Many people are not familiar with hurling and its history.
Hurling is arguably the oldest and fastest field sport in the
world. It evolved as a method of training Irish warriors for battle
or in lieu of battle. Today hurling is one of Ireland’s national
sports, and it is growing in popularity in the United States.

Hurling consists of two teams with players set up on the field
roughly like the players during a soccer match.

While it looks like a hybrid of lacrosse, soccer, rugby, field
hockey and other sports, hurling is its own game.

Hitting the sliothar, (SLI-tar) or ball, through the uprights is
worth one point, while goals (worth three points) are scored
directly through the goalposts.

The sliothar can be struck on the ground or in the air with the
hurley (stick), and it can also be kicked, caught in the hand and
passed with the open palm. Players may not throw the sliothar or
pick it up from the ground if it is stationary.

They can only carry the ball in their hand for four steps before
they must pass or hit it down the field with the hurley. A player
may run and “solo,” or balance the ball on the end of the
hurley.

To get the ball from the ground to the hand, it is usually
lifted with the hurley.

The player can take the ball from the hurley into his hand only
twice in one possession before passing or shooting.

Hurling is fairly physical and in recent years it has been based
on skill, speed, stamina, hand-eye coordination and
ambidexterity.

There are a handful of SLU students and SLU alumni who are
members of the St. Louis Hurling Club.

Dave Schelp and I are engineering students at SLU who have been
involved with the club for a year and half.

Dave and I came across the sport at an Irish festival in Dogtown
where the game was being advertised.

The game was different, but it seemed that it could fill the
void created by the absence of our roller hockey team.

We had no experience with the sport, but upon showing up to our
first practice, all the players were friendly, welcomed us and were
eager to teach us how to play the sport.

They showed a special passion for the sport and, after a few
practices and games, we shared the same passion. Now hurling is
another motivation to get through the week, relieve any built-up
stress, and have a lot of fun.

The club also does more than just play hurling: They get
together every Wednesday and Friday at local sponsor bars to hang
out and continue the fun that was started on the field.

Games are played every Saturday at Parkway Northeast Middle
School and are open for anyone to come to watch and learn about the
sport.

The STL Hurling Club will be competing in a match on November
6th against Milwaukee and the championship game of the league is on
Nov. 20 at Parkway Northeast.

The club can be contacted through their website at
http://www.stlhurling.org.