Sliothar Hitter Drills

Set up of Equipment

1. Rope Bashers

Key Teaching Points

• Ready Position: Players hold hurl in their writing hand with their catching hand at the tape. Writing hand always stays at the top of the hurl – No Switching hands!!
• Lock Position: For the lock position, slide the catching hand up along the hurl and have a very tight grip with both hands.
• Strike each ball as hard as possible.
• After a player has struck the ball go straight back to the ready position.
• When clashing on the ball players should meet at the hip and shoulder.
Drills
Have four groups of players behind each of the cones; give each group a different county name.

1. The first player in each group strikes each ball on their right side only and waits at the cone at the other end of the rope. Next player goes until all the group is at the other end. Repeat
2. The first player in each group strikes each ball on their left side only and waits at the cone at the start. Next player goes until all the group is back at the start. Repeat
3. The first player in each group strikes each ball on their left and right side, jumping over the rope each time after striking and waits at the cone at the other end of the rope. Next player goes until all the group is at the other end. Repeat
4. Relay Race. One hurl per group.
• The first player strikes the balls on right side only, up and around cone at other end and back before giving the hurl to next player who can then go. Player sits down when finished. First team group with all players sitting down wins.
• The same except players strike on right side only.
• The same except players strike on both sides.
5. Join two groups together so that there are only two groups in total. One group lines up beside the other and each player has a partner. The first pair run up and clash on each ball until they reach the cones at the other end. Next pair goes.
6. Repeat coming back to the start point clashing on the other side.

2. Block Down

Key Teaching Points

• As the opposing player throws up the ball to strike it, the player lunges forward in the genuflect position in front of the player in possession. Eyes on the ball!!
• Hurl should be held in the batting position. The player brings down their hurl in the batting position to block both the ball and the opposing players hurl from hitting them in the face guard.

Drills

Have a group of players lined up in front of each block down. The coach at each block down attempts to strike the ball while the players block down the ball in turn.

3. On the Run

Key Teaching Points

• Move from the ready position to lock position to striking while running. Writing hand stays at top of the hurl.
• No Switching hands. Try to get players to hit the ball at speed rather than slowing down coming up to each “On the Run”.

Drills

1. Have 1 group in front of each sliothar hitter. The first player stands in front of the On the Run and strikes the ball 10 times, 5 in a row on the left, 5 in a row on the right. Next player goes.
2. Have 1 group in front of each sliothar hitter. The first player stands in front of the On the Run and strikes the ball 10 times alternating between striking once on left, once on right. Next player goes.
3. Line up all players in one line behind the cone at start. On the coaches whistle each player runs up the line striking all 5 On the Run on their left side. Players wait at other end when finished.
4. On the coaches whistle each player runs up the line striking all 5 On the Run on their right side. Players wait at the start cone when finished. Repeat.

4.Combination Drills

1. All players line up behind the first red cone. They run up the line striking the rope basher on left side only, they then block down the coach at the block down apparatus, back down the next rope basher striking on right side only, up the next rope basher alternating between both side and block down the next coach. Run down the last rope basher alternating between both sides before striking. Have the On the Run Staggered so that the players can finish by striking On the Run left and right side before running back to the start. Repeat if players have any energy left.

2. Make up your own!!