By Patrick Morrison EVERYWHERE I go whenever I am coaching goalkeepers I am always asked about what gloves I think are the best to use. What is the best make, the best cut, what is the best fit, etc. In reality there is no perfect pair of gloves that is best for everyone. Just like […]
FOR our GAA athletes during the pre-season phase, the focus lies on developing robust athletes who can withstand the rigours of back-to-back matches and the continuous demands of a competitive season. This involves exposing athletes to chronic load in terms of both volume and high-speed running. Additionally, agility and contact training play crucial roles in creating […]
By Patrick Morrison ALL goalkeepers want to improve. It doesn’t matter what age, level or reason for playing as a goalkeeper, we all want to feel as if we are becoming better ‘keepers week on week. That said, it is important to realise that the amount you improve, and the rate of improvement are vastly […]
WHENEVER I am coaching, one of the most common questions I am asked is ‘what is the most important aspect of being a goalkeeper?’ My answer is always the same. There is no one aspect that is more significant than any other as mastery of the position needs a competent level of ability in all goalkeeping […]
By Patrick Morrison THUS far the new 40-metre kick-out rule has sent teams back to the drawing board to rethink their restart strategies. Most teams have settled upon popping the ball to the corner-backs or pumping it long for the midfield battle. Indeed, every week of the league rounds we are regularly seeing teams smashing […]
HEADLINE – Basics more important than ever By Michael McMullan DONEGAL coach Luke Barrett feels the new-look rules will put more emphasis back on the basic skills. In an interview with Gaelic Life, Barrett gave his take on how coaching might look after the introduction of the FRC’s rule enhancements. Advertisement After four years managing […]
By Patrick Morrison “ANOTHER week. Another rule!!” This was a text message I received from a goalkeeper I coached several years ago when they heard of the introduction of the new 20-second kick-out clock to Gaelic football, the rationale for its introduction being that goalkeepers are taking far too long to take their kick-outs. Like […]
IN Gaelic football, running is at the heart of the game, but that doesn’t mean all conditioning has to be done on the pitch. Off-feet conditioning, also known as cross-training, is an effective way to build fitness without adding unnecessary running load. When used correctly, it can help players improve endurance, maintain fitness during injury, […]
PLANNING is key to success – but how do you know how to plan effectively for your GAA teams? The high / low system Popularized by sprint coach Charlie Francis, the terms “high” and “low” refer to the intensity of demand on the nervous system from the training done. The high/low model is a way to […]
THE majority of GAA clubs are now starting to formulate plans for their pre-season. Coaches and players are looking forward to the season ahead and planning is in full flow. Here are five key considerations for players and coaches as they approach their pre-season planning. Increasing Training Load Too Early The number one mistake I see players and coaches making – […]
