Can you start hurling in your 20's?

deadybai

Do you have to have played all your life or can you just ring up and ask to join the local team? I played hurling for while when I was in primary school and I was talented at it to. I'm 20 years old now and would have loved to have never stopped playing the game. I am 6ft 2in and 14 stone and would love to give it a go but just fear that with everyone else playing it most their lives that I wouldn't be any where as experienced as them. How would I go about joining a team or has my time passed?

Fireball07

I don't see why you couldn't play, and a lot of clubs are stuck for players, so they're not going to turn you away.


If you played when you were younger, you should have the basic skills....you're obviously going to be a bit rusty at the start, and other players will have a slight advantage, but there's no reason why you couldn't sharpen up. If you're reasonably fit, can hit the ball and can catch it, I think teams would be glad to have you.

deadybai

Fireball07 wrote: »

I don't see why you couldn't play, and a lot of clubs are stuck for players, so they're not going to turn you away.


If you played when you were younger, you should have the basic skills....you're obviously going to be a bit rusty at the start, and other players will have a slight advantage, but there's no reason why you couldn't sharpen up. If you're reasonably fit, can hit the ball and can catch it, I think teams would be glad to have you.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I've always had a tap around over the years and still practice what I have learnt when I was younger like catching and hitting the ball on my 'weaker' side. It was one of the worst decisions of my life to give up. I completely regret it now.

My only problem is I wear a size thirteen shoe and wouldn't know where to begin to looks for a pair of boots as trying to find a pair of shoes/runners is already very hard task.

Any recommendations of where to get big sized boots, anywhere in the country would be appreciated.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

I played earlier on in the year for the first time, and I'm only 20. Played football all my life but never hurling. If you're going to be a squad member you should be at least in good physical condition. I was way behind in the skills stakes, especially at picking the ball off the ground when either it or myself was moving, but was more athletic than most people on the pitch. Playing a game is far different to knocking a sliothar around. You'd also need to do a bit of work yourself. I knocked a sliothar around for maybe 6-8 hours a week outside of training, and was still way behind the lifelong hurlers in terms of skill.

deadybai

THFC wrote: »

I played earlier on in the year for the first time, and I'm only 20. Played football all my life but never hurling. If you're going to be a squad member you should be at least in good physical condition. I was way behind in the skills stakes, especially at picking the ball off the ground when either it or myself was moving, but was more athletic than most people on the pitch. Playing a game is far different to knocking a sliothar around. You'd also need to do a bit of work yourself. I knocked a sliothar around for maybe 6-8 hours a week outside of training, and was still way behind the lifelong hurlers in terms of skill.

would you say you could join now and train with them and get fit with them or would you recommend getting fit first? I'm not fat by no means but i would be out of shape.

rebel girl 15

You need to be getting fit outside of the training - lot of the physical fitness work would have been done in February and March and would be just being maintained now rather than increased.

Fireball07

Yeah...although gym fitness and match fitness aren't the same thing at all.


But at least if you have levels of fitness, you can focus on the skills aspect a lot then.

danceswithwolf

I'd like to hear how you get on.

I would like to do it too, I'm fairly fit and used to doing 10 hours plus training a week but don't have the skills beacuse gave up it up after primary school. I've tried to work on the skills myself but personally can't see myself getting up to speed now. But some people do take it up as adults apparently.

I think GAA clubs with low numbers are missing out by not having a few sort of beginners open days to attract some people in. I think they do it with Ladies football. I've seen people take up some sports as adults and work really hard at it and turn out better than some who have been doing it for years.

Some sports are set up for adults to start and some just aren't I think.

deadybai

danceswithwolf wrote: »

I'd like to hear how you get on.

I would like to do it too, I'm fairly fit and used to doing 10 hours plus training a week but don't have the skills beacuse gave up it up after primary school. I've tried to work on the skills myself but personally can't see myself getting up to speed now. But some people do take it up as adults apparently.

I think GAA clubs with low numbers are missing out by not having a few sort of beginners open days to attract some people in. I think they do it with Ladies football. I've seen people take up some sports as adults and work really hard at it and turn out better than some who have been doing it for years.

Some sports are set up for adults to start and some just aren't I think.

yep you hit the nail on the head. there could be a lot of talent out there to
that will never be discovered

SeaFields

i went back in my late 20s having only played as a child. Best thing i ever did. Ive never been fitter and got to know a whole new circle of people. Its amazing how fast it becomes apart of your everyday life. Any club would be delighted with another body.


As for large size boots (and runners and shoes) get them online. Im in the same boat as yourself. Got some good deals off elveryswebsite.

deadybai

SeaFields wrote: »

i went back in my late 20s having only played as a child. Best thing i ever did. Ive never been fitter and got to know a whole new circle of people. Its amazing how fast it becomes apart of your everyday life. Any club would be delighted with another body.


As for large size boots (and runners and shoes) get them online. Im in the same boat as yourself. Got some good deals off elveryswebsite.

yep i will do that. sound for that.

Hidalgo

If you havn't played hurling in a long time, I'd say get the basics first and foremost.

If there's a hurling alley/wall near you its a brilliant way to get the touch in, lots of striking control catching etc.
The amount of striking you can get in when your in an alley is a great way to improve your hurling (no matter what level of hurler you are)

blue note

OP, I started hurling last year at 26. I made the decision between a combination of my expanding waistline, not having a reason not to drink in the evenings and I wanted to back up my sh1te talk with "yes I do play, so I am entitled to say that!"

