My son is 7 and in first class. He plays hurling for a local club and is an excellent player. He has been playing since he was young and is a lot more advanced than the boys in his class/club for his age group.
He is not afriad to 'get stuck in' and often gets hit with the hurl (last week it was across the back and the week before someone nearly broke his finger). On the other side of the coin he often 'does damage' to the other boys he is playing with. There is nothing malicious in it, he is purley trying to go for the ball and the boys who don't really play much often get in the way, put the ball between their feet, come in for the ball the wrong way etc and end up getting hurt. My son is so focused on the game he often does not realise he has hurt someone. His coach in the club has told me he has a real talent but my concern is that he looks 'rough' to some of the non hurling bystading parents, in that he often catchs boys on the leg with his hurl.
Hes a lovely lad and is no trouble (go a glowing report from his teacher to say he is a joy to teach, never in trouble, never fighting, helps the others in the class etc)
My father (who is from Cork and was involed in hurling all his life) says that the other boys will learn to come into a tackle the right way as they get older and to leave my son as he is (not to try and get him to avoid tackles).
Is hurling just a tough game? Should I get my son to step back a bit or will that take part of what makes him a good hurler away from him?
Would love to hear from people involved in the game.
He is not afriad to 'get stuck in' and often gets hit with the hurl (last week it was across the back and the week before someone nearly broke his finger). On the other side of the coin he often 'does damage' to the other boys he is playing with. There is nothing malicious in it, he is purley trying to go for the ball and the boys who don't really play much often get in the way, put the ball between their feet, come in for the ball the wrong way etc and end up getting hurt. My son is so focused on the game he often does not realise he has hurt someone. His coach in the club has told me he has a real talent but my concern is that he looks 'rough' to some of the non hurling bystading parents, in that he often catchs boys on the leg with his hurl.
Hes a lovely lad and is no trouble (go a glowing report from his teacher to say he is a joy to teach, never in trouble, never fighting, helps the others in the class etc)
My father (who is from Cork and was involed in hurling all his life) says that the other boys will learn to come into a tackle the right way as they get older and to leave my son as he is (not to try and get him to avoid tackles).
Is hurling just a tough game? Should I get my son to step back a bit or will that take part of what makes him a good hurler away from him?
Would love to hear from people involved in the game.