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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Hurling
| Where did hurling originate? | Hurling
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Ireland. Hurling is Europe's oldest field game. The exact date is unknown, but hurling is a part of ancient Irish mythology.
| How many players does each team have on the field? | Hurling
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15. There is one goal keeper, three fullbacks, three halfbacks, two midfielders, three half-forwards, and three full-forwards. Quite the crowd! Luckily, the field is huge and the game is so grueling that players may welcome the respite when another player is responsible for the ball.
| What is the stick called that's used to hit the ball? | Hurling
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Hurley. The stick is called a caman in Irish. It is made of ash wood and they frequently break. Efforts to keep a hurley from breaking include keeping it in the bathroom to absorb moisture and rubbing linseed oil on it.
Sliothar. The ball is similar in size to a slightly smaller baseball, but softer and with raised ridges for better control.
| How many points does a team get for putting the ball under the crossbar of the goal? | Hurling
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3. One point is awarded for putting the ball over the crossbar. The goal is about as wide as a rugby goal, but the crossbar is lower than rugby and higher than soccer.
| How many officials are there for a game? | Hurling
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7. There is one referee, two linesman and four umpires. Lots of eyes on the field.
| How many steps are allowed while holding the ball? | Hurling
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4. You can bounce the ball on the hurley and then back to the hand for four more steps. You can also run the length of the field and back again if you have the ball balanced on the hurley the entire time.
1366 and 1918. The statutes of Kilkenny banned hurling in 1366 because of the popularity it was gaining with the Normans. It was also banned in 1918 by the British because of perceived nationalistic elements.
| What is the term for when the goalie may advance the ball from his hand after the opposing team has scored a goal or hit over the end line? | Hurling
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Puckout. A sliothar hit over the sideline requires the opposing team lifting the sliothar with the hurley and then striking.
Hitting the ball away from behind, when your opponent throws up the ball to strike. There is also a low snig.
| Hurling differs from many other field games in that the positions on the pitch are mainly rigidly fixed. However, one position which is the same in nearly all games is the person who guards the goals. What is this person called in hurling? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Goalkeeper. There are 15 players on a hurling team, the goalkeeper, three in the full back line, three in the half back line, two in midfield, three in the half forward line, and three in the full forward line. The positions are generally very fixed, but in recent times more modern techniques have introduced positions such as the sweeper, who is a forward who falls back to midfield to gather the ball.
Ash. Hurleys are quite difficult to make, and they are only made from ash wood as it is the most supple wood available. The wood used to make the hurleys has to be very supple, as if it were too inflexible, the hurley would be quite brittle and would break easily. As it is, hurleys do break quite a lot, and they are in constant demand. Hurley making is quite a master craft, and a really good hurley is hard to find and treasured once it is found.
| When taking a sideline ball, the ball is placed on the ground. The player then tries to hit it in such a manner that it will rise and travel up to 20 meters. What is the name of this maneuver? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Sideline Cut. This maneuver requires a great deal of skill, with some players able to make it almost as valuable as a free puck. In 2005, the G.A.A. pioneered a new rule which meant that a ball going over the bar from a sideline cut would be worth two points; however, it did not integrate well, and was dropped the same season.
| Defense in hurling can be quite difficult as you are not allowed to physically manhandle the attacker. There is a technique which can be developed to defend from behind, whereby the defender puts his hurley under the attacker's hurley, causing his swing to be skewed, and also causing him to miss the ball. What is this technique called? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Hooking. Hooking is a very useful technique which can be very effective when used properly. However, one must be careful of the opponent’s backswing, which can quite often follow through and hit you on the arm or in the midriff. Blocking is another defensive technique which requires you to be in front of the attacker, whereby you bring your hurley down on his, preventing him from swinging.
| A player is allowed to take only four steps with the ball in his hand. However, it may be thrown onto the hurley and balanced there. Once the ball is on the hurley, the player can take as many steps as he wishes. What is this technique called? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Soloing. Soloing is one of the harder elements of hurling. It requires one to have an excellent sense of balance and very good hand/eye co-ordination. However, once developed it is a very useful skill and can be used to get out of many tricky situations. It is an excellent move for turning defensive play into attacking play.
Gaelic Athletic Association. The Gaelic Athletic Association was founded in 1884 as part of the Gaelic cultural revival. It not only promoted the sports, but also Irish music, dance and language. It is a hugely successful organization, with branches in nearly every village in Ireland, both north and south.
| Hurling is unusual in that it is an amateur sport, even though it is played at a very high level, and demands huge commitments from those who play it at senior level. However, in 1999, a group had been set up to look after the interests of the players. Which group was it? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Gaelic Players Association. The Gaelic Players Association was founded to look after the interests of players, as many felt hard done by by the county boards and by the central board of the G.A.A. who have received grants from the government for the players. However, the players never saw any of the money and as a result. The G.P.A. was set up to ensure the players were not exploited further.
Tipperary by a goal and a point. The All Ireland competition is over one hundred years old, and has seen many strange and wonderful matches. However, one of the strangest was the 1890 final, between Cork and Wexford. The Cork team and managers walked off the pitch, complaining that the Wexford team was too rough. On consideration, the officials agreed with them and awarded the match to Cork, leaving the game unfinished (Cork were actually winning by a point at the time of the stoppage!). It would never be allowed these days!
| One of the greatest exponents of the game of hurling was Corkman Jack Lynch. After his retirement from sport, he went into politics. What political position did he attain? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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Taoiseach. Lynch was an amazing hurling player, winning five All-Ireland medals, and six medals at a provincial level. He was named on a 'team of the century' in 1984, and just after his death in 1999 he was named on the 'team of the millennium'. After going into politics, he became leader of Fianna Fáil, and when they secured a majority in the Dáil, he became Taoiseach (equivalent to Prime Minister). As for the other answers, Tánaiste is equivalent to Deputy Prime Minister, rí means king and bréagóir means liar.
| Hurling is an extremely ancient game, indeed, it pre-dates recorded in Irish history. It is first mentioned in papers on which are written fragments of law. From what time do these papers date? | Hurling: World's Fastest Game
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A.D. 400. Hurling is thought to be related to a game in Scotland and to a game called cammag on the Isle of Man. Hurling is mentioned in many Irish myths and legends, including the Legend of Cúchulainn and the Táin Bó Cuailgne.
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