STEVEN POACHER: The best time of year to learn


COACH Education is a subject very close to my heart, it’s a huge passion of mine, as a coach I never want to stop learning, in fact I have a small black note book I carry everywhere with me, quite a bit of my week seems to be spent in a car, so therefore the […]


DECLAN McCOY: The imitation game


GAELIC football is gradually moving towards a reset in the fundamental make up of teams. We have two points to consider in this regard. Firstly, the standard programme lays out the 15 players in the traditional structure. They consist of a ‘keeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six forwards. I can’t for the life of […]


JOHN McMAHON: Be clever in your off-season


By John McMahon THE business end of the Gaelic club season is reaching the pinnacle with county finals fast approaching. For those clubs that have exited the championship and their seasons have now ended, what should their focus be? The off-season brings a welcome rest from the demands of a long competitive season in GAA. […]


PATRICK MORRISON: 11 goalkeeping principles – Part 1


By Patrick Morrison THIS week’s article will come in a two-part form. This is because I have repurposed my Eleven Goalkeeping Principles and as such will need two articles to fit them in. Below is Part One of these principles, Part Two to follow up next week. Enjoy! All goalkeepers are different and no two […]


SHANE RICE: Balancing act for championship finale


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 […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Growth season


By Patrick Morrison WE are now coming into the mouth of October and with the majority of teams now on their extended rest period, it means that for the majority of players, the season has ended and their so called ’OFF’ Season has begun. This sees players going from training three to five sessions per week […]


PAUDIE KISSANE: 13-a-side and bonus point wins


THERE is plenty of excitement off the pitch at present with the managerial merry-go-round but what is it that could be done to make things on the pitch more exciting for players and spectators alike? I might enjoy watching one team’s ability in breaking down a packed defence, creating space and more scores, but at […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Kicking is your craft


By Patrick Morrison DISTRIBUTION in the modern game has become more and more important for teams whenever they are focusing on winning games. In some games a team’s ability on restarts can literally be the winning or losing of a particular game. For the goalkeeper then, it is crucial they can self-appraise their kicking both […]


MÁIRE TREASA NÍ CHEALLAIGH: Making weight


THE first thing I do whenever I enter a team dressing room is to scan the place for the number one object guaranteed to cause stress to a huge portion of the players in that room. It’s usually under a table or the middle of a floor while someone publicly records what it shows. The weighing scales. […]