By Patrick Morrison “ANOTHER week. Another rule!!” This was a text message I received from a goalkeeper I coached several years ago when they heard of the introduction of the new 20-second kick-out clock to Gaelic football, the rationale for its introduction being that goalkeepers are taking far too long to take their kick-outs. Like […]
IN Gaelic football, running is at the heart of the game, but that doesn’t mean all conditioning has to be done on the pitch. Off-feet conditioning, also known as cross-training, is an effective way to build fitness without adding unnecessary running load. When used correctly, it can help players improve endurance, maintain fitness during injury, […]
OVER the past 20 years, we have really seen the evolution of the goalkeeping position in Gaelic football. So much so that we have seen possibly the greatest ever in Stephen Cluxton to the newest modern phenomenon of ‘keepers joining the fray. Over the past 20 years, and even before then, we have seen a […]
By Patrick Morrison CHILDREN are curious and insightful individuals who explore and learn through the process of trial and error just as nature intended. Their world is loaded with all kinds of imaginary games and toys. All a child wants to do is explore their world through the medium of play. And what child has not […]
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 […]
SPEED is a crucial element in Gaelic football, and how you train for it in the off-season can make all the difference when the season kicks off. Off-season speed training isn’t just about running fast; it’s about preparing players to meet the demands of the game, reducing injury risk, and improving overall fitness. Here’s how […]
ALL eyes on the league this weekend as the competitive action for 2025 begins, or should I say all eyes on the referees. Of course I am referring to the new rules which are sure to create many talking points after the opening weekend. What should supporters expect? A lot of the unknown, I would […]
By Patrick Morrison IN the modern game of Gaelic football, we are under no illusions about the sudden rise in focus on restarts. This rise has also coincided with the rise in importance of the goalkeeping position as a whole. What the goalkeeper can offer to their team has grown exponentially over the past 25 […]
WHENEVER I was younger, Sherry’s Field in the heart of Armagh City was our playground. A very large field that included five full tennis courts, a soccer pitch, a playground as well as some fringe areas for building tree huts and the like. No matter what the weather was like most of our time was used playing […]
GOOD luck to anyone trying to get a space at a local gym this week or to book in with a personal trainer or gym instructor who are all offering eight-week new year courses. There are so many people who wake up with a turkey hangover (or indeed a normal hangover) and say – “I […]