I hadn't given up at any stage - I simply hadn't played. There were a few of us in the club in the same boat and some of them have turned into very handy hurlers over the couple of years they've been playing. I play junior F and to be honest I was surprised by the standard. I was always of average athletic ability, and thought if I'm playing at the lowest level it would be guys around my age with no athletic ability, no hand eye coordination, fat lads, old lads, etc. So I thought my athleticism would compensate (to some degree at least) for my lack of hurling. I was completely wrong - most of the rest were better hurlers and just as fit or fitter!

But halfway through my second year I definitely think I made the right decision. It's great to go training a couple of times a week and I'm enjoying being completely disillusioned into thinking that I'm getting closer to earning a place on the pitch (as opposed to being given an occasional run).

If you're near Terenure at all you could come along to a session or two and see how you get on anyway. PM me if you like.

irelandguy10

Im 17 and have not played hurling since i was about 10 i would love to play again i always play in the park with my friends i think im ok as i have never really trained do ye think i should join a club or not?

The man in red and black

irelandguy10 wrote: »

Im 17 and have not played hurling since i was about 10 i would love to play again i always play in the park with my friends i think im ok as i have never really trained do ye think i should join a club or not?

Definitely go back playing, don't know how this thread hasn't been linked yet. Some great stories in there of people being delighted they finally got back into it/took it up!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055532905

Realt Dearg Sec

20? You're only a pup! Go down training, especially if you're in terenure as bluenote says. If there's a junior club near you, there'll be space for you. I think the gaa have done themselves no favours down the years by concentrating on good players and not fostering the interest of others. Even if you don't end up liking it, try or you'll think about it again when you're forty watching during the summer on tv and regretting that you never gave it a lash. I went back to it a few years ago and its among the best decisions I ever made.

Realt Dearg Sec

20? You're only a pup! Go down training, especially if you're in terenure as bluenote says. If there's a junior club near you, there'll be space for you. I think the gaa have done themselves no favours down the years by concentrating on good players and not fostering the interest of others. Even if you don't end up liking it, try or you'll think about it again when you're forty watching during the summer on tv and regretting that you never gave it a lash. I went back to it a few years ago and its among the best decisions I ever made.

Realt Dearg Sec

20? You're only a pup! Go down training, especially if you're in terenure as bluenote says. If there's a junior club near you, there'll be space for you. I think the gaa have done themselves no favours down the years by concentrating on good players and not fostering the interest of others. Even if you don't end up liking it, try or you'll think about it again when you're forty watching during the summer on tv and regretting that you never gave it a lash. I went back to it a few years ago and its among the best decisions I ever made.

Hidalgo

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

20? You're only a pup! Go down training, especially if you're in terenure as bluenote says. If there's a junior club near you, there'll be space for you. I think the gaa have done themselves no favours down the years by concentrating on good players and not fostering the interest of others. Even if you don't end up liking it, try or you'll think about it again when you're forty watching during the summer on tv and regretting that you never gave it a lash. I went back to it a few years ago and its among the best decisions I ever made.

Credit where its due, that's something that has been looked at lately. The likes of go games @ U12 etc. Many of the underage games now consist of 11 a side with unlimited substitutions. Where clubs have the numbers, 2 games run concurrently which means 22 playing for a club at any one time and a panel of 30 easily getting some game time.
Fellas like Paudie Butler etc focusing on developing the skills of the game at a young age, rather than winning cups being the be all and end all. Plenty years for fighting for trophies, at a primary school age, nurturing the talent is crucial and ensuring as few as possible fall through the cracks.

Realt Dearg Sec

Hidalgo wrote: »

Credit where its due, that's something that has been looked at lately. The likes of go games @ U12 etc. Many of the underage games now consist of 11 a side with unlimited substitutions. Where clubs have the numbers, 2 games run concurrently which means 22 playing for a club at any one time and a panel of 30 easily getting some game time.
Fellas like Paudie Butler etc focusing on developing the skills of the game at a young age, rather than winning cups being the be all and end all. Plenty years for fighting for trophies, at a primary school age, nurturing the talent is crucial and ensuring as few as possible fall through the cracks.

Fully agree with all of that. As I said, down through the years that was not the case, and I'm sure my story is not at all uncommon (my story was I was no good, and at a big club you are quickly marginalised from a young age in that case as they concentrate all their efforts on the stars. So my enthusiasm for the game was left to wither and I stopped. Meanwhile, most of the stars got complacent about the sport and most of them stopped too. Meanwhile that same big club complain about a shortage of volunteers willing to be involved in the club, and the apathy of people. Seems to me if they'd fostered enthusiastic people's love for the game they would be repaid: people can contribute to a club using skills and initiative they have off the pitch, but a lot of that falls through the cracks).

But yeah, things are improving, often (as in the case of the Go Games) due to the persistence of really fantastic enthusiasts of the game, in the face of heavy resistance from people who would rather hold on to the D'Unbelievables approach to coaching kids.

PN14

If you haven't gone back already get going. No bother going back most clubs will welcome you. If you know anyone hurling just ask them can you tag along and they will make intoductions etc. Even small rural clubs often have 2 nd teams which they are always glad to have numbers. These teams would train or knock about with the first team just maybe not as serious to start off with. You'll probably have to accept that you'll need to do a bit of hurling work yourself outside of organised training to get the basic skills back but if your prepared to invest a bit of time into it it will be well worth it. Don't expect too much too soon & stick at it.

kevthegaff

i played primary as well and didnt go back till i was 23 scored 2 points, played junior a last year in tipp but im still not as good to strike on the run as more experienced lads. im tall and was pretty fit and had reasonable skill so that will get ye halfway there.