IN Gaelic football, we talk endlessly about physical fatigue, how to measure it, recover from it, and manage workloads through GPS and training loads. But what about mental fatigue? The tiredness that doesn’t show up on the watch, yet affects everything from decision-making to motivation to physical performance? As the game evolves, players and coaches are […]
EVERY club has heard it: “Players today are softer.” It’s an easy line to throw out when a session dips or a result goes against you. But in Gaelic football, that thinking can hold coaches back. Modern players live in a different world; school, work, social media, long travel and they adapt to the demands […]
But here’s the reality: those tools, while useful at times, are not the magic fix we’ve been led to believe. In fact, the biggest misconception in Gaelic football recovery is treating it like a 30-minute ‘tick-the-box’ session, rather than a 24/7 lifestyle choice. Recovery isn’t a single session “Have you done your recovery?” is a common […]
WHAT a weekend it was with the leagues in full flow with scores and incidents bursting from games across the land. Here is our selection from games involving Ulster teams. 1 ETHAN RAFFERTY Armagh What a reintroduction for the Grange man. Epic against Tyrone. Advertisement 2 JEMAR HALL Armagh Named at corner-back but played everywhere […]
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 – […]
THE GAA relies heavily on the time and commitment freely given by our volunteers and without this, the opportunities for children and young people to participate in sport may not exist. In order to make these opportunities a positive experience for all, it is vital that all those taking responsibility for young people within the […]
Domhnall Nugent is embarking on an exciting new challenge as manager of the Down camogs By Shaun Casey HEADING down the coaching route was an avenue that always intrigued Domhnall Nugent, even during his playing days with the Antrim hurlers. Keeping an eye on all things coaching and management was how he spent his years […]
WHEN Professor Niall Moyna said last month that Gaelic football was “probably the most boring game in the world to watch,” he was only repeating something I have been saying for a decade. Something I got lambasted for. “He doesn’t understand the modern game.” “He is a dinosaur.” “The game was just catch and kick […]
FOR most clubs their players they are now finished all competitions and their seasons have now ended. What should the GAA player focus be now? The off-season brings a welcome rest from the demands of a long competitive season in GAA. It’s a time to recover from a tough and long season, allow the body and mind […]
