When we talk about improving performance in Gaelic football, strength, speed and power are three qualities that constantly come up. But one of the biggest mistakes in strength and conditioning is believing that developing power comes down to performing certain exercises in the gym. Power isn’t an exercise. It’s the ability to produce force quickly. For […]
For many female Gaelic footballers, returning to the pitch after pregnancy can be an exciting goal. The desire to get the boots back on, rejoin the team and feel like an athlete again can be incredibly strong. But one of the biggest mistakes we can make is treating pregnancy and post-partum return as simply another injury […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
