Fuelling All-Ireland Champions | John O’Connor, Target Nutrition
How do All-Ireland winning GAA players actually fuel themselves — not just with protein and carbs, but with the habits, systems and support that make eating well possible?In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I chat with John O’Connor (Target Nutritionist & Kerry Senior Football nutritionist) about how he helps players eat better in real-world environments.We discuss:Why behaviour change is more important than nutrition factsBuilding structures & routines that stickThe role of caterers, coaches, physios & parents in fuelling playersPractical, low-budget ideas for clubs to improve post-training nutritionHelping young players and families build long-term eating habitsThis isn’t about grams of protein or fancy supplements — it’s about realistic strategies coaches, parents, and players can use to make nutrition work.Join my free email list for weekly coaching, nutrition & performance tips in GAA: https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773You can find john on Instagram: @target.nutrition
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How Fundamental Movement Skills Impact Sports Skills with Brian O'Boyle
🎯 Grab the In-Season Speed Guide for GAA Coaches (€29):https://fhs-performance.kit.com/products/gaa-in-season-speed-guide📬 Join the Free Email Newsletter for Coaches:Weekly coaching tools, insights & resources → https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773Episode Title:Improving Movement Skills in Teenage Girls – w/ Brian O’Boyle (@PALM_Ireland)In this episode, I’m joined by Brian O’Boyle — primary school principal, PE lecturer, and former senior intercounty camogie coach — to dive deep into how fundamental movement skills (FMS) can still be developed in the teenage years, especially among female GAA players.We explore the findings from Brian’s recent 20-week intervention with U14 development squads, where structured FMS sessions led to measurable improvements in both movement quality and camogie-specific skills.This one is full of practical takeaways for club and county coaches working with young players — from how to design warm-ups with purpose, to how movement skills can help reduce dropout and injuries.🧠 Topics Include:Why hopping, jumping, and landing matter more than we thinkThe link between movement skills and game-specific skills like strikingHow to embed FMS into GAA sessions without losing game timeStrategies to boost confidence and retention in teenage girlsWhat Brian learned from his coaching, teaching, and academic experiences📲 Follow Brian on Twitter: @PALM_Ireland🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if you found this helpful.
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GPS in GAA: What Actually Matters w Fionn O’Shea PhD (c)
Grab My GAA In-Season Speed Guidehttps://fhs-performance.kit.com/products/gaa-in-season-speed-guideA must-have for any coach managing speed, sprint loads, and injury risk during a hectic GAA season.Are you using your GPS data effectively—or just collecting numbers?In this episode, I’m joined by Fionn O’Shea, a performance consultant with elite experience across Gaelic Games, rugby league, and AFL. We explore how to move beyond "distance covered" and start using GPS data to actually improve your training design and player readiness.Here’s what we cover:The most important GPS metrics (and which ones to ignore)How to structure your training week using match demandsMax speed, sprint distance, HSR, axels/d-cells, and meters per minuteManaging subs, small groups, and limited GPS podsClub vs intercounty differences in GPS dataHow to combine GPS with RPE for smarter coaching decisionsWhether you're a coach with 2 GPS units or a full stack of 20+, this episode will help you plan, monitor, and adapt like a pro.🔗 Follow Fionn for more insights:📸 Instagram: @osheaperformance🐦 Twitter/X: @fionnosheaIf you’re a coach who wants to stay ahead of the curve with practical, game-ready performance strategies, hit that follow button and share this episode with your team.#GAA #StrengthAndConditioning #GPSData #CoachEducation #GaelicFootball #Hurling #Camogie #PlayerMonitoring #TrainingLoad #Sprinting #PerformancePlanning
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Common Mistakes Coaches Make in GAA Speed Training
🎧 Purchase the In-Season Speed Guidehttps://fhs-performance.kit.com/products/gaa-in-season-speed-guide📥 Access the Top Speed Warm-Up Templatehttps://fhs-performance.kit.com/990dc8c063Episode Summary:In this episode, we explore the 7 most common mistakes GAA coaches and players make when trying to improve sprinting and speed. From over-relying on drills to neglecting the role of actual sprint exposure, we break down what’s holding players back and how to fix it.Whether you're coaching at underage, club, or intercounty level, this episode provides practical takeaways to improve your speed training methods. We also discuss the role of strength work, plyometrics, recovery, and how to better integrate sprinting into GAA schedules.Topics Covered:Sprint exposure for underage vs adult playersWhen drills help — and when they don’tHow much recovery is really needed between sprintsIntegrating sprinting with gym work and gamesSmart use of hills, games, and plyometricsThe impact of video feedback and coaching detail🔗 For more speed-focused training support, grab the In-Season Speed Guide and the Top Speed Warm-Up Template using the links above.🎙️ Follow for weekly episodes on performance, coaching, and long-term athlete development in Gaelic Games.
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Integrating Development & Performance in Underage GAA with Conor Shannon
🎯 Grab the GAA In-Season Speed Guide:https://fhs-performance.kit.com/products/gaa-in-season-speed-guideIn this episode, we take a clear-eyed look at the current state of youth player development in Gaelic Games — what’s working, what’s not, and what we can do better. Drawing on research, practical coaching experience, and system-level insights, we explore the real environments young players are growing up in, and how we can support them more effectively.You’ll learn:Why the best 14-year-old doesn’t always become the best 20-year-oldCommon pitfalls in talent identification and how to avoid themHow late developers, multi-sport athletes, and early burnout all tie into your coaching decisionsThe real meaning of “development” beyond drills and skillsKey messages for parents, coaches, and county board stakeholdersIf you're a coach, S&C, or development officer working with young players — this one’s for you. Expect honest reflection, practical solutions, and some uncomfortable truths.🔗 Watch the YouTube version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44AWd_3d7jc&ab_channel=DrJohnMurphy📲 Follow for more coaching insights on Instagram: @john.murphydrTwitter/X: @fhsperformance
Ireland