Over the past decade, gym access has increased enormously for players, athletes and keep-fit enthusiasts. It has been a welcome development in the lifestyle of footballer...
Home 
Health & Fitness Fitness
Health & Fitness Fitness
Fitness
No GYM... No PROBLEM
Over the past decade, gym access has increased enormously for players, athletes and keep-fit enthusiasts. It has been a welcome development in the lifestyle of footballer...
Gym Dos & Don'ts
DR liam hennessey gives a quick checklist on how to get the best from time spent in the Gym
DOS
Always follow a plan
Best if this is put together in conjunction with a knowl...
Slow Down To Speed Up
When people talk about footballers and hurlers, pace is often one of the key traits associated with good players. However, the ability to slow down or stop can be just as...
Less is More!
By Dr Liam Hennessey. TAPERING: Reducing training in the run-up to big games
The championship is now upon us and some coaches might have a nagging feeling that they should...
Building a Conditioning Program for field sport
One of the major problems in field sports is that athletes are conditioned in such a way that is counterproductive to what is actually required on the field of play. Wh...
Fitness Testing Guide
This guide is presented as a service to athletes, coaches, parents and exercise physiologists, who wish to evaluate their own or someone else's fitness level, or to gain ...
Page 1 of 2
GPA TV - Joe Canning
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Sports Psychology
- The Games People Play
-
Since the success of Armagh footballers in 2002, team-building techniques are now in vogue with county squads.
The latest trend sees players aping corporate executives on activity days to strengthen group bonding. Kevin Daly charts the course of this recent development.
Read more... - The Player Interview
-
Colm Ó Riagáin looks at the thorny issue of how to deal with the merciless media pack. “Right Seanie, we need you to do an interview”. What’s your first reaction? “Who? Me? No way!” Most players worry about saying the wrong thing, appearing inarticulate or, the flipside, saying too much! Here are a few tips to keep on the straight and narrow when dealing with the media.
Read more... - Psychological Focus
-
Players and coaches throughout Gaelic games have recognised the importance of addressing the mental aspects of preparation for performance. Mental skills associated with reaching your true potential can be learned in the same manner as any technical skill. Through mental skills training you can gain a competitive advantage.
Conditioning your mind is teaching your mind to think in a certain way that will allow you to perform to your true potential when you take the field. Mental conditioning involves a number of different strategies, some that take place before the game and some during the game itself. - One for all and all for One
-
Professor Aidan Moran of UCD, author of Pure Sport, Practical Sports Psychology, looks at practical ways of preparing for the big day. Colm Ó Riagáin talks to Prof of Psychology Aidan Moran about the application of sports psychology in Gaelic games and discovers that success comes in ‘cans’ and not ‘can’ts’.
Q. Applying sport psychology in a group context is a difficult concept. How does it work?
Working with teams is definitely different from working ‘one-to-one’ with players but the basic psycholgical principles remain the same. I’ve advised lots of GAA teams, including Mayo in 2004, and the main message I try to get across to them is that the purpose of psychological training is to help players to do their best when it matters most.Here’s an example. Anyone can kick a ball over the bar from 20 metres in training. But can they do it in Croke Park in front of 70,000 people when their heart is pounding and their team is a point behind with seconds to go?
Read more...