Offaly GAA embark on major initiative to improve playing standards
Offaly GAA target physical development of underage players as priority
THE Offaly GAA County Board have embarked on a major new initiative in a bid to improve playing standards in football and hurling.
They have targeted the physical development of underage players in both codes as a key area in trying to ensure Offaly can challenge for honours on the inter-county scene in the coming years.
The board have launched a partnership with the Dublin based Setanta College, who will oversee the physical training of U14, 15 and 16 footballers and hurlers in the county over the coming years.
Initially, every club has been invited to send in all their players in these age groups for testing and training over the coming couple of months. An information evening for parents this week was told that 580 players have been tested to date and this will go over 600 when everyone is done.
That represents an approximate 80% take up by the eligible players and they will attend coaching and training overseen by Setanta College personnel in the coming weeks at various venues in Offaly. The Offaly U14, 15 and 16 development squads will be picked after this in January but players who don't make them will still be able to get training programmes and access guidance and advice through an app.
It is a very worthwhile initiative by the County Board. Setanta College provide courses in human performance and sports science and have developed a very good reputation in recent years. They have also provided personnel to work on the ground in other counties, including Galway and Clare and Offaly have now signed up with them.
Offaly GAA Operations Manager John Hackett told the information evening that they are spending considerable money on the venture but hope that it will be worthwhile.
The underlying aim is to teach young players the best practice for strength and conditioning and physical training from their formative playing years and that this will provide players of the required standard for Offaly teams in minor, U20 and senior in the future.
Rather than just focusing on the elite who will form the development squads, they opened it to every player in those age groups in the county and hope to raise standards across the board. The elite players will be picked on the development squads but the ones who don't make those will still have the knowledge to train correctly.
Head of Athletic Development Rob Mulcahy gave an enticing outline of their plans. Noting the abundance of cruciate injuries in the GAA in recent years, he revealed that they will be teaching players the correct way to stop and turn at speed, minimising the possibility of such injuries – reducing the risk of injury is one of the key components of their work. They will be taught the correct way to jump, running and movement mechanics, speed work along with many more facets of physical development.
They will also provide specific programmes for players based on their current physique – Mr Mulcahy noted that one 14 year old may have reached full height and another may have have a growth spurt still to come, meaning that they are at two very different stages. Players in the one category will be grouped together for games etc.
The testing includes a profile of all players, detailing all of this, and it will be updated on a regular basis during the year – their training programmes will be based on this information. It will be all very detailed, including expected growth in a year as well as details on their parents' height etc
They will also provided nutritional advice and guidance on psychology and well-being. Their programme will include an introduction to bodyweight training, progressing to strength training and then maximum strength work.
A crucial part of it all is players logging every physical activity they undertake on the app, including other sports – they have to list any injuries or niggles. Parental support is also very important and Mr Mulcahy stressed the need for good sleep, regular meals and recovery.
There will be various workshops throughout the year and Operations Manager John Hackett explained that the initiative came after a root and branch review of all underage activity in the county.
He stated that a deficiency in strength and conditioning became prevalent in this, resulting in them increasing development squad sessions from once a week to two. Stating that they didn't have the expertise on the ground in strength and conditioning, they turned to Setanta who will be “here long term” with their first block over 11 months.
Mr Hackett noted that not every player who goes through this programme will play senior football and hurling for Offaly. “We think it will be hugely beneficial, it is a step in the right and direction. The S and C issue in Offaly won't be fixed in one month, three months, even a couple of years but we have identified the problem and if we start to work on it now, I think we will see gains almost straight away. This is a major initiative by Offaly GAA, we need to do so and we are happy to do so”
Coaching Officer Carina Carroll gave a comprehensive outline of the work they do in promoting the GAA at underage level in Offaly, including coaching in national and secondary schoosl, club and county athletic development, their games programme, courses for coaches, nursery days, summer and midterm camps and other initiatives.
She spoke about the importance of games and how young players need almost one game per training session.
Offaly GAA chairman Tom Parlon described it as a “very exciting development” for Offaly GAA and said he was very impressed with Setanta from the moment they met them.