Ball size at U15 grade

Ceist_Beag

What size ball is used in your county for U15 in hurling and football? Here in Kilkenny it's size 5 for hurling and I'm unsure about the football. As per https://www.dublingaa.ie/juvenile/under-15-football-sliotar-sizes-for-2022-season it appears that the GAA Central Games Development Committee recommended last year that size 4 is used in both so I'm interested to see what happens in other counties.

My own personal view is that size 4 is more appropriate at this age for both football and hurling.

callaway92

Not sure why you'd use a size 4 in hurling for underage and not sure I get the point of it. In the end-of-the-day they might as-well get used to what they'll be using as an adult player

Ceist_Beag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118984967#Comment_118984967

You don't get the point of it? A 13 or 14 year old is still growing and a size 4 is a better fit for catching imho. At what age would you have size 5 introduced?

dzer2

Got a 15 yr old here and he can strike a size 4 over the bar from his own 45. Lads get used to the size 5 even as young as 8 the kids bring a size 5 around with them

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985014#Comment_118985014

Sooner they start adjusting to the size 5, the better

Deskjockey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985258#Comment_118985258

So you'd have u7s and u8s playing with a size 5 ball then would you?

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118986546#Comment_118986546

Yes - Would also help with ground hurling

Mad about baa baas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118986783#Comment_118986783

Would also lead to most if them being terrified of trying to catch the ball and of getting a slap of the ball

Is ground hurling not unfortunately extinct too..

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118986792#Comment_118986792

No it wouldn’t as they’d be learning it from the get-go

’terrified’ of it.. christ

Mad about baa baas

We will have to agree to disagree..I have coached from u6 up to u16 and have seen plenty young lads terrified to catch a ball that's not lobbed gently at them..a larger ball with.more.of.a sting would in my opinion make that worse

Deskjockey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118986783#Comment_118986783

You're clueless lad.

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118987141#Comment_118987141

Cheers, lad

rpurfield

Not sure in hurling but its the go games balls up to U11 then size four U12-U15 in Meath for footballs. The 15s only swpaped back to the size 4 last year. For a lad only going 14 playing at 15s its probably sensible but I've seen some full age 15s get some distance on a kick with a size four too.

Mad about baa baas

On a slightly related but different topic. My young lads were involved in the u15 peil today..games were 11 a side but used the full pitch..I couldn't understand that at all..the smaller lads were at more of a disadvantage than normal..bigger more athletic lads just ran half the pitch and scored

Also in league so far it had been 15 a side so lads were used to playing a type of game and was hard on them all to adapt