Hurling vs. Lacrosse, or Hurlacrosse, is a compromised rules game where one hurling team plays against one lacrosse team, using their respective sports sticks.
Hurling is a 3000-year-old Irish stick and ball sport played with 2 teams with 15 players each played in two 35 minute halves (or 30 minute at club level).
Hurling is played using a wooden or synthetic stick, called a hurl or a hurley, and a leather ball that is similar to a baseball, called a sliotar, in an exciting and fast-paced field game.
It is Ireland’s national sport and considered to be the world’s oldest and fastest field sport with the ball being hit at speeds up to 112+ mph.
Hurling is fast-paced like lacrosse, requires the same level of hand-eye coordination as baseball, and has the toughness of hockey, all in one sport!
There are teams all over the world, and more than 200 of those clubs are in the US & Canada, with new clubs popping up all over North America.
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small solid rubber ball and a long-handled racquet called a crosse or lacrosse stick. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose netting designed to catch and hold the lacrosse ball. Offensively, the objective of the game is to score by shooting the ball into an opponent’s goal, using the lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball to do so. Defensively, the objective is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and body contact or positioning.
The sport has three major types: men’s field lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and box lacrosse.
The goal of this hybrid match is two-fold:
1) to grow the awareness of hurling in the United States
2) to grow the awareness of lacrosse in Ireland
We believe events like this will mutually benefit the growth of both communities.
Play Hurling exists to spread the sport of hurling in North America, specifically in the USA. Hurling is a 3000-year-old Irish stick sport and is the world’s fastest field sport. Play Hurling is a YouTube channel, ecommerce store, and membership website with one core mission: to get more people out playing hurling by highlighting the thriving hurling and camogie community in North America.
Ireland Lacrosse shall, first and foremost, work to develop the sport of lacrosse throughout the island of Ireland for both men and women and at all levels from youth to adult. Arising out of this development, Ireland Lacrosse shall also oversee, manage and support the Irish national teams – for men and women and at under-age and senior levels.
In pursuit of this mission, Ireland Lacrosse works through Ireland Lacrosse North America, a subsidiary entity registered as a not-for-profit (501c3) organization in the USA, and with the Irish Lacrosse Foundation (also based in the USA), to raise awareness of our programmes, develop lacrosse in Ireland, and generate support for our national teams.
See here for the rules: https://www.hurlacrosse.com/rules
Teams typically have 10 players on the field at a time, with positions similar to hurling and lacrosse.
No. Hurlacrosse is designed for players of either sport, with hybrid rules that balance skills from both.
Players can score over the crossbar for points or under for a goal, combining hurling and lacrosse scoring methods.
Players need a hurley, a lacrosse-style stick, and a sliotar.
Hurlacrosse is flexible. Players of any age or skill level can participate. Adjust teams and gameplay to suit your group.
Yes, hurlacrosse matches have been hosted in 5 cities since 2009. The world’s first Hurling vs. Lacrosse match was played in Belfast, Northern Ireland and was hosted by Ireland Lacrosse. Since then, it’s been played in Croke Park, Germany, USA, and New Zealand.
Yes! You’ll need to contact a hurling team found on PlayHurling.com and a lacrosse team, and share the Hurlacrosse rules so everyone is on the same page.
Share details on social media, connect with local clubs via the PlayHurling.com Club Finder, and consider creating a small event page to attract players.
Absolutely! You can organize local or regional tournaments. Make sure teams are familiar with the rules and coordinate schedules in advance.