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1. Coaching Gaelic Football
The GAA now has in place an excellent Coach Education and Development Programme, however, Coach Education is not a one off process – it continues and builds on personal experiences learned through observation and participation in games, involvement in teams and in coaching sessions.
‘The Childhood Phase’
With the youngest age group (i.e. between 4 – 10 years) the emphasis is rightly on that of Skills Development. A function of this and in terms of best practice, it is now a central part of clubs coaching policy that ALL children between the ages of 4 and 10 in our club develop their technical proficiency (skills) through the provision of appropriate drills and sustained involvement in “Go Games”.
What are “Go Games”?
The “Go Games” concept of player’s development involves three different levels
· First Touch (4 – 8)
· Quick Touch (9 – 10)
· Smart Touch (11 – 12)
These have been developed based on principles now adopted within the GAA known as the Fair Play Index, i.e. to provide
· Full participation · Frequent prospect of success · Development of full potential
Each game reflects best practice in terms of utilizing modified rules and equipment that is appropriate for each child’s stage of maturation. As part of the clubs coaching policy it is intended that all underage coaches will receive instruction in the implementationof the Go Games and appropriate practice drills.
Why the “Go Games”?
All the recent research into the coaching of Gaelic games to young players has found that when participating in small sided games the children work harder, had more touches on the ball (catches, lifts and scoring attempts), expressed a greater level of enjoyment and satisfaction.
The Cornerstones of Good Coaching
It is vital to develop technical skills to a point where:
1. Players are comfortable on both left and right sides
2. Players can perform the skills at pace
3. Players can perform the skills when under pressure
Allowing players to work at a slow pace in drills will lead to them perform at that same slow pace in a game. They will stop to wait for a kindly bounce of the ball; they will slow down or turn back when faced by an opponent; they will try to kick pass through an opponent; they will shy away from physical contact and develop all of the wrong instincts.
Run your drills to force players to
*ATTACK THE BALL.
*They must learn to take the risk and
*move to meet the ball, no matter what way it comes to them.
*Always demand a good ‘First Touch’ on the ball
*Make your drills competitive – pair players together and let them race to collect a ball kicked by the coach.
Get them used to BREAKING TACKLES, rather than stopping when faced by an opponent and being easily blocked.
The best players at any level attack the ball and break tackles.
The Cornerstones of Good Coaching
It is vital to develop technical skills to a point where:
1. Players are comfortable on both left and right sides
2. Players can perform the skills at pace
3. Players can perform the skills when under pressure
Allowing players to work at a slow pace in drills will lead to them perform at that same slow pace in a game. They will stop to wait for a kindly bounce of the ball; they will slow down or turn back when faced by an opponent; they will try to kick pass through an opponent; they will shy away from physical contact and develop all of the wrong instincts.
Run your drills to force players to
*ATTACK THE BALL.
*They must learn to take the risk and
*move to meet the ball, no matter what way it comes to them.
*Always demand a good ‘First Touch’ on the ball
*Make your drills competitive – pair players together and let them race to collect a ball kicked by the coach.
Get them used to BREAKING TACKLES, rather than stopping when faced by an opponent and being easily blocked.
The best players at any level attack the ball and break tackles.
Good coaches must take every opportunity to make our own players the best they can be!!
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