‘Fully Understood Now’ FUN ‘Fully Understood Now’

Developing Young Players? Missed Opportunities!

I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one. ~Mark Twain Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the one you miss. ~Author Unknown

3 4 1 2 Club A Club A Club B Club B

ACTIVITY 1 - Where do you stand?

Club ‘A’ GAC U8s / U10s / U12s / U14s / U16s / Minors Note to parents: We are pleased to inform our parents that the above teams will be coached and developed this season as each management team sees fit.

Selecting Club ‘A’ Management Two years ago the U12s swept all before them. Any volunteers for our now U14s?

Club A Handover This season they will play for 3 different management teams. Those teams rarely communicate about how to develop the players. This season they move from U10 to U12 level. The new coaches know little of their traits.

Club A Coaching Coaching/management teams plan all sessions, with roles identified for each adult

“NONE OF THIS IS NEWS TO US –THANKS FOR THE REMINDER BUT YOU HAVE JUST DESCRIBED MOST GAA CLUBS. LIVE WITH IT!”

His Journey At 12 – very comfortable on the ball, strong, brave, good tackler and blocker, pacy, scores regularly 1 At 14 – as above Club A At 16 – major playing problem At 18 – little or no change

ACTIVITY 2 – IN PAIRS / THREES / FOURS – DISCUSS & DECIDE HIS PLAYING PROBLEM

Answer? Virtually every possession he wins, is followed by an attempt to solo run his way through or around tackles He makes few attempts to quickly bring others into the play As a result, teammates have all but stopped making supporting runs AND YET HE KNOWS HIS PROBLEM!!

ACTIVITY 3 – SAME GROUPS – IDENTIFY THE BAD HABITS & OUR NEEDS

We need a full forward! What do we need him to learn? 1. 2. 3. Which habits might get in the way? 1. 2. 3.

We made one! Joe was a midfielder / wing half forward who could win the ball but tended to follow this up with ‘head down solo running’ His coaches tried him as a full forward for a number of challenge games, with specific instructions. It didn’t work because Joe made his runs too early and was too far out the pitch by the time the ball came. They took up to 6 weeks to coach him how to time his runs and how to act before making those runs.

Attention to Detail! A midfielder who caught the ball, landed and held possession well, tended to stop, shift from side to side and kick the ball into the tackle The coaches worked on the simple idea of ‘taking four big, powerful strides’ to break from confined space and make room to make the next playing decision.

Attention to Detail! H 2 1 3 Repeat, Repeat, Repeat…..

“Stop - You are stifling creativity!”

Take those opportunities! I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one. ~Mark Twain Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the one you miss. ~Author Unknown

3 4 1 2 Club A Club A Club B Club B Club A – O’Donovan Rossa Magherafelt Club B – Watty Graham’s Glen 3 4 1 2 Club A Club A Club B Club B

What now? Your Club Your input?