IN the sport of GAA, speed can be the deciding factor, giving players a competitive edge. Contrary to the belief that “you can’t teach speed,” sprint performance can be improved with focused training. Here are simple tips and tricks that i use all year round, including extra time in the off/pre-season to help players increase […]
THE real answer to the question of when you should start a pre-season is ‘it depends’. Several factors influence when you should start your pre-season, and the most important one is when your last season ended. Teams that progressed deep into the championship may need more recovery time, while others who exited early might be […]
IN Gaelic football, speed is a critical factor that can often be the difference between winning and losing. The greatest gains in speed performance come from high-quality training that emphasizes technical precision, high-intensity efforts, and long recovery periods. Essentially, speed training must be focused on quality over quantity. When it comes to sprinting, a player’s […]
PREPARATION in the week leading up to a championship plays a crucial role in determining team performance on game day. Competitive teams invest countless hours in training with the goal of peaking at the right time for championship, which is the business end of the season. From a physiological standpoint, players can typically achieve two […]
THE ASR method is something I have researched over the past 18 to 24 months. Combining MAS and MSS is a much more accurate way of conditioning and profiling the players for the championship ahead. I would only use ASR for the summer, mainly because I find it difficult to find true MSS in the […]
THE low block is a phrase that we are all now hearing but it has been around for the last number of years and it’s not just the Ulster teams using it. More recently, it’s Donegal that set up very defensively but does it have its place? A low block is a defensive strategy where […]
MAXIMAL Aerobic Speed (MAS) stands as a cornerstone in the realm of GAA fitness, offering a pathway to peak performance for players. While commonly utilized in professional sports, MAS has now become a focal point in the pre-season regimens of GAA coaches, presenting a versatile tool for enhancing team fitness year-round. The significance of MAS […]
GAELIC football, a sport rich in tradition and passion, demands more than just physical prowess on game day. Victory is not solely achieved through training and skills development; it’s the culmination of meticulous game day preparation that sets the stage for success. I will delve into the essential pre-game routines, strategies, and mental preparation that […]
AS championship football at the club level continues to evolve, so does the relentless intensity that accompanies it. With each passing year, the demands on players reach new heights. They run more, at higher speeds, with increased accelerations, decelerations, frequent changes of direction, and endure physicality like never before. For coaches, the later stages of […]
STEPPING into the world of coaching after returning from Toronto, Canada in 2020 has marked a journey of transformation in both language and methods. While I wouldn’t claim to have it all figured out, each passing year has added to my coaching evolution, making the learning curve an indispensable part of my development in this […]
