AS it was my father’s birthday on Sunday (happy birthday Desy), I thought I’d drag him to the Louth County final and we followed that up by watching the Down County final on television. I had also taken in the Donegal final the day before on TG4. My wife, Marie, thinks I need to take […]
IT’S around this time of the year that most coaches are close to finishing off their respective seasons across the province, whether that be with an underage or a senior team. Unless you are involved in the latter stages of championship semi-finals or finals, your season is coming to a close. A lot of coaches […]
By Patrick Morrison MY sixth goalkeeping principle is ‘Close the Gap’ and it involves the goalkeeper rushing the attacker through on goal with the aim of getting as close to them as they possibly can. This hurries the attacker’s decision making and, in turn, increases the advantage to the goalkeeper. To increase the goalkeeper’s advantage […]
THE importance of GAA for kids’ development and enjoyment has been in the news once again this week for the wrong reasons. Coaching and playing structures for under age GAA clubs is much improved from when I started with the playing of more games and blitzes and training from u-6 up. When I was seven […]
WITH county season parked and clubs all over Ulster aiming for silverware, training and performance is important. We are all looking that edge over the opposition. Whether it’s preparing or recovering better. This week, we meet Tommy McKernan and his range of TNT performance products that have been helping athletes meet their goals in a […]
WE’RE all familiar with the scenario of the mismatched games. A team beaten out the gate before half-time. It’s torture for all involved, and unless they’re managed correctly, can leave a psychological mark for the worse, on both sides. You run the risk of players quitting, demotivated, on both sides. Why? Because those of us who […]
WITH the majority of county competitions now entering the final stages of their season, now is the time when certain players will begin to think about what retirement would hold for any them – especially players who have been heavily involved in the game for a prolonged period of time. Usually, the post-season is a […]
By Pauric Grimes WE’RE approaching the business end of the club championship season, and without kicking men while they’re down, there will be some of the boys who togged out over the last week or two for their final time. It’s not all doom and gloom though. In fact, as any of the men on […]
OVER the last few weeks, as teams bow out of championship football, I’ve had a number of club managers get in contact regarding building mental toughness for the season ahead. One email stood out as particularly worrying; “… we’ve done all we can as managers – the lads are just not mentally tough enough.” Aside […]
By Patrick Morrison 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 […]
