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Hurling - The Fastest Game on Grass

Hurling is a traditional Irish team sport, played with a ball called a sliotar and a stick called a hurley. The game is played between two teams of 15 players each on a large rectangular field with H-shaped goals at either end. The object of the game is to score points by hitting the sliotar with the hurley between the opposing team's goalposts or by scoring a goal by hitting the sliotar into the net below the crossbar.

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Players can carry the sliotar in their hurley for a maximum of four steps, after which they must either bounce or balance the sliotar on the hurley and continue to run, or pass the ball to a teammate. Players can also strike the sliotar in the air or on the ground with their hurley, and can block or tackle opponents in an attempt to gain possession of the ball.

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Hurling is known for its fast pace, physicality, and skillful play, and is often compared to field hockey or lacrosse. The game is popular throughout Ireland, with many communities having their own local teams, and there are also international competitions involving teams from other countries.

Basic rules of hurling

  1. The game is played with two teams of 15 players each.

  2. The ball used is called a sliotar, and the stick used to hit the ball is called a hurley.

  3. The objective of the game is to score points by hitting the sliotar between the opposing team's goalposts, or to score a goal by hitting the sliotar into the net below the crossbar.

  4. Players can carry the sliotar for a maximum of four steps, after which they must either bounce or balance the sliotar on the hurley and continue to run, or pass the ball to a teammate.

  5. Players can strike the sliotar in the air or on the ground with their hurley, and can also block or tackle opponents in an attempt to gain possession of the ball.

  6. Fouls include lifting the ball directly off the ground, over-carrying the ball, or striking an opponent with the hurley.

  7. Free pucks are awarded for fouls, and penalties can also be awarded for serious fouls.

  8. The game is played in two 35-minute halves, with extra time played if necessary in the case of a tie.

  9. The team with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

 

These are just the basic rules, and there are many other nuances to the game that can make it quite complex and exciting to watch.

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