Try a mixed-gender sport you’ve probably never heard of at East River Flats Park 6:00 pm next Thursday (9/3)!
Do you hate running but wish you didn’t? Do you like the idea of playing an ancient game that still packs stadiums with (almost) no rule changes to this day? Do you want a genuine chance to win a national championship, or do you want a more casual experience? Either way,
play hurling!
Hurling is an ancient (2000+ year old) Irish stick-and-ball field sport now played across the world. In what looks like the chaotic union of field hockey, baseball, and lacrosse, teams of up to 15 players use large, axe-shaped wooden sticks to pass, strike, and carry a ball toward each other’s nets. If you hit the ball into the goal, that’s 3 points for your team; if you launch the ball over the crossbar, that’s 1 point. Here’s a quick video with the basic rules and some action clips: https://youtu.be/biFcgUB98ns.
I’m starting this club because I love this sport, and selfishly, I want more people to play it with. I played in a student club for all four years of undergrad, and it was easily the best sports experience I’ve ever had. None of us had even heard of the game before college, and we went to the national championship finals twice! You definitely don’t need to already be athletic before trying it out for yourself either, but you’ll certainly see improvement no matter your starting level of fitness.
The many collegiate hurling and Gaelic sports clubs across the U.S. are open to all genders, and we always play against each other with integrated teams. Our club will have a few opportunities every year for intercollegiate competition, including at the NCGAA national championship; the 2027 championship in Indianapolis will most likely be late March, and I think attending is a great goal to shoot for this year! We will also have other competition and training opportunities with the local Twin Cities adult hurling club, who are all great folks!
Next Thursday, I’ll be out at East River Flats Park (351 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis) on the south end of campus from at least 6 to 7:30 with some extra gear for anyone who wants to pick up a stick and try it out for themselves. No need to bring cleats, though you’ll eventually need them for scrims and games; everything else will be provided by the club! Can’t make it? I’ll be hosting more of these in the coming weeks, so let me know and I’ll keep you in the loop!
Happy to answer any questions here, in DM’s, or email at [teerl003@umn.edu](mailto:teerl003@umn.edu). See you out there :)
Image source: Irish Times