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Parenting

17th Mar 2019

Are you a GAA Ma? 5 amazing reasons to hand your daughter a hurl

Alison Bough

In today’s tech-obsessed world, it’s more important than ever to make sure our little ones are getting outside to run around in the fresh air.

Taking up a new sport is the perfect way to keep them fit and healthy, and what better game to choose than our national sport? Watching your little girl pick up a hurl for the first time is a moment guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Here are five great reasons to get your girl involved in camogie:

1. Develop hand-eye coordination

Developing the skills required to be a good camogie player at an early age will stand to a child for life. If they can master getting a sliotar off the ground, belting it down the field, and catching balls high in the air, they’ll be able to turn their hand to any other sport. Skills like hand-eye coordination will stand to them in all areas of life.

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** Liberty Insurance All Ireland Camogie Championship Group 1, Wexford Park, Wexford 5/7/2014 Wexford vs Cork A young Wexford fan at the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

2. The sense of community

Being a member of a camogie club is about so much more than playing the game. It’s almost like joining a second family. Along with making a whole new circle of friends, your little ones will enjoy great days out. Team outings with underage teams like the under 8s and under 10s are a big part of the camogie calendar, with girls getting the opportunity to go to big games in Croke Park to watch their heroes at work.

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Group 2, St. LachtainÕs GAA, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny 11/7/2015 Kilkenny vs Tipperary Young supporters watch today's action Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

3. Be part of the fastest field game in the world

Hurling and camogie are known as the speediest field games in the world – a great coup for all players of the game. Camogie is also one of the toughest sports around, and even the youngest players wear their bruises with pride.

All Ireland Senior Camoige Champions Wexford Homecoming, Gorey, Wecford, 17/9/2012 A young Wexford fan Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

4. Become disciplined

Showing commitment to the game and taking on the responsibility of being part of a team are huge parts of playing camogie. Not showing up for training or missing a match means letting down an entire team – lessons that are hard-learned throughout life. Learning the importance of these values at an early age comes with huge benefits.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final, Semple Stadium, Thurles 29/5/2011 Tipperary vs Cork Young Girls camogie team Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

5. Earn the respect of other athletes

Playing camogie comes with some major bragging rights. It’s well-known that GAA players are made of harder stuff, and if you can master camogie, you can play anything. And that’s not something to be sniffed at!

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final, Walsh Park, Waterford 16/8/2015 Kilkenny vs Cork A young Cork fan cheers on her team near the end of the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne