Free Youth Athletic Development Programme + 5-Day Email Course: https://fhs-performance.kit.com/a441db6d48How fit should underage GAA players be — and what does the data actually say?I’m joined by Lorcan Daly (TUS) to unpack 10+ years of county development-squad testing: what was measured, why it matters, and how coaches should interpret results for real player development (not box-ticking).What we cover:Testing vs monitoring: using numbers to guide, not judgeKey measures: sprint speed, jumps, Yo-Yo, body compositionGrowth & maturation: why “normal” progress isn’t linearPositional notes: why GKs and midfielders often look differentSpeed–momentum explained (speed × mass) and why it’s usefulPractical takeaways for coaches & parentsIf you coach youth Hurling or Gaelic Football, this episode gives you clear, level-headed guidance on what to track and how to use it to support long-term development. Subscribe for weekly GAA coaching, S&C, and skill development episodes.
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How Fit Can We Get From A Games-Based Approach? - Cian O'Dea
Sign up for my free weekly GAA coaching insights here:👉 https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773📹 Related video: How to Blend Games with Runs in GAA Conditioning👉 https://youtu.be/ku7lN2W5T8k?si=fbyb3VEds6BKi7tz📸 Follow Cian O’Dea on Instagram:👉 @cianodea_sc💼 Learn about my Youth S&C Consultancy Services:👉 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WyrxfpBLkpQDXeS1SqevwohFmEtOq_xFtW9s6W5FOnU/edit?usp=sharingIn this episode of Coach’s Lab, Dr John Murphy is joined by Cian O’Dea — Strength & Conditioning coach, Coach Education Manager, and PhD researcher — to discuss the physical and tactical impact of a Games-Based Approach in Gaelic Games.Cian shares findings from his research on how different game formats influence fitness, speed, and decision-making, and how coaches can build sessions that are both engaging and physically demanding.We chat about:🏐 Designing games that develop skill and conditioning🧠 Blending small-sided and large-sided formats for different outcomes🔁 When and how to include top-up running outside games📊 The physiological demands revealed through Cian’s studies🎯 Practical takeaways for coaches balancing realism, fun, and load managementWhether you’re a GAA coach, S&C practitioner, or PE teacher, this conversation offers practical, evidence-based strategies to help you get more from every session.Follow Coach’s Lab for weekly conversations on Gaelic Games, coaching, sports science, and athletic development.#GAA #StrengthAndConditioning #GamesBasedApproach #Coaching #AthleteDevelopment #SportsScience #GaelicFootball #Hurling
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Integrating New Players, Load Management & What GAA Can Learn From Rugby? - Donnacha Mulcahy
Sign up for my free weekly GAA coaching insights here:👉 https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773In this episode of Coach’s Lab, Dr John Murphy is joined by Donnacha Mulcahy, Lecturer in Strength & Conditioning at TUS and S&C Coach with the Tipperary Senior Hurling and Football teams.Donnacha has worked across GAA, rugby, and schools rugby systems, giving him a unique view of what connects and separates elite sport, youth development, and coach education in Ireland.Together we discuss:🏋️♂️ Integrating new players into adult panels and managing different training ages📊 Monitoring load, jump testing, and profiling in intercounty squads⚡ Preparing underage athletes for the physical demands of senior sport🔄 Lessons GAA can learn from rugby’s structured coach-education model🤝 How to balance theory, experience, and enjoyment in S&C🧠 Why “keeping it simple” often delivers the best resultsDonnacha’s blend of academic insight and on-the-ground coaching experience makes this one a must-listen for anyone serious about athlete development in Gaelic Games.Follow Coach’s Lab for more conversations on Gaelic Games, coaching, youth development, and applied sports science.#GAA #StrengthAndConditioning #Coaching #AthleteDevelopment #SportsScience #GaelicFootball #Hurling
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Building Athletes for the Game, Not the Gym | Stephen Walsh
📩 Sign up for my free weekly GAA coaching insights here:👉 https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773Follow Stephen Walsh:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sw_elite/🏋️ Atlas High Performance Gym: https://www.atlashpc.ie/In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I’m joined by Stephen Walsh – S&C coach and owner of Atlas High Performance in Limerick. Stephen works with athletes across 14+ sports, from GAA to soccer, Irish dancing to golf, and shares how he applies simple, effective training principles to very different contexts.We cover:🏋️ Stephen’s gym session framework and why it works across multiple sports⚡ The balance between general athletic development and sport-specific training👟 Practical examples: sprint prep, plyos, loaded jumps, strength & resilience work📈 How to individualise training without overcomplicating it🤝 The role of collaboration, coach education, and creating sustainable pathways for athletes and coachesWhether you’re a coach, athlete, or parent, you’ll take away practical ideas for structuring sessions, avoiding over-specialisation, and building athletic qualities that transfer to the pitch (or stage).🔔 Don’t forget to follow the show for more conversations on Gaelic Games, S&C, coaching, and youth development.#GAA #StrengthAndConditioning #Coaching #AthleteDevelopment #SportsScience
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How Skills Really Develop in Gaelic Games | Philip O’Callaghan
Weekly GAA Coaching insights (my list): https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773Philip’s newsletter (skill acquisition + practice design): https://mrtenniscoach.substack.com/How do players really develop skill in Gaelic Games? In this episode, Skill Acquisition expert Philip O’Callaghan joins me to unpack the science and practice of learning.We explore:Why skills are best understood as problem-solvingHow to design training that truly represents the gameThe Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) explained in plain languageWhen to use opposed vs unopposed practiceIsolating “slices” of the game to accelerate learningPhilip shares practical examples coaches can apply straight away — from shaping small-sided games to tweaking constraints that bring skills to life.If you coach Hurling or Gaelic Football, this conversation gives you a clear framework to design sessions that create smarter, more adaptable players.#GAA #Coaching #SkillAcquisition #ConstraintsLedApproach #EcologicalDynamics #PracticeDesign
Ireland