John McMahon I HAVE been lucky enough to work with coaches, administrators, and talent identification and development ‘experts’ here in Ireland and in America. The single biggest concern at present is the early specialisation of our youth athletes. Early specialisation is quite simply a race to the bottom, to do more, more, more at younger […]
AS all GAA athletes know, a balanced diet, a good training regime and mental preparation are crucial for success in competitions. Yet, the years of daily sports regimes, the hours spent honing your training programme and a considered nutritional intake, count for little if you’re not in the right frame of mind before a big game. […]
THE goal of training in general should be to do as much as possible, as often as possible & keep improving. Unfortunately, the reality of training is not so simple. While training does trigger positive adaptations and benefits performance in the long-term, this comes at the price of the breakdown of the body and impaired […]
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 […]
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 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 to recover and generally enjoy some time off. The GAA season is arguably one of the most demanding sports in the world with […]
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 […]
IF your season is ended, it can be tempting to attack the weight room with new enthusiasm. As the volume of practices and games dwindles, many athletes feel the need to start lifting heavy right away, to counteract the slowing momentum of the competitive season. But while you may be itching to hit the ground […]
THE club championships are in full flow now & most counties are entering the knockout stages. Preparing for the ‘big game’ can be a very stressful time for both players and management. Firstly, it is completely normal for the anxiety to intensify especially on the day before the event. Below I have outlined some mental and […]
