Shoulder To Shoulder Clash

Key Points

Adopt the ready position.
Get in close to the opponent, making shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip contact.
Keep eyes on the ball.
Slide the non-dominant hand into the Lock Position, bending the elbows to raise the hurley.
Use a two handed, quick, wristy action to swing for the ball.
Keep at least one foot on the ground.

Technical Drills

Drill 1 – Basic – Touch and Clash

This is a basic drill to practice the Shoulder-to-Shoulder clash technique.
Players pair off and stand beside their partner in two lines facing the coach.
The coach holds a hurley on the ground between each pair as they approach at walking pace.
Both players swing on the hurley together and return to the end of the line.
The players change lines when repeating the drill, to make sure each player gets an opportunity to swing in both directions.
Alternatively, a tyre may be used for the players to pull on.
When the players become comfortable performing the drill at a walk, introduce jogging.
Encourage the players to make shoulder-to-shoulder and hip-to-hip contact as they approach the ball.
As the players become more proficient, the coach may introduce a football for the players to strike on.
Later still, use a First Touch ball or smaller hurling ball.

Drill 2 – Intermediate – Roll and Clash

This is an intermediate drill to practice the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Clash technique.
Players pair off and stand beside their partner in two lines facing the coach.
The coach rolls a First Touch ball towards each pair in turn, who move forward and perform the ground clash.
Encourage the players to make shoulder-to-shoulder and hip-to-hip contact as they approach the ball.
The players retrieve the sliotar for the coach and return to the end of the line.
The players change lines when repeating the drill, to make sure each player gets an opportunity to swing in both directions.
As the players become more proficient, use a smaller ball, for example the Quick Touch ball, or increase the pace of the roll.

Drill 3 Intermediate – Jog and Clash

This is an intermediate drill to practice the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Clash technique.
Players pair off and stand beside their partner in two lines.
Place three stationary First Touch balls at intervals of 5m from the players.
Each pair in turn jogs forward to clash on each ball in sequence.
The players retrieve the sliotar for the coach and return to the end of the line.
The first player to win three pulls in succession is the winner.
Ensure each player changes lines when repeating the drill to get an opportunity to swing in both directions.
To increase the difficulty of the drill, use a smaller ball, for example, the Quick Touch ball.

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