In youth Gaelic football, we often group players by one simple factor: their age. But two 14-year-olds can be in completely different stages of development. One might already be physically strong, fast and powerful. The other might be smaller, less developed and still waiting for their major growth spurt. If we judge both players purely on […]
Shane Rice: Understanding the menstrual cycle in female athletes
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July 28, 2026
Over the last few years, there has been much more discussion around the menstrual cycle and how it affects female athletes. In Ladies Football and Camogie, where players train hard, compete regularly, and balance work or college alongside sport, understanding the menstrual cycle can help coaches and players make better decisions. One common belief is […]
Shane Rice: Why muscular endurance matters so much
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June 29, 2026
When people think about physical preparation in Gaelic football, they often focus on strength, speed, power, or conditioning. However, one area that is often overlooked is muscular endurance, which may be one of the most important qualities for GAA players. Simply put, muscular endurance is a muscle’s ability to repeatedly produce force over a long period of […]
Shane Rice: The power of your coaching voice
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May 25, 2026
IN modern Gaelic football, strength and conditioning is no longer just about gym programmes, sprint sessions, or GPS numbers. The best S and C coaches in the GAA understand something far more important, how they communicate with players. A coach can have all the knowledge in the world, but if players don’t connect with the message, […]
SHANE RICE: Keeping players fit without burning them out
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May 4, 2026
WHEN the season kicks in, everything changes in Gaelic football. Games come thick and fast, recovery becomes the priority, and training time is limited. But one challenge always remains: how do you maintain fitness levels without overloading players? This is where smart in-season conditioning comes into play and one of the most effective tools coaches can use […]
Shane Rice: Safe psychology in team sports
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April 6, 2026
IN a sport that demands high intensity, resilience, and consistency, the mental side of performance can be just as important as strength, speed or fitness. At the core of this is something called psychological safety. In simple terms, this means creating an environment where players feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions and even making mistakes without […]
SHANE RICE: The secret to getting everyone fit
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March 7, 2026
MODERN Gaelic football is faster, more physical and more demanding than ever. Between league, championship, travel, work and training, players need a strong engine just to cope with the season. And from a coaching point of view, nothing matters more than availability. A team only has real options on match day when the best players are healthy, fit and […]
SHANE RICE: Why jump performance matters
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February 9, 2026
IN the GAA, we all notice the obvious moments: winning a high catch, exploding out of a tackle, rising for a block or getting that first step to break a line. Underneath all of that is one big physical quality: how well an athlete can produce force fast. That’s why many strength and conditioning coaches, especially in […]
SHANE RICE: Stop copying runners – train for GAA
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January 12, 2026
EVERY winter, Gaelic football teams hit preseason with the same problem: everyone knows conditioning matters, but not everyone agrees what conditioning should look like. Some coaches love long steady runs. Others want to do everything through small-sided games. And then there’s the tempo crowd, 100–200m reps on a whistle because it feels like proper work. Here’s the […]
SHANE RICE: Recharging, rebuilding, and getting ready
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December 8, 2025
IN Gaelic football today, the off-season isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of hanging up the boots for two months and returning to training to “get fit again.” Between longer seasons, club commitments, and early league campaigns, the off-season window seems to shrink every year. But even if it’s short, it’s still […]