Watch an under-age hurling session and you will notice that the youngest players are rarely striking a full match sliotar. A hard, heavy ball is daunting for a child who is still learning to lift and catch, and a few painful knocks can put them off the game for good. That is why kids’ sliotars, also known as Go Games balls, exist. This guide explains the three kids’ balls, First Touch, Quick Touch and Smart Touch, how they fit alongside the standard sizes, and what clubs and retailers should think about when stocking them.
The Sliotar Range at a Glance
Before looking at the children’s balls, it helps to see the whole range in one place:
- Size 5 is the hurling match and training ball.
- Size 4 is the camogie match and training ball.
- First Touch (under 8), Quick Touch (under 10) and Smart Touch (under 12) are kids’ sliotars. With these balls, the name is the size: you order a First Touch, a Quick Touch or a Smart Touch rather than a numbered size.
- Speed Balls and Wall Balls are for training only.
Keeping these categories clear makes ordering much simpler, whether you are equipping a nursery group or filling shelves in a sports shop.
Why Children Need Their Own Sliotars
Hurling is a fast, skilful game, and its basic skills, the roll lift, the jab lift, the catch and the strike, take years to master. A ball designed for younger players makes those early years more enjoyable and keeps children coming back.
Softer, more forgiving balls help in several ways:
- Confidence. Children are far more willing to put a hand up to catch a ball that does not sting.
- More touches. A ball suited to their hands and strength means fewer mis-hits and more successful repetitions in every session.
- Safety. A gentler ball reduces the fear factor for nervous beginners and for the parents watching from the sideline.
- Progression. Moving from one kids’ ball to the next gives players a natural sense of development as they grow.
First Touch Sliotar
The First Touch sliotar is the starting point of the kids’ range. It is the ball for players under 8. As the name suggests, it is designed for a child’s very first experience of hurling: nursery sessions, early skills groups and back-garden practice.
At this stage the aim is simple. Children should be enjoying the game, getting used to holding a hurley and building basic hand-eye coordination. A ball made for beginners lets coaches concentrate on fun and fundamentals rather than reassuring a child who has just been hit by a hard ball.
Quick Touch Sliotar
The Quick Touch sliotar is the next step and suits players under 10. Once players are comfortable with the basics, the Quick Touch supports more structured skill work, including passing in pairs, striking off both sides and early small-sided games.
Coaches often find that the Quick Touch stage is where children’s skills start to come together. The ball rewards good technique and lets players start to play something that looks like a real game.
Smart Touch Sliotar
The Smart Touch sliotar is the ball for players under 12. It completes the kids’ range and acts as a bridge to the standard sizes. Players at this level are developing more advanced skills and playing more competitive games, and the Smart Touch helps prepare them for the move up to a size 4 or size 5 ball.
When to Move a Child Up
There is no single moment when every child is ready for the next ball, and coaches know their players best. Some useful signs include:
- The player is catching and striking the current ball comfortably and consistently.
- They are no longer challenged by the ball in drills.
- They are moving into an age group where the club, county or the governing body expects a different ball to be used.
For guidance on which ball applies to a particular grade, it is always worth checking with your club coaching officer or the rules that apply in your area. When the time comes to move on to the standard balls, our article on sliotar sizes covers the full-size range in more detail.
Where Speed Balls and Wall Balls Fit In
Speed Balls and Wall Balls are a popular addition to any kit bag, but they are training tools rather than match balls. They are used for individual practice and drills, such as rebounding off a wall to sharpen first touch and reactions.
Clubs and parents sometimes buy them alongside kids’ sliotars, which is fine, as long as everyone understands their purpose. You can see our Speed Balls and Wall Balls in the hurling range.
Stocking Go Games Balls: Advice for Clubs
Plan by Group, Not Just by Headcount
Count how many players you have at each stage of development and match the ball to the group. A club with a large nursery will need more First Touch balls than Smart Touch, and the balance changes from year to year.
Allow for Losses
Small players hit balls into hedges, ditches and car parks just as enthusiastically as senior hurlers. Order a few extra to cover losses over the season.
Keep Groups Separate
Store each type of ball in its own clearly labelled bag. When coaches grab equipment in a hurry on a Saturday morning, it helps to know the right balls are going to the right pitch.
Stocking Kids’ Sliotars: Advice for Retailers
For shops, kids’ sliotars are steady sellers, particularly around the start of the season, birthdays and Christmas. Parents often know their child’s age but not which ball they need, so clear labelling and simple shelf information go a long way. Stocking the full kids’ range alongside size 4 and size 5 balls lets you serve families as their children progress.
Retailers and brands can also explore having their own branding on sliotars and packaging; our guide to wholesale sliotars covers what to check before placing a bulk order.
Ordering From a Sliotar Manufacturer
Vincus Sports is a sliotar manufacturer based in Sialkot, Pakistan, supplying clubs, wholesalers and brands across Ireland, the UK, the USA, Europe and Australia, with OEM and private label options available. You can browse our complete sliotar range and the wider hurling collection.
A few practical points about ordering:
- No strict MOQ. Small runs of 10 to 20 balls are fine, which suits a single nursery group or a shop testing a new line.
- Mixed orders. You can combine kids’ sliotars with size 4, size 5 and training balls in one enquiry.
- Tracked shipping. We ship by DHL, FedEx, UPS, or by air or sea freight, with tracking on every shipment.
If you want to know more about construction, our article on how sliotars are made explains the process.
Quick Reference
- Hurling match and training: size 5
- Camogie match and training: size 4
- Under 8: First Touch
- Under 10: Quick Touch
- Under 12: Smart Touch
- (For kids’ sliotars, the name is the size)
- Training only: Speed Balls and Wall Balls
Request a Quote for Kids’ Sliotars
Whether you are equipping a club nursery or adding the kids’ range to your shop, tell us which balls you need and roughly how many of each. We will come back with options for your order. Get in touch through our contact page or email qasim@vincussports.com to request a quote.
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