National Forum

Overtraining?

(Oldest Posts First)

Not a problem I ever had lol, but McGurn is an experienced coach who has worked with GAA teams, pro soccer, boxing, and the All Blacks, and, in his opinion, while GAA club teams have got the balance right, he reckons many GAA county teams are overdoing it. Athletes being prioritised over flair players. All quite true I think - but training is like an arms race. Difficult to know how you'd moderate it.


https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0416/1210402-the-craic-is-gone-do-gaa-players-train-too-much

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 18/04/2021 11:55:27    2337657

Link

It does seem a bit excessive especially when you see professional football teams doing their pre season in 6 weeks. Especially in a day and age where sports science is cutting edge. Is it any wonder so many intercounty players pack it in early.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1909 - 18/04/2021 12:20:41    2337662

Link

It depends which province you are in, in Ulster we need to be at full tilt for every match especially now with no back door, in Leinster I think Dublin can look at the date for the All Ireland semi final and be training to peak around then,
I think we were over trained before the Ulster final last year with an eye on the Dublin semi final to come, that was a colossal mistake by our management team in my opinion,
Football has become so professional it has taken a lot of the craic out of it, last year with Cavan and Tipp winning their provinces it put some of the romance back into it but it was a bit of a freak year,
in normal times with the back door in place the likes of Kerry and Tyrone would have been back in at the business end of the All Ireland series.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2748 - 18/04/2021 13:00:50    2337669

Link

Club training went crazy for a few years but has improved and reduced in recent times. It's more quality or quantity now or at least that's my experience.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 18/04/2021 15:14:27    2337693

Link

This rush to strength over a short period by these experts has caused so many knee problems, hamstring, quads etc. Yes they were there before but an epidemic in recent years. For once I believe Waterford strategic planning is out in front. They are going to bring the small kids out every Saturday morning for what they are calling a play day. There will be different things for them to do to improve their motor skills agility etc. and less emphasis on football and hurling. They have realized too many kids get left behind early because he or she is not a genius with the hurley or ball. This in turn reduces less available to pick from, for both the clubs and county. Jason Ryan heads up a score of coaches for the development teams with emphasis on skills. The strengths required for the sports will be achieved by participation and enjoyment of the sport over a longer period. Not by pumping iron when they reach the county team. The whole thing came about after an in debt analysis of all the structures in the county. The goal is to keep the county competitive all the time and not disappear for decades at the time. Kudos to all involved and believe me many of the former stars and coaches have rowed in.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 18/04/2021 16:49:11    2337711

Link

Replying To essmac:  "Not a problem I ever had lol, but McGurn is an experienced coach who has worked with GAA teams, pro soccer, boxing, and the All Blacks, and, in his opinion, while GAA club teams have got the balance right, he reckons many GAA county teams are overdoing it. Athletes being prioritised over flair players. All quite true I think - but training is like an arms race. Difficult to know how you'd moderate it.


https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0416/1210402-the-craic-is-gone-do-gaa-players-train-too-much"
Been an issue for years. Far too many sides train far too much compared to the amount of games they play per year

many club sides train far too much for number of games they play IMO
Dont think club teams do have balance right with the way their seasons are structured.
You moderate it by changing structure of club and inter county season and getting more games which would also or should also reduce how much teams train

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 18/04/2021 17:06:04    2337714

Link

Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "It depends which province you are in, in Ulster we need to be at full tilt for every match especially now with no back door, in Leinster I think Dublin can look at the date for the All Ireland semi final and be training to peak around then,
I think we were over trained before the Ulster final last year with an eye on the Dublin semi final to come, that was a colossal mistake by our management team in my opinion,
Football has become so professional it has taken a lot of the craic out of it, last year with Cavan and Tipp winning their provinces it put some of the romance back into it but it was a bit of a freak year,
in normal times with the back door in place the likes of Kerry and Tyrone would have been back in at the business end of the All Ireland series."
In fairness it's the same in Connacht. You can be beaten by any team if your not in gear. Mayo, Galway and Roscommon can all beat each other. Sligo and Leitrim have slipped back but still tough close games to play away.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 18/04/2021 17:17:15    2337718

Link