Sometimes I worry about the nature of the activity which most occupies my spare time! My interest, borderline obsession, with G.A.A. causes me this concern. For instance, the impact it has on my social adaptability; most people struggle to find alternative topics to talk to me about. When they do talk to me about other things, my head is nodding but inside it's playing out some different type of scenario in some G.A.A. related activity.
My parents in particular are very accommodating. Over Christmas, we had three days down in Killarney. I'd be trying my best not to direct every conversation towards G.A.A. but inevitably we'd land on it. My mother would not be a G.A.A. woman (she once attended a Dublin-Kerry game in the 70's and asked which team was Kerry). However, she does a masterful job of feigning interested. Only a mother could.
Whilst down in Killarney, I gave Eamonn Ryan a call. When he visited Brussels he had said to do so when I was home and he'd give me some stuff. Of course, I followed up. I had a concern as I navigated my way through the mountains to Ballingeary though. As per tradition in any Irish household, there was the likelihood of being offered tea and possibly even cake. I'm not a big fan of either and have actually never drunk a cup of tea. An awkward moment lay in wait.
Naturally, one of the first questions I was asked was if I’d have a drink of something. I said I'd have water. Eamonn said I'd have tea. So I had tea. I pretended to know exactly how much milk I liked and declined sugar. Then out came the Christmas cake. Christ, I've looked with suspicion at Christmas cakes for 29 years. Of course I'll have it, especially as his wife had made it. Eamonn was a primary school teacher and retains the streak of any 'master' worth his salt. I drank the tea and ate the cake and may even have enjoyed both.
As always, he was generous with his time. I spent the bones of three hours down there, getting names of authors and books, mapping out training drills and even making a few suggestions to him! Conversation with him is one story after another and he would surely have enough material for a decent book. It would certainly top any of the shallow autobiographies currently selling well.
One thing which he has repeated both times I have met him in the last few months is that he only has one interest; the G.A.A. Why would the recession and the impact on his pension bother him? He's happy as long as there is a team to train and a match to go to. He doesn't want for much else. It's reassuring that you can be into your seventies and still buoyed by such an interest. He was fortunate in some ways. His career choice as a teacher provided him daily access to G.A.A. activity though Sciath na Scoil and activities like that. His talent allowed him play for Cork and coach some of the biggest names in Cork G.A.A. subsequently. He finished off in UCC as Games Development Officer, working with the likes of Paul Galvin and Tommy Walsh. His chosen path in life fuelled the obsession.
I consider the impact the G.A.A. has on my life and what will become of the interest. I used think I should become more interested in different things, to make myself easier to engage with. I think of how it has been the prickly thorn in one or two relationships. I wonder how living in Belgium and working for Toyota will harm it.
I'll never be an Eamonn Ryan because circumstances and talent will not allow. I look at Dad and think his involvement and interest probably exceeded mine when he was in his teens and late twenties. He retired, stepped back and didn't become involved again until John was U-16 and then when we were both playing with the Junior hurlers. Then one March evening in 2002 he got p1ssed off with fellas commitment and walked away for the last time. Now he is interested but not involved.
My latest meeting with Eamonn gave me some comfort. There are like minded people out there!! It’s ok not to be overly concerned by the slimy world of politics or spending money on fancy dan accessories. I don’t know why I needed confirmation or was surprised though. Any cult only grows because of the strength of its like minded activists.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Now Or Never
It might be a bit of an overstatement but I think this year is a make or break one for the lads at home. My buddy Gearoid has led the club to two Minors and an U-21 in the last three years. He’s in his second year over the Intermediates and needs to capitalise on the momentum and make some progress with them this year.
They have been doing a lot of core and conditioning work since November and he’s given them easy to follow weights, core and flexibility programmes to follow in their own time. Mark McManus, physical trainer with the Cork footballers carried out fitness tests a few weeks ago and all the structures are in place for fellas to progress.
However, it seems already that some young fellas may be getting a bit big for their boots and that is not a good sign early in the year. Fellas missing training because of study, turning up and not being able to complete a session or just disappearing off the radar all together. By all accounts, the numbers at U-21 training so far this year don’t match what they were last year which would be a worrying sign.
It baffles me how fellas can go AWOL like that but still go around talking a good game and b1tching and moaning when they do show up. Rich Sull has stepped away from the Cork panel this year which makes him available more for Kinsale. His attendance is just short of 100%. If it’s good enough for him it is surely good enough for everyone else!
I met Tony Griffin and a couple of others up in the field on Stephens Day and when the discussion turned to lads who were missing training he was dumfounded. Schooled in Nemo he was clear on the subject. It isn’t about whether you will go training or not on a given night, it is about whether you are in or out. If you are in then there is no question, you are there.
I was down in Killarney over Christmas and went into a bar called Jimmy O’Briens with Dad. There is not a GAA man either side of the County bounds with whom Jimmy is not acquainted. He was talking about the issue of top level players not having social lives but he said when he talks to any of the Kerry lads they say they have the best social life of them all. They get to train, play and spend time with their friends the majority of nights in every week. Fellas too often link social life with drinking.
The whole thing frustrated me when I was playing at home because it was affecting our chances to be successful. Now it frustrates me because fellas don’t know how easy they have it. The pitch is up the road, the programmes are given to them, the gym deal is sorted. They couldn’t ask for any more but it still doesn’t get the right response out of everyone.
When we train in Tervuren, it can take some lads an hour to get there. When we train in the Parc, fellas have to make the trek home saturated some nights because we don’t even have a roof to get changed under. It is rare Kinsale would have to travel more than an hour to play a match, not alone train. And we were getting nearly 30 out there at the end of last year.
For the students on the Kinsale panel, they should realise this is the best opportunity they will ever get to train properly and commit fully to teams. Exams and study are rubbish excuses. You can’t study 24/7 and there is no healthier way to relieve tension than to go up to training.
I would say virtually every one of our panel is working and the nature of the work is different too. At home, it seems most of the lads have fairly fixed working times and I can never remember too many lads missing training because they were working late. A fair chunk of our fellas work long hours, get caught with business dinners and work trips. Getting out in time to get to training can often be a big problem.
I suppose the issue with a lot of fellas at home is that they take it for granted that it will always be there and it will always come easy for them. Hopefully as the season gets going they’ll realise the value of it and turn their potential into success in 2010.
They have been doing a lot of core and conditioning work since November and he’s given them easy to follow weights, core and flexibility programmes to follow in their own time. Mark McManus, physical trainer with the Cork footballers carried out fitness tests a few weeks ago and all the structures are in place for fellas to progress.
However, it seems already that some young fellas may be getting a bit big for their boots and that is not a good sign early in the year. Fellas missing training because of study, turning up and not being able to complete a session or just disappearing off the radar all together. By all accounts, the numbers at U-21 training so far this year don’t match what they were last year which would be a worrying sign.
It baffles me how fellas can go AWOL like that but still go around talking a good game and b1tching and moaning when they do show up. Rich Sull has stepped away from the Cork panel this year which makes him available more for Kinsale. His attendance is just short of 100%. If it’s good enough for him it is surely good enough for everyone else!
I met Tony Griffin and a couple of others up in the field on Stephens Day and when the discussion turned to lads who were missing training he was dumfounded. Schooled in Nemo he was clear on the subject. It isn’t about whether you will go training or not on a given night, it is about whether you are in or out. If you are in then there is no question, you are there.
I was down in Killarney over Christmas and went into a bar called Jimmy O’Briens with Dad. There is not a GAA man either side of the County bounds with whom Jimmy is not acquainted. He was talking about the issue of top level players not having social lives but he said when he talks to any of the Kerry lads they say they have the best social life of them all. They get to train, play and spend time with their friends the majority of nights in every week. Fellas too often link social life with drinking.
The whole thing frustrated me when I was playing at home because it was affecting our chances to be successful. Now it frustrates me because fellas don’t know how easy they have it. The pitch is up the road, the programmes are given to them, the gym deal is sorted. They couldn’t ask for any more but it still doesn’t get the right response out of everyone.
When we train in Tervuren, it can take some lads an hour to get there. When we train in the Parc, fellas have to make the trek home saturated some nights because we don’t even have a roof to get changed under. It is rare Kinsale would have to travel more than an hour to play a match, not alone train. And we were getting nearly 30 out there at the end of last year.
For the students on the Kinsale panel, they should realise this is the best opportunity they will ever get to train properly and commit fully to teams. Exams and study are rubbish excuses. You can’t study 24/7 and there is no healthier way to relieve tension than to go up to training.
I would say virtually every one of our panel is working and the nature of the work is different too. At home, it seems most of the lads have fairly fixed working times and I can never remember too many lads missing training because they were working late. A fair chunk of our fellas work long hours, get caught with business dinners and work trips. Getting out in time to get to training can often be a big problem.
I suppose the issue with a lot of fellas at home is that they take it for granted that it will always be there and it will always come easy for them. Hopefully as the season gets going they’ll realise the value of it and turn their potential into success in 2010.
Goal Setting - New Years Resolutions Need Not Apply
The only worthwhile insight I got out of Paul Galvin's documentary 'Galvanised' over Christmas was the bit about him putting a reminder in his phone about what his goals were for the year. On the same date every month he'd receive a reminder in his phone stating them.
I'm all about the goal setting these days. When you read anything about sports psychology you'll quickly get to this subject. Virtually every successful person in sport or otherwise will often start their story with a piece of paper and a list of goals. They say by writing down your goals, you somehow bring them to life and if you keep them somewhere that you will be forced to see them everyday then you will be faced with your commitment and be more likely to achieve them.
Last year, we gave the lads on the football team targets before each tournament. They were linked to block downs, dispossessions, not conceding goals, winning each half etc etc. Personally, I found them excellent focus points for the day. In my head I was always chasing down the targets. I don't think they got onto anyone else's radar though as I heard no mention of them. Fellas can dismiss this type of thing too easily because it may appear a bit fluffy or whatever. The mind is a powerful tool though and if it is focused it can make the body do things you didn't think it capable of.
At this time of year, everyone is heralding in the new year with a battalion of resolutions. I think the whole thing is a load of rubbish. What bearing does January 1 have on your life? Why should this be the day to change your life? Maybe it satisfies ones conscience to come up with a few feel good commitments. I'd give these so called resolutions a week or two before they become a distant memory.
From a G.A.A. perspective however, it is the ideal timing to lay out your goals for the coming year (although most should have started back in November!!). Training re-starts on January 27th with the first Benelux tournament at the end of March. Whatever goals a lad sets need to be relevant and realistic. Mine are pretty simple. In the short term, work hard in the gym to get the back pain free by the end of February. I was slack on the core work before Christmas so the problem hasn't cleared up and the clock is ticking faster now.
More broadly speaking, more balanced performances are needed this year. Since I was 18, I'd always start the G.A.A. season very well, a little more consistently than others. I put this largely down to the fact I was playing hockey for the winter and in better shape than other fellas come the start of the league. When I moved to Belgium, it was soccer that kept me fit and that also had me in good shape. It will be different this year as I'm not playing hockey or soccer so getting up to speed will be may challenge.
There is also another point relating to the 'balancing of performances' which is linked. As a team, we did very well in Benelux last year but faded horribly come Championship. So there is a question mark over me and the rest of the group; are we just good league players or can we step up and compete in the Championship. Yes, we have won it but we all know how crucial Gearoid and Micheal were to that. Last year, we capitulated after the likes of Laffan, Fridge, Hudson etc left. Myself, Olof, Keary, Sheanon and one of two more need to show that we can be the lads to have the big impact at the business end of things this year.
For now though, the goals remain simple; improve the physical condition (with some measurable targets), get injury free and improve the diet (pizza only once a week (!!), no fizzy drinks, severely reduced chocolate/biscuit intake) by the end of February. I'll get them down on paper, save them as my screensavers on the phone, laptop etc and take it from there!
I'm all about the goal setting these days. When you read anything about sports psychology you'll quickly get to this subject. Virtually every successful person in sport or otherwise will often start their story with a piece of paper and a list of goals. They say by writing down your goals, you somehow bring them to life and if you keep them somewhere that you will be forced to see them everyday then you will be faced with your commitment and be more likely to achieve them.
Last year, we gave the lads on the football team targets before each tournament. They were linked to block downs, dispossessions, not conceding goals, winning each half etc etc. Personally, I found them excellent focus points for the day. In my head I was always chasing down the targets. I don't think they got onto anyone else's radar though as I heard no mention of them. Fellas can dismiss this type of thing too easily because it may appear a bit fluffy or whatever. The mind is a powerful tool though and if it is focused it can make the body do things you didn't think it capable of.
At this time of year, everyone is heralding in the new year with a battalion of resolutions. I think the whole thing is a load of rubbish. What bearing does January 1 have on your life? Why should this be the day to change your life? Maybe it satisfies ones conscience to come up with a few feel good commitments. I'd give these so called resolutions a week or two before they become a distant memory.
From a G.A.A. perspective however, it is the ideal timing to lay out your goals for the coming year (although most should have started back in November!!). Training re-starts on January 27th with the first Benelux tournament at the end of March. Whatever goals a lad sets need to be relevant and realistic. Mine are pretty simple. In the short term, work hard in the gym to get the back pain free by the end of February. I was slack on the core work before Christmas so the problem hasn't cleared up and the clock is ticking faster now.
More broadly speaking, more balanced performances are needed this year. Since I was 18, I'd always start the G.A.A. season very well, a little more consistently than others. I put this largely down to the fact I was playing hockey for the winter and in better shape than other fellas come the start of the league. When I moved to Belgium, it was soccer that kept me fit and that also had me in good shape. It will be different this year as I'm not playing hockey or soccer so getting up to speed will be may challenge.
There is also another point relating to the 'balancing of performances' which is linked. As a team, we did very well in Benelux last year but faded horribly come Championship. So there is a question mark over me and the rest of the group; are we just good league players or can we step up and compete in the Championship. Yes, we have won it but we all know how crucial Gearoid and Micheal were to that. Last year, we capitulated after the likes of Laffan, Fridge, Hudson etc left. Myself, Olof, Keary, Sheanon and one of two more need to show that we can be the lads to have the big impact at the business end of things this year.
For now though, the goals remain simple; improve the physical condition (with some measurable targets), get injury free and improve the diet (pizza only once a week (!!), no fizzy drinks, severely reduced chocolate/biscuit intake) by the end of February. I'll get them down on paper, save them as my screensavers on the phone, laptop etc and take it from there!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
G.A.A. Saves Christmas
Some of the banter in the pub, on facebook and by text this week was as good as I’ve seen. Everybody’s adventure to get home was played out in front of a cyber audience. The laughing and joking overwhelmed the worry because we all believed that everybody would get home in time.
The week progressed and the weather persisted which meant ‘Plan B’ became more and more watery. Flights got cancelled and the few remaining seats got booked up. Collins and Kitch made an epic journey from Charlerio to Cherbourg to Wexford and on, by truck, train, tractor, ferry. Others went to Italy to go to Dublin but ended up in London.
Flights that were cancelled were uncancelled. Trains were delayed or rerouted. The snow continued; sometimes in Brussels, sometimes in Dublin and sometimes they just ran out of de-icing fluid. I had one of the smoothest routes via Amsterdam with Sylvia and Sinead as travel companions. In the end, many made it home but many found no way out.
So why did the GAA save Christmas? Well, during the week there were loads of people helping each other out, offering solutions, support and whatever else they could. In most cases, the people interacting know each other only because of the GAA.
Kitch and Collins for example, only know each other because of it. Sylvia, Sinead and myself know each other because of it. Colin, Alec, Shane and their travel crew are linked by it. Plenty more examples. Point is that the journey was made easier and the stress lessened by it.
It will be best understood by those who didn’t make it though. Burkee sent a mail to the GAA list inviting anyone who didn’t get home to join himself and his girlfriend for Christmas dinner. They too were stranded. Johnny O, Denis and I’m guessing Paddy, Eoin and a couple of more joined them.
If the G.A.A. didn’t exist in Belgium, none of these people would know each other and if they did, wouldn’t have a connection strong enough to find each other in that moment of crisis. Knowing that if I was stuck, I would be stuck with a good few others from the club meant that I felt no stress about getting home. By all accounts they had a great day, I’m nearly disappointed I missed it!
The week progressed and the weather persisted which meant ‘Plan B’ became more and more watery. Flights got cancelled and the few remaining seats got booked up. Collins and Kitch made an epic journey from Charlerio to Cherbourg to Wexford and on, by truck, train, tractor, ferry. Others went to Italy to go to Dublin but ended up in London.
Flights that were cancelled were uncancelled. Trains were delayed or rerouted. The snow continued; sometimes in Brussels, sometimes in Dublin and sometimes they just ran out of de-icing fluid. I had one of the smoothest routes via Amsterdam with Sylvia and Sinead as travel companions. In the end, many made it home but many found no way out.
So why did the GAA save Christmas? Well, during the week there were loads of people helping each other out, offering solutions, support and whatever else they could. In most cases, the people interacting know each other only because of the GAA.
Kitch and Collins for example, only know each other because of it. Sylvia, Sinead and myself know each other because of it. Colin, Alec, Shane and their travel crew are linked by it. Plenty more examples. Point is that the journey was made easier and the stress lessened by it.
It will be best understood by those who didn’t make it though. Burkee sent a mail to the GAA list inviting anyone who didn’t get home to join himself and his girlfriend for Christmas dinner. They too were stranded. Johnny O, Denis and I’m guessing Paddy, Eoin and a couple of more joined them.
If the G.A.A. didn’t exist in Belgium, none of these people would know each other and if they did, wouldn’t have a connection strong enough to find each other in that moment of crisis. Knowing that if I was stuck, I would be stuck with a good few others from the club meant that I felt no stress about getting home. By all accounts they had a great day, I’m nearly disappointed I missed it!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Turning The Page
Intense, big ego, too high expectations, doesn’t listen, dictatorial, likes the sound of his own voice etc. I’m sure I’ve been labelled with all those over the last three years. That creates a perception of what I might be like but I’d argue the negative aspects of the traits I mention above do not match reality so much. Mostly the behaviour was with the best of intentions, maybe sometimes even intentional as I tried to craft a credible, organised set-up that attracted players and made sure when they arrived they enjoyed it and stayed. We succeeded and so I don’t regret any of the arguments, decisions or perceptions which may have occurred.
I’m not sure how to describe the experience of the last three years but I can imagine it is similar to raising a child; getting the satisfaction out of seeing it develop but also sharing the pain when things don’t go quite so well. That mean’s stepping back is probably going to be like giving up the child. After a month or so of exchanges; myself, Colin and Eoin sat down in The Oak on Saturday night and agreed that Eoin would take the managerial reigns in 2011.
Eoin and I both share an equal passion for hurling and football but our styles and way of demonstrating it often conflict, which has led to more than one clash over the years. There was a night in 2009 when we clashed at training and he headed for the gate. There was the exchange in Munich where he unloaded a few of his opinions on me and more than one frank email exchange over the years. I’m sure his family have heard what a pr1ck I am on more than one occasion too!
For us to have fallen out long-term would have benefited neither of us nor would it have done the team any good. More than once we had to bite our tongues and get on with it. I appreciated the very direct feedback I’d get from him as he was one of the few to pull me up on things and I needed that. At the beginning of this year, it made sense to ask him to take over as captain, as potentially a volatile combination it could have been. For us to succeed we have to be aligned though and we both realise this.
After mulling it over for six weeks or so he will now take over as manager/coach of the lad’s football. He knows it’s a big ask as the whole thing has grown massively and requires a monumental about of time, commitment and dedication. Already he has ideas on how to manage things better and hopefully they will benefit the whole set-up and drive things on further. Naturally, he can count on my support throughout.
I never expected to be able to get out fully and I’m sure Eoin will use me at different stages of the year. I realise what it takes to keep going and there will probably be days when he needs me to take a session or bounce ideas off me. He’ll be the boss though and I look forward to just being a player. Of course, he has Collie B to work with and he will again be key to making sure we continue to run things in as professional a manner as possible.
Eoin will have his hands full though. As far back as 2001, I was referred to as being ‘militant’ in my approach to an issue with management of one of the teams I played on so I’m sure it is unlikely that I will fade quietly into the background! My main motivation in stepping back is to just enjoy playing without all the burdens of being one of the lads leading the group. We get thrown into coaching roles much younger in Europe then at home and that can rob us of some of the enjoyment from actually playing during our best years. My focus in 2011 will be to get the body right and get back that focused dementia that we had in 2008 back!!
To finish with a final perception, the one which probably gives me the most credit for the growth of football in the club. I recognise my contribution and appreciate that people feel it was valuable even if sometimes it is overstated. Others have made massive contributions and deserve mentioning before I sign off. Conan for his drive and passion to get things going, Emmett for sharing my madness as captain in ’08, Ruairi and particularly Johnny P for making sure the Shield team wasn’t a kiss-me-ass set-up and instead one that could hold their heads high and be respected. Cluxton as captain in 2009, Rochey for being such a big help with training in 2010 and and of course Collie B whose contribution has been stated on many occasions here. One person can’t make this thing tick and Eoin won’t be able to do it on his own. However, if he gets the support I got then I’m sure we will go from strength to strength.
I’m not sure how to describe the experience of the last three years but I can imagine it is similar to raising a child; getting the satisfaction out of seeing it develop but also sharing the pain when things don’t go quite so well. That mean’s stepping back is probably going to be like giving up the child. After a month or so of exchanges; myself, Colin and Eoin sat down in The Oak on Saturday night and agreed that Eoin would take the managerial reigns in 2011.
Eoin and I both share an equal passion for hurling and football but our styles and way of demonstrating it often conflict, which has led to more than one clash over the years. There was a night in 2009 when we clashed at training and he headed for the gate. There was the exchange in Munich where he unloaded a few of his opinions on me and more than one frank email exchange over the years. I’m sure his family have heard what a pr1ck I am on more than one occasion too!
For us to have fallen out long-term would have benefited neither of us nor would it have done the team any good. More than once we had to bite our tongues and get on with it. I appreciated the very direct feedback I’d get from him as he was one of the few to pull me up on things and I needed that. At the beginning of this year, it made sense to ask him to take over as captain, as potentially a volatile combination it could have been. For us to succeed we have to be aligned though and we both realise this.
After mulling it over for six weeks or so he will now take over as manager/coach of the lad’s football. He knows it’s a big ask as the whole thing has grown massively and requires a monumental about of time, commitment and dedication. Already he has ideas on how to manage things better and hopefully they will benefit the whole set-up and drive things on further. Naturally, he can count on my support throughout.
I never expected to be able to get out fully and I’m sure Eoin will use me at different stages of the year. I realise what it takes to keep going and there will probably be days when he needs me to take a session or bounce ideas off me. He’ll be the boss though and I look forward to just being a player. Of course, he has Collie B to work with and he will again be key to making sure we continue to run things in as professional a manner as possible.
Eoin will have his hands full though. As far back as 2001, I was referred to as being ‘militant’ in my approach to an issue with management of one of the teams I played on so I’m sure it is unlikely that I will fade quietly into the background! My main motivation in stepping back is to just enjoy playing without all the burdens of being one of the lads leading the group. We get thrown into coaching roles much younger in Europe then at home and that can rob us of some of the enjoyment from actually playing during our best years. My focus in 2011 will be to get the body right and get back that focused dementia that we had in 2008 back!!
To finish with a final perception, the one which probably gives me the most credit for the growth of football in the club. I recognise my contribution and appreciate that people feel it was valuable even if sometimes it is overstated. Others have made massive contributions and deserve mentioning before I sign off. Conan for his drive and passion to get things going, Emmett for sharing my madness as captain in ’08, Ruairi and particularly Johnny P for making sure the Shield team wasn’t a kiss-me-ass set-up and instead one that could hold their heads high and be respected. Cluxton as captain in 2009, Rochey for being such a big help with training in 2010 and and of course Collie B whose contribution has been stated on many occasions here. One person can’t make this thing tick and Eoin won’t be able to do it on his own. However, if he gets the support I got then I’m sure we will go from strength to strength.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Fitter, Faster, Stronger
This time of year has always been a time to cut loose. It generally means G.A.A. off-season and that means a relaxing of the disciplines that go hand in hand with the playing season. I was fortunate that a lot of our teams were successful in the late 90’s and early 00’s so playing into November was a regular occurrence.
It wasn’t like I was locked up at home during the year but the release from the stress of worrying about your fitness and the combination of the Christmas spirit made for a great cocktail. I always point to the winter of 2001 as being the best example. We lost the County Final to Ilen Rovers on the first Sunday of December and from that night in The Greyhound until the last day of December, we fairly let rip.
Of course, it wasn’t total abuse as I was playing Hockey with U.C.C. and you would have the Intervarsities and early round of the Irish Senior Cup to keep you focused. What it meant was instead of training or playing nearly every day you would have more time on your hands and we used it well.
I’d hit the turn of the year raring for action again. I wouldn’t have been winter trainings biggest fan but I was fanatical about the whole thing in general so that got me by. I coined the motto ‘fitter, faster, stronger’ to represent my New Year’s resolution a few years ago. It sounded great but I never had time to work on those elements in the isolation they needed. Hockey was a constant at that time of year, football would come into the equation in January and then Hurling would start kicking in by February. There simply wasn’t enough time to get into the gym and work on other things.
I’ve a different perspective nowadays though. It’s really been hitting home in the last couple of years that the body is struggling a bit more. The back fecked up a fair chunk of this year and some corrective action will be required next year. I’m beginning to learn that short term solutions like nurofen aren’t a great option!! I picked up some new insoles on Wednesday and I’m hoping they will set me on the right road.
It is good to see lads are trying to stay active during the winter and keep in some shape. There’s a gang of fellas playing Squash on Wednesday nights and another lash of us playing indoor soccer on a Thursday.
The other day I was reading an interview with the Crokes player Eoin Brosnan. He was saying how their former coach Pat O’Shea once set out the example of Nemo Rangers as the model which they should strive to emulate. He said you’d never see a Nemo man on his own whether it be in the pub, on the golf course, at the cinema or anywhere else. They were always with each other. You can see an element of that with our lads and that’s fairly amazing as our friendships don’t date back as long as those at clubs at home.
Some lads need a lot more work over the winter though but they don’t need to be named and shamed here. You only have so many years to play sport and if it’s something you truly enjoy, then you should do everything you can to maximise your time playing. There were guys this year who suffered from injury quite a bit and every time they would come back, they would pick up something else. This is the time to get the body right and recover to a fitness level that actually allows you train without picking up niggling things. Whether those fellas waste another year kicking their heals will depend on what they do in the next two months.
Everyone needs to improve though and for even those who stayed injury free, now is the time to work on things. If you were getting horsed off the ball too much, not satisfied with your fielding, kicking, speed or anything else, then get into the gym and work on preparing your body for a more vigorous assault next year.
The ageing process means you can’t go on the piss for the entire off-season and expect to cruise back into things. The body needs better maintenance as you get older and that means sleep, food, hydration and all that other jazz. Of course, I’m not a model exponent of best practice but I do try more now than I used to.
Fitter, faster, stronger is a realistic goal for everyone for 2011. I’ve basically ditched the hockey and the soccer to get the back right. Soccer may have a role to play after Christmas as I need to start building up fitness but it will be largely about gym work. I think I can have a more consistent and higher performance level by properly managing myself, something I never did in the past. So can everyone else. The build up to Christmas won’t be an excuse for slacking off either. If it takes the 1st of January to motivate you then that probably tells you a lot about where your sporting ambitions lie in the grand scheme of things.
It wasn’t like I was locked up at home during the year but the release from the stress of worrying about your fitness and the combination of the Christmas spirit made for a great cocktail. I always point to the winter of 2001 as being the best example. We lost the County Final to Ilen Rovers on the first Sunday of December and from that night in The Greyhound until the last day of December, we fairly let rip.
Of course, it wasn’t total abuse as I was playing Hockey with U.C.C. and you would have the Intervarsities and early round of the Irish Senior Cup to keep you focused. What it meant was instead of training or playing nearly every day you would have more time on your hands and we used it well.
I’d hit the turn of the year raring for action again. I wouldn’t have been winter trainings biggest fan but I was fanatical about the whole thing in general so that got me by. I coined the motto ‘fitter, faster, stronger’ to represent my New Year’s resolution a few years ago. It sounded great but I never had time to work on those elements in the isolation they needed. Hockey was a constant at that time of year, football would come into the equation in January and then Hurling would start kicking in by February. There simply wasn’t enough time to get into the gym and work on other things.
I’ve a different perspective nowadays though. It’s really been hitting home in the last couple of years that the body is struggling a bit more. The back fecked up a fair chunk of this year and some corrective action will be required next year. I’m beginning to learn that short term solutions like nurofen aren’t a great option!! I picked up some new insoles on Wednesday and I’m hoping they will set me on the right road.
It is good to see lads are trying to stay active during the winter and keep in some shape. There’s a gang of fellas playing Squash on Wednesday nights and another lash of us playing indoor soccer on a Thursday.
The other day I was reading an interview with the Crokes player Eoin Brosnan. He was saying how their former coach Pat O’Shea once set out the example of Nemo Rangers as the model which they should strive to emulate. He said you’d never see a Nemo man on his own whether it be in the pub, on the golf course, at the cinema or anywhere else. They were always with each other. You can see an element of that with our lads and that’s fairly amazing as our friendships don’t date back as long as those at clubs at home.
Some lads need a lot more work over the winter though but they don’t need to be named and shamed here. You only have so many years to play sport and if it’s something you truly enjoy, then you should do everything you can to maximise your time playing. There were guys this year who suffered from injury quite a bit and every time they would come back, they would pick up something else. This is the time to get the body right and recover to a fitness level that actually allows you train without picking up niggling things. Whether those fellas waste another year kicking their heals will depend on what they do in the next two months.
Everyone needs to improve though and for even those who stayed injury free, now is the time to work on things. If you were getting horsed off the ball too much, not satisfied with your fielding, kicking, speed or anything else, then get into the gym and work on preparing your body for a more vigorous assault next year.
The ageing process means you can’t go on the piss for the entire off-season and expect to cruise back into things. The body needs better maintenance as you get older and that means sleep, food, hydration and all that other jazz. Of course, I’m not a model exponent of best practice but I do try more now than I used to.
Fitter, faster, stronger is a realistic goal for everyone for 2011. I’ve basically ditched the hockey and the soccer to get the back right. Soccer may have a role to play after Christmas as I need to start building up fitness but it will be largely about gym work. I think I can have a more consistent and higher performance level by properly managing myself, something I never did in the past. So can everyone else. The build up to Christmas won’t be an excuse for slacking off either. If it takes the 1st of January to motivate you then that probably tells you a lot about where your sporting ambitions lie in the grand scheme of things.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Stockholm Convention
I was trying to explain to a colleague why I was in Stockholm at the weekend. Not long into the explanation, I noted the strange look on her face. I think she thought I was describing some sort of cult meeting. I suppose the G.A.A. is a cult of sort and annual convention the mother of it all. Many people descended on the Swedish city for the event this weekend whilst many others were left at home due to the current weather blitz sweeping Europe.
I'd be fairly cynical about this kind of stuff. Committee's wouldn't be my thing and I'd view most who sit on them with suspicion. Of course it is a largely non-sensical viewpoint but I make myself contend by being able to acknowledge this point whilst continuing to thread warily. Despite my views, I did sit on the 2010 committee as Coaching Officer. I don't feel I did the role justice though and achieved enough so I decided to remove myself from the position for 2011 - part of the ongoing strategy to involve myself less on all activities not directly related to playing!
Anyway, back to the Convention which was impeccably hosted and beamed live around the world by the Stockholm Gaels club. Born just last February, they claimed the Scandinavian Championship at it's first attempt and had the balls to send themselves straight into the Championship section of the Pan-Euros. One of their lads, Colin Courtney actually played with us last year up in Copenhagen. He's a great buddy of Conor O'Brien, a friend of mine from Kinsale.
They look like they run an extremely well organised, innovative set-up and are an example to us all. Of course they are still young and haven't yet had the opportunity to have the history of fallings in and outs that other clubs would have. However, early indications suggest they are well ahead of schedule and coming fast.
The speeches and motions and elections are the core activities on the weekend agenda but what I enjoyed most was meeting & talking to the people. It's the only occasion to talk to different clubs when the days activity isn't lurking in the background like an elephant. Everyone is more at ease and focussed on the bigger picture and happy to share and listen to stories.
Each person has an inspiring and motivating tale to tell. Anna-Marie from Rennes and her thousands of kids learning the game of football. Eddie from Toulouse and the Norwegian secondary school teacher getting hurling up and running. You have the Hungarian Adam and his committed group of locals pucking ball around. Trevor down in Zurich with his battalion of Swiss. And about an hour from him you have the unit of Irish teachers teaching their boarding school pupils the ancient game! Their representative at the weekend was a guy called Brian, a best buddy of Lorcan who knocks around the scene here, Sound man and the kind of fella with the enthusiasm to make you pick up a hurley. It's because of guys like this that we continue to grow in Europe.
It's incredible the underage work going on, often because of one adult’s desire to have their child grow up intertwined with their Irish roots as best as possible. This whole identity thing and the G.A.A. is a phenomenon which is hard to explain. Irish people are so proud of where they are from and the G.A.A. is no doubt a big factor in that psyche. It gave all our towns and villages an identity and often launched our place into the wider domain. How many people knew Newtownshandrum existed until the O'Connor brothers and their father marched up the steps of the Hogan. In Europe, it is undoubtedly the #1 vehicle for which to express it.
It wasn't all sweet talking up there though. Jesus, the politics. I asked Keary how he can sleep at night being involved in this disgusting occupation! Fellas working the floor, buying pints, shaking hands, patting backs and selling themselves. All we were missing was a lorry load of babies to be kissing. I had a long chat with a lad from one club. We were agreed on the horrible nature of the whole thing but when we finished the conversation he asked me to vote for their nominee! We laughed though as he was embarrassed to have to ask and clearly wasn't comfortable doing it.
The weekend was refreshing and invigorating. It heightened my 'fear' though. The one which relates to the placing of Belgium G.A.A. in the grand scheme of things. In many ways, so much comes so easy to our club members. Most have arrived to a well structured club and maybe operate in the comfort zone. Financially we are far from rich but have some security. On the field, we have an abundance of players and can be happy with our recent successes. How can we push on though? I see all the work being done elsewhere, the drive, the enthusiasm and know that unless we can continue to be creative and ambitious, that we may fall behind. We ask a huge amount of our players in Europe from a travel/cost point of view. We must find ways to keep them motivated and keep the club to the forefront.
I forgot to mention the highlight. 3am in an Irish bar in Stockholm and Joe McDonagh, former President of the G.A.A. takes to the stage and sings The Wests Awake. Chest beating stuff.
I'd be fairly cynical about this kind of stuff. Committee's wouldn't be my thing and I'd view most who sit on them with suspicion. Of course it is a largely non-sensical viewpoint but I make myself contend by being able to acknowledge this point whilst continuing to thread warily. Despite my views, I did sit on the 2010 committee as Coaching Officer. I don't feel I did the role justice though and achieved enough so I decided to remove myself from the position for 2011 - part of the ongoing strategy to involve myself less on all activities not directly related to playing!
Anyway, back to the Convention which was impeccably hosted and beamed live around the world by the Stockholm Gaels club. Born just last February, they claimed the Scandinavian Championship at it's first attempt and had the balls to send themselves straight into the Championship section of the Pan-Euros. One of their lads, Colin Courtney actually played with us last year up in Copenhagen. He's a great buddy of Conor O'Brien, a friend of mine from Kinsale.
They look like they run an extremely well organised, innovative set-up and are an example to us all. Of course they are still young and haven't yet had the opportunity to have the history of fallings in and outs that other clubs would have. However, early indications suggest they are well ahead of schedule and coming fast.
The speeches and motions and elections are the core activities on the weekend agenda but what I enjoyed most was meeting & talking to the people. It's the only occasion to talk to different clubs when the days activity isn't lurking in the background like an elephant. Everyone is more at ease and focussed on the bigger picture and happy to share and listen to stories.
Each person has an inspiring and motivating tale to tell. Anna-Marie from Rennes and her thousands of kids learning the game of football. Eddie from Toulouse and the Norwegian secondary school teacher getting hurling up and running. You have the Hungarian Adam and his committed group of locals pucking ball around. Trevor down in Zurich with his battalion of Swiss. And about an hour from him you have the unit of Irish teachers teaching their boarding school pupils the ancient game! Their representative at the weekend was a guy called Brian, a best buddy of Lorcan who knocks around the scene here, Sound man and the kind of fella with the enthusiasm to make you pick up a hurley. It's because of guys like this that we continue to grow in Europe.
It's incredible the underage work going on, often because of one adult’s desire to have their child grow up intertwined with their Irish roots as best as possible. This whole identity thing and the G.A.A. is a phenomenon which is hard to explain. Irish people are so proud of where they are from and the G.A.A. is no doubt a big factor in that psyche. It gave all our towns and villages an identity and often launched our place into the wider domain. How many people knew Newtownshandrum existed until the O'Connor brothers and their father marched up the steps of the Hogan. In Europe, it is undoubtedly the #1 vehicle for which to express it.
It wasn't all sweet talking up there though. Jesus, the politics. I asked Keary how he can sleep at night being involved in this disgusting occupation! Fellas working the floor, buying pints, shaking hands, patting backs and selling themselves. All we were missing was a lorry load of babies to be kissing. I had a long chat with a lad from one club. We were agreed on the horrible nature of the whole thing but when we finished the conversation he asked me to vote for their nominee! We laughed though as he was embarrassed to have to ask and clearly wasn't comfortable doing it.
The weekend was refreshing and invigorating. It heightened my 'fear' though. The one which relates to the placing of Belgium G.A.A. in the grand scheme of things. In many ways, so much comes so easy to our club members. Most have arrived to a well structured club and maybe operate in the comfort zone. Financially we are far from rich but have some security. On the field, we have an abundance of players and can be happy with our recent successes. How can we push on though? I see all the work being done elsewhere, the drive, the enthusiasm and know that unless we can continue to be creative and ambitious, that we may fall behind. We ask a huge amount of our players in Europe from a travel/cost point of view. We must find ways to keep them motivated and keep the club to the forefront.
I forgot to mention the highlight. 3am in an Irish bar in Stockholm and Joe McDonagh, former President of the G.A.A. takes to the stage and sings The Wests Awake. Chest beating stuff.
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