1. ‘Fully Understood Now’
FUN
‘Fully Understood Now’

2. Developing Young Players?
Missed Opportunities!

3. 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

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

5. ACTIVITY 1 - Where do you stand?

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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!!

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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

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

19. “Stop - You are stifling creativity!”

20. 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

21. 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

22. What now?
Your Club
Your input?