6 solutions to tackle the issue of unplayable pitches.

1. More all weather pitches

2. More multi sports municipal facilities

3. Flexibility on times of games

4. Domes

5. Utilising local sports halls

6. Schools making pitches available to local clubs at weekends/evenings

Unprecedented levels of unplayable pitches recently.

Traditional morning games for kids may now require flexibility.

All weather pitches are often under-utilised at wknd afternoons.

E.g.
Could u10s play at 4pm?
Or u12s at 5pm?

Just a thought but solutions required. Any more?

Delighted to deliver this workshop to Laois Coaching on games based coaching.

Lots of exciting research happening in relation to Game-Based Coaching with an Irish context. Here's an overview of a recent informal meeting of projects hosted by SHPRC:

tgfu.info/blog/a-busy-ti…

TGfU Carmen Barquero-Ruiz Kevin Gavin Paul Kinnerk Luke Barrett niall o mahony

Good read for anyone with an interest in coaching, facilities & player development.

A snippet.
'Since 2000, Iceland has built 7 full sized indoor football halls, 20 outdoor heated fields, a handful of half sized indoor arenas & 150 mini pitches'
urbansoccerpark.com/iceland?s=09

Another wash out for kids in sports this wknd with adverse weather conditions 🌧️.

Some may only have had a handful of games so far in 2024, some may not have played at all.

Investing in appropriate sports facilities is a sound investment for the future.

We badly need it.

🚨Coaching Workshop🚨

Targeted at U7 - U11 Go Games Football & Hurling Coaches

📅Saturday 16th March

⏲️10am - 12.30pm

📍LOETB Centre of Excellence

🗣️Shane Smith

Cost: €10

To book click link:

universe.com/events/go-game…

Coaching kids becomes very enjoyable when you accept that results are largely irrelevant.

Coaching kids⬇️

Strive for effort, not results

Strive for their best, not the win

Strive for creativity, not conforming

Strive for chaotic movement, not linear

Strive for retention, not trophies

Strive for inclusion, not exclusion

Strive for progression, not perfection

Winning a match for a coach should not take precedence over equal game time for a child.

Thank you kindly Sixmilebridge GAA for the warm welcome & great discussion. Fantastic evening with the coaches.

The best 10 year old may not be the best 16 year old.

The best 12 year old may not be the best 20 year old.

Predicting future success for children in sport remains difficult.

As coaches across sports, we should never lose sight of this.

And give equal opportunity to play.

Nice read on Belgium FA

'The key for change was coach education'

7 key aspects ⬇️
1. Player centred approach
2. Small sided games
3. Multimove
4. Giving players freedom
5. Game based practice
6. Winning doesn't matter
7. Look after the late developers

trainingground.guru/articles/coach…

The best way to learn the game is to play the game.

If we are serious about developing our younger players, we need a coaching shift away from drills, lines & coach controlled sessions.

And move towards free play & games based scenarios.

Where problems are solved in a chaotic & unpredictable environment.

As the game is played.

At an 8v8 under 9 game recently.

Some children got minimal ball contact, others got some & 4 or 5 kids got lots of ball.

And I couldn't help but think that by having 2 pitches on the same area & playing 4v4, we'd enhance the playing experience for them all.

And it's so simple

So much to learn from this clip on children in sport. Some key points⬇️

'Physical talent is a poor indicator of success'

'Specialising them too early is a road to doom'

'Take time to build character & values & virtues & integrity & respect & discipline'

A must listen.

7 reflective questions post training.

1. Did I speak in a positive tone?

2. Was there a fun game as part of the warm up?

3. Were matches small sided?

4. Was it predominantly games based?

5.Was there decision making?

6. Were they problem solving?

7. Was I talking too much?

Nice chat with the The Premier 'View' recently to discuss all things coaching.
thepremierviewpodcast.com/epsode/juvenil…

Delivering a presentation to a club around underage coaching recently, I showed a slide with one question.

'What does success look like?'

The answers were varied & it created great discussion.

For clubs, defining why you coach & what success looks like is the starting point.