭✭✭Mountainlad


    InchicoreDude wrote: »
    hmm, maybe its an option so.....

    Where did you get it made and how much did it cost? Also, how long would it last for a chile before they had to replace it with another one appropriate to their size?

    http://hurlog.com/ Try that crowd, they are specifically selling hurleys for young children so they must be appropriate for them.

    As for your second question, your basically asking for a prediction on the growth of the child :P Supposedly the top of the hurley should be level with the child's hip when their leg is straight and the hurley is on the ground beside their foot.


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    #18
    nice_guy80
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,723 ✭✭✭nice_guy80


    Mountainlad wrote: »
    http://hurlog.com/ Try that crowd, they are specifically selling hurleys for young children so they must be appropriate for them.

    As for your second question, your basically asking for a prediction on the growth of the child :P Supposedly the top of the hurley should be level with the child's hip when their leg is straight and the hurley is on the ground beside their foot.

    that is completely wrong - hurley should be up to the wrist bone.
    aim for a small light hurley

    children will need a new hurley nearly every year as they grow. simple as

    imageysfh.jpg


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    #19
    Aineoil
    Registered Users Posts: 1,358 ✭✭✭Aineoil


    nice_guy80 wrote: »
    that is completely wrong - hurley should be up to the wrist bone.
    aim for a small light hurley

    children will need a new hurley nearly every year as they grow. simple as

    It is said that the hurley should come up to your waist band....but husband doesn't buy into the short hurley.....the hurley should be longer than that according to him.

    A new hurley every year.......depends on the child and their growth

    This is from a Kilkenny woman living in Clare


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    #20
    nice_guy80
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,723 ✭✭✭nice_guy80


    Aineoil wrote: »
    It is said that the hurley should come up to your waist band....but husband doesn't buy into the short hurley.....the hurley should be longer than that according to him.

    A new hurley every year.......depends on the child and their growth

    This is from a Kilkenny woman living in Clare

    well, if the chilld starts out with an 18" hurley when 4 years old and goes up an inch for every year until minor that is then a 33" hurley (which is about right for most minors)


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