2014 Freestyle Hurling Competition

The GAA has announced details of the 2014 Freestyle Hurling competition, a joint GAA/GPA initiative.

Now in its second year, the aim of this initiative is to help promote the game of hurling across the world using modern media to showcase the skills of the game.

Freestyle Hurling is the art of expressing yourself with a hurley and sliotar while performing skills and trick shots using any part of the body. The challenge is simple: pick up your hurley and show the world what you can do by posting your very own 'Freestyle Hurling' videos online.

Inter-county players Gráinne McGoldrick (Derry), Colin Ryan (Clare), Liam Rushe (Dublin), and Paudie O'Sullivan (Cork) have been named as 2014 ambassadors of Freestyle Hurling. All four players feature in the competition's promotional video which is now live on GAA.ie as well as on the Official GAA YouTube Channel.

The GAA/GPA Freestyle Hurling competition provides supporters with a unique opportunity to be part of the All-Ireland Hurling Final day experience on September 7, with the winner claiming the 2014 Freestyle Hurling trophy, an iPad and an exclusive opportunity to train with an inter-county panel.

In addition to last year, the rewards will be extended to the GAA club that has the most entrants in the competition. This club will be rewarded by way of a unique GAA/GPA training session being provided in their own club grounds.

The full entry process is outlined in detail at GAA.ie/freestylehurling and it is hoped that this initiative will help hurling feature prominently on the digital landscape both in Ireland and around the world.

Hurling supporters are encouraged to record a video of no more than 30 seconds that best displays freestyle hurling skills, with the closing date for entries being August 27, 2014.

Clips from the entries and more from our four Freestyle Hurling ambassadors will be shared on the Official GAA Facebook, YouTube and Twitter profiles in the coming weeks as well as on GAA.ie.

Liam Ó Néill, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, said: "We continually strive to attract as many people as we can to the game of hurling, and this initiative proved last year that it can capture the imagination of people both locally and across the world to show their hurling skills. Freestyle Hurling is a hugely positive joint initiative that we have once more worked on with the GPA and both parties will continue in our efforts to promote Gaelic games."

Dónal Óg Cusack, Chairman of the Gaelic Players Association, said: "Freestyle hurling is a chance to express your love for the most skilful game on earth. This competition gives young and old people a chance to be rewarded for displaying their skills and passion for hurling so I look forward to seeing all the entries this year."

Promotional video for Freestyle Hurling can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/officialgaa