Hard to believe this is still going on in 2019

The Irish International Rules squad training at St Anne's Park, Adelaide.
©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

A tweet from Kilmacud Crokes football coach Shane Smith this week grabbed a lot of people’s attention.

Back in the 1990s when most inter-county teams got themselves organised and started to train three or four times a week, ‘doing laps’ of the pitch became the norm.

But despite taking the enjoyment out of training and the realisation that basic football skills were suffering because of an over-emphasis on fitness, this type of out-dated training is still apparently going on in clubs today.

Senior football team training since mid Jan, haven't touched a ball yet. Have done laps, 400m & 200m runs. Played challenge recently, beaten well. Cue more running, "they weren't fit". Footballs expected to make a return some time in late Feb. Players deserve better than this.

— Shane Smith (@ShaneSmith197) February 14, 2019