Strike Zone

Ground striking & lift-and-strike basics

Hurling
U10
60 min
12–20 players
2 coaches
Effort 3/5
30x30m grid (a wall or net helps for the striking ladder)
u10
striking
ground-hurling
grip
fun-games

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: Hurleys and helmets for all, a sliotar each plus spares, 24 cones, 8 bibs

Warm-up8 min

Ground Movers

Setup: 25×25m square, sliotar each, helmets on from the first minute. Coaches spread around the edges.

How it works: Dribble the sliotar along the ground anywhere in the square — small touches, hurley on the ball. On "STOP", trap it dead under the bas. On "TURN", roll it back the way you came. On "SWAP", leave your ball and find a new one. Any loose ball a coach steals costs the group a point — keep them all moving.

What to say

“Two hands on the hurley — strong hand on top.”
“Little taps — keep it a step ahead of you, no more.”

Easier

Walk pace; bigger square.

Harder

Weak side only on SWAP; shrink the square every minute.

Activity14 min

Strike Zone

Setup: Pairs face each other 10m apart along one line, a cone gate (2m wide) midway between each pair. SAFETY: every pair strikes along the same direction, at least 3m between pairs, nobody walks behind a striker. One sliotar per pair.

How it works: Ground-strike the sliotar through your gate to your partner. Partner traps it, sets it, strikes it back. Count gates as a pair — first to ten, then swap to the weak side. Coach walks the line watching grips, not the scores.

What to say

“Step to the ball, swing through the grass.”
“Eye down on the ball until you hear the strike.”
“Finish with the hurley pointing where the ball went.”

Easier

Wider gates; move the pairs to 6m apart.

Harder

STEPR: narrow the gates to 1m; first touch must set the ball, second strikes.

Activity14 min

Lift & Strike Ladder

Setup: Players in twos at cones facing a net, wall or fence — a marked 3×2m target zone per pair (chalk, cones against a fence, or the goal split into strips). Start line 8m out, a second line at 12m, a third at 16m. If your club has no nets: a boundary wall or fence with a cone-marked zone works the same — never strike towards other groups.

How it works: Jab lift, into the hand, one bounce on the hurley if needed, then strike at your target zone. Hit the zone twice in a row to move back a line — that's the ladder. Miss twice, step forward a line. Partner feeds spare sliotars and collects; swap every six strikes.

What to say

“Hurley flat to the grass for the lift, ball into your catching hand.”
“Throw it a small bit ahead — swing flat, not down.”
“Pick your spot in the zone before you lift.”

Easier

Strike from the hand without the lift; start 5m out.

Harder

STEPR: lift on the move; weak-side strike from the middle line.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

House session; structure follows the ICGG session template.

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.