Drill library

74 drills across hurling and football, each with a pitch layout, skill tags, and coaching points. Here's a taste — sign in to browse the full library.

Beanbag Relay

Skills

catching
hand-pass
agility

Equipment

beanbags, cones

Coaching points

Players at the top collect a beanbag and return to their start point
Pass the beanbag underarm to the next player in line
Receiver must catch with hands up (overhand)
Work quickly to move all beanbags to the end of the line
Rotate positions after each round to practice different spots
Harder: Use a football for the passing

Beanbag Relay

Skills

catching
hand-pass
agility

Equipment

beanbags, cones

Coaching points

Players at the top collect a beanbag and return to their start point
Pass the beanbag underarm to the next player in line
Receiver must catch with hands up (overhand)
Work quickly to move all beanbags to the end of the line
Rotate positions after each round to practice different spots
Ensure players keep their hurl in their dominant hand, and throw and catch with their catching hand
Harder: Use a sliotar for the passing

Below-the-Waist Dodgeball

Skills

catching
agility
kicking

Equipment

football, cones, bibs

Coaching points

Two squares side by side with an even number of players in each square, and roughly a ball between every two or three players
Teams throw the balls to hit players in the other square, aiming below the waist only
A hit below the waist scores one point and freezes that player
Frozen players stay in their square but cannot receive or play a ball
A clean catch brings one frozen teammate back into the game
Play for three minutes: the team with the most points wins, or win immediately by freezing every player on the other team
Easier: Start two against two and add players to either side as they arrive, building to three against three and four against four.
Harder: Add more balls so players have to track several at once.
Alternative: Use kick passes rather than throws, with players aiming below the waist only.

Both Sides of the Bar

Skills

kicking
balance

Equipment

football, goalposts

Coaching points

Players jog around both sides of the goal, each with a ball
On the whistle every player turns and tries to hook the ball over the bar
Kicking off the left foot means holding the ball in the left hand: same hand, same foot
Hold your finish and check where you are facing, your body should be pointing over the bar
Work both feet so players can kick from either side of the goal
Easier: Start from in front of the posts and work out to the angles as players get comfortable.
Harder: Widen the jog so players are kicking from tighter angles.
Harder: Call the foot along with the whistle, so players kick off whichever one is named.

Bulldog

Skills

agility
tackling

Equipment

football, cones, bibs

Coaching points

Mark out a grid with a safe area at either end
Every player tucks a bib into the back of their shorts as a tail
Two players start in the middle as the catchers
On the whistle everyone tries to cross to the far safe area with their tail still in place
Catchers may only pull the bib, never hold a player
Anyone who loses their tail joins the catchers in the middle
Use a shimmy, a feint or a side step to beat the catcher
Keep going until only one or two players are left with a tail
Harder: Scatter balls across the grid: players must pick one up on the way across and still keep their tail.
Harder: Everyone carries a ball and has to solo across while keeping their tail.

Bulldog

Skills

agility
tackling

Equipment

hurl, sliotar, cones, bibs

Coaching points

Mark out a grid with a safe area at either end
Every player tucks a bib into the back of their shorts as a tail
Two players start in the middle as the catchers
On the whistle everyone tries to cross to the far safe area with their tail still in place
Catchers may only pull the bib, never hold a player
Anyone who loses their tail joins the catchers in the middle
Use a shimmy, a feint or a side step to beat the catcher
Keep going until only one or two players are left with a tail
Harder: Scatter sliotars across the grid: players must lift one on the way across and still keep their tail.
Harder: Everyone carries a sliotar and has to solo across on the hurl while keeping their tail.

Catch and Move

Skills

catching
agility
balance

Equipment

football, cones

Coaching points

Players pair off, one ball per pair, and stand a comfortable throwing distance apart
Player A throws the ball high so Player B has to catch it above their head, without jumping
Catch with hands high and eyes on the ball all the way in
Player B hand-passes the ball back to Player A and the pair go again
Keep repeating so the standing overhead catch becomes comfortable
Players swap roles when the coach calls
Easier: Shorten the distance and throw to chest height so the catch is easier to time.
Harder: The receiver jumps to catch the ball above their head.
Harder: Before the ball is thrown, the receiver runs around the cone behind them, then attacks the ball in the air.
Harder: Add a second receiver so two players compete for the same high ball.

Catch and Move

Skills

catching
agility
balance

Equipment

hurl, sliotar, cones

Coaching points

Players pair off, one sliotar per pair, hurls in hand, standing a comfortable throwing distance apart
Player A throws the sliotar high so Player B has to catch it above their head, without jumping
Catch above the head with the hurl held up to protect the catching hand
Player B hand-passes the sliotar back to Player A and the pair go again
Keep repeating so the standing catch becomes comfortable
Players swap roles when the coach calls
Easier: Use a bean bag instead of a sliotar while players build confidence catching above the head.
Harder: The receiver jumps to catch the sliotar above their head.
Harder: Before the ball is thrown, the receiver runs around the cone behind them, then attacks the ball in the air.
Harder: Add a second receiver so two players compete for the same high ball.

Catch and pass

Skills

catching
hand-pass
agility

Equipment

hurl, sliotar, cones

Coaching points

First player in line A moves forward towards the coach
Coach throws the sliotar to the running player
Player catches cleanly and executes a stick pass to the opposite line
Receiving player catches and returns the pass to the coach, it is then their turn.
Players rotate to the back of the opposite line after their turn
Easier: Drop the ball and ground strike to the receiving player
Harder: Catch and pass on the run. Increase the distance between cones. Add a defender to run past.

Catch and Score

Skills

catching
kicking

Equipment

football, cones

Coaching points

Coach stands at the central cone with their back to the goal facing the line of players
Player runs out from the starting cone towards the coach
Call for the pass and make a clean catch on the move
Player continues towards the goal and kicks for a point
Easier: Players can move at a slower pace
Harder: Add a defender following the player and attempting to block the kick

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