Stephen McBrearty is one Donegal player who has made the transition from minor to senior recently

In his column in this week’s Gaelic Life, Pauric Grimes addresses the issue of addressing a step up in standards.

There are a number of county minors who are stepping up to play senior level football this year.

They have to change their preparations to do so. Pauric Grimes explains that many of them will feel that they have to get stronger, and lift a lot of weights as a result, but that is a simplitic approach.

“Strength without the ability to move is like having a full tank of petrol in your car, but no keys to start it.

“The old adage of ‘weights make you slow’ – one which was long ago proven to be wrong – has its origins in amateur athletics back when they would lift the wrong sorts of weights, or more accurately lifted weights in the wrong way.

“If you have poor squat or dead lift technique and decide to throw another 100kilograms on the bar you’re (A) going to potentially hurt yourself, and (B) make a movement into a worse version of what it already was.

“Tight hips will become tighter, and sore backs will become sorer.”

PG goes on to addresss the issue of work load. Read the full article in the current issue of Gaelic Life, Click here to buy the online edition.