Completely free Beginners very welcome Boys & girls · ages 9–12

Pick up
a hurlthis autumn

Nine Monday evenings of hurling and camogie at the Saintfield 3G arena, run by the Social Slashers with Saul GAC and Carryduff Hurling — and supported by a grant from the Noah Donohoe Foundation. Never held a hurl before? Perfect. Already playing and want to get sharper? Also perfect.

Register your interest Why hurling?

Mondays, 6.00–7.00pm · October & November · Saintfield Community Centre, 29 Belfast Road, BT24 7EP

Saul GAC underage hurlers in club jerseys and helmets, holding their hurls on the pitch
When
Mondays
6.00–7.00pm
Runs for
Oct & Nov
9 weekly sessions
Ages
9 to 12
Boys and girls
Where
Saintfield
3G indoor arena
Cost
Free
Grant funded

What this is

One hour a week.
All the hurling.

This is a hurling and camogie camp built for two kinds of child at once — the one who has never touched a hurl, and the one who already plays and wants to get better. Small groups, plenty of touches on the ball, and coaches who know how to make an hour fly by.

Brand new to it

Never held a hurl?

You do not need a club, a jersey, or the first clue what a sliotar is. We start from zero.

  • Hurls and helmets provided — nothing to buy
  • Everything broken into simple, do-able steps
  • Games from minute one, not drills in a line
  • Come with a friend or come on your own — you will know people by week two
Already playing

Want to get sharper?

An extra hour a week on a perfect surface, with fresh coaching voices from across Down.

  • Striking off both sides, first touch, rising the ball
  • Decision-making under real pressure in small-sided games
  • Guest coaches bringing different drills and ideas each block
  • Extra touches that carry straight back into your club team

Why hurling

What an hour of hurling does for a child

Hurling is one of the most demanding skill sports in the world — which is exactly why it is such a good thing to put in front of a nine-year-old. Here is what parents and coaches actually see.

Agility, balance, coordination

Striking a small ball with a stick while moving is the ultimate workout for the "ABCs" of movement. These are the foundation skills every other sport a child tries later will be built on.

Sharper decision-making

The game is fast. Children have to read a situation, choose and execute in a split second, over and over. Small-sided games are deliberately used to load up that decision-making rather than just the technique.

Friends and belonging

Children turn up for their mates as much as the sport. A weekly team habit builds the kind of friendships and sense of belonging that outlast the camp itself — and it pulls families into the local club too.

An hour of real movement

Sixty minutes of running, twisting and sprinting that does not feel like exercise for a second. On a Monday evening in November, that is not nothing.

Confidence that sticks

More touches mean more small successes, and small successes stack into self-belief. Children who arrive shy in October often look like different players — and different kids — by December.

Resilience and self-discipline

You will miss the ball. A lot. Then you will not. Learning to stay calm, keep composure and go again is baked into the game — and it travels well beyond the pitch.

How it runs

Every Monday, October & November

All nine Mondays, 6.00–7.00pm, in the covered 3G arena at Saintfield Community Centre. Indoors and floodlit, so the weather is somebody else's problem.

Every date, 6–7pm

5Oct
12Oct
19Oct
26Oct
2Nov
9Nov
16Nov
23Nov
30Nov
A typical hour
1
Warm-up games10 mins — moving, laughing, hurls in hands straight away
2
Skill of the week15 mins — one focus, broken right down: striking, first touch, rising the ball
3
Small-sided games25 mins — where the learning actually sticks
4
Challenge & finish10 mins — a bit of competition, then home
Coaching & support

Who will be there

Sessions are led by coaches from the Social Slashers, Saul GAC and Carryduff Hurling, with guest coaches from clubs right across Down joining us through the programme — so the children get a variety of voices, drills and ideas rather than the same hour eight times.

We are grateful for the support of Down GAA and Ulster GAA in planning and running the programme, and to Saintfield Community Centre for the use of the 3G arena.

Working together

Register interest

Tell us you're coming

This is not a binding sign-up — it just tells us how many hurls, helmets and coaches to have ready, and lets us send you the start date. Two minutes, and you can change your mind.

List all children if you are registering more than one.

Get in touch

Questions? Just ask.

No question is too small — especially if your child has never played before. That is exactly who this camp is for.

Camp enquiries
shay.deegan@gmail.com

Shay Deegan — Social Slashers. Best route for anything about the camp, registration or equipment.

The venue
Saintfield Community Centre

29 Belfast Road, Saintfield, Co. Down BT24 7EP
07568 268986 · saintfieldcommunitycentre.co.uk

Made possible by
Noah Donohoe Foundation

Set up in Noah's memory to support children across Northern Ireland through sport, music and the arts. Follow Noah's Army

Good to know

Questions parents ask

Does my child need their own hurl and helmet?

No. Hurls and helmets are provided, so nobody needs to buy anything to come and try it. If your child already has their own gear, bring it — a hurl that fits properly always feels better.

What should they wear?

Shorts or tracksuit bottoms, a t-shirt, and astro or trainers for the 3G surface (no metal studs). A water bottle, and a light layer for the walk in — it is a covered arena, so it stays dry but it is not heated.

Is it really free?

Yes. The programme is funded by a grant from the Noah Donohoe Foundation, with support from Down GAA, Ulster GAA and the organising clubs. There is no fee and no kit to buy.

Can girls come?

Absolutely — camogie players and hurlers train together here. Boys and girls aged 9 to 12 are equally welcome, whatever their experience.

My child is 8, or nearly 13. Can they still come?

The programme is designed for 9 to 12 year olds, which is where the coaching and the games are pitched. If your child is just outside that, register anyway and put a note in the form — we will let you know what is possible.

Do they have to come to all nine weeks?

No. Come as often as you can. It is easier for the children if they are there most weeks, but a missed Monday for a birthday party or a school thing is absolutely fine.

Do parents need to stay?

You are very welcome to stay and watch — plenty do, and it is a good way to meet other families. Children aged 9 to 12 should be dropped off and collected at the arena either way.

Is there a form to fill in?

Yes — one consent and medical form per child, signed by a parent or guardian before the first session. It covers how to reach you, anything we need to know about your child's health, and who is allowed to collect them. You can read and print it here, or fill one in on the night.

What happens after November?

That is partly what this camp is for. Children who catch the bug will be pointed towards the underage set-up at Saul GAC, Carryduff Hurling or their nearest club, so the hurling carries on into next season.