Options

Currently, we have to acknowledge we are a bit off the pace on the football front. The Championship team has failed to win the last two tournaments and the Shield team hasn't won its tournaments either. When a team isn't winning, it naturally means there is a gap between them and the best. We must now try and figure out how to close this gap.

In a blog entry last year, I was talking about the differences between a coach, a trainer and a manager. I'd defined myself being more towards the trainer profile, focusing more on physical preparation then tactical and skill development. However, there is now a greater need to integrate more coaching into sessions.

When we talk about coaching, we probably first think about skills. How to kick, catch, hand-pass and solo. Of course this is important and we are working more diligently on it recently. However, what lads need just as much of is coaching during game situations. When I was playing at home , I used to think about how to approach each game and opponent a lot (and still do here). Generally you would know the guy you were going to mark from previous experience or from having seen him play. If you didn't, worst case, you could easily hunt down someone who had that knowledge. I'm talking size, speed, kicking foot, type of runs, whether he'll take you on or lay it off etc. Other influencing factors are the style of play of the team i.e. do they pump ball in long or high/low.

So from a defensive point of view, I'd have picked up a good few knacks over the years to try and counter certain traits. Also though, you get an insight into effective forward play because you are in the position of having to counter it. I always found the lad who took off across the pitch or at an angle more difficult to mark. You can't play him from the front as easily or commit to trying to win the ball. He will run into the space he wants to receive the ball, rather then look for it down on top of him. This gives him a better angle to turn you if you are overcommitted.

Now, that kind of experience or thought process doesn't make me a better/worse footballer than anyone else at training but I should be able to give some helpful pointers to guys who would not have played so much. Eoin and Collins have played a lot of football and should have opinions and tips to share also. In the absence of anyone else, we must do our best to try and relate those to other lads. Tony Griffin (former Nemo/Kinsale player) once told a group of us (defenders) in the club to always attack the ball. It's such a simple instruction but I always tried to keep it in my head. It changed my focus from marking the man to going and getting the ball.

I tried to get a message across on Tuesday night that was as simple in its delivery as Tony's words but also as beneficial if you can adjust your mindset accordingly. A lot of our team stays on the periphery of things and waits for stuff to happen. Other lads play the ball on and stop, as if their role in proceedings is temporarily suspended until the ball comes near them again. All we wanted guys to think about during the game on Tuesday night was whether or not they were an option for the man in possession.

Crusher needed a bit of encouragement but once he grasped it he was much more effective in the game. He came on in the final in Belgium and made two runs up the pitch creating good options on the overlap. It yielded a point and a wide but also dealt our opponents a psychological blow as it showed our eagerness to get on the ball even late in the last game of a long day. It also showed that fellas can do it but maybe they don't consciously think about doing it all the time. It clicked with Cathal too. If it doesn't come as a natural instinct then fellas should start by just giving an option to the guy who they have just passed the ball too and build from there.

Trevor Collins trained us in the winter of 2003 when no-one else would. We played some of the best and most enjoyable football I have experienced with Kinsale in those months and steamrolled teams. Everyone was tuned in to movement off the ball from the work we did with him.

As guys get used to thinking options, options, options then they can start thinking ahead further. When Darragh O'Se used get possession in the middle of the field, the gooch often didn't look for it off him at all. Instead, he anticipated the ball in to Donaghy and made sure he was an option for a lay-off from him.

We all know, in a chase, its the guy doing the chasing that suffers the biggest drain to his energy levels, even though he may run no further than the guy he is chasing. So, by constantly making yourself an option you will not only offer more opportunities to your team, you will also wear out your opponent.