Just looking for people's opinions on whether club managers are going to far in terms of the amount of commitment they are looking off players. I have heard of clubs asking players to commit to 4 or 5 sessions a week since December, lads doing personalised weights sessions, early Sunday morning sessions etc.

My own opinion is that managers are going way over board but are being pressurised into this level of professionalism when they see the results Dublin got last year for example. Some players will love this but I think it will turn others off the game. Clubs are probably training to a level county teams were at only 5 years ago.
It could even be ego from some managers, they get a few coaching certificates and suddenly they think they're Vince Lombardy. Players will be slow to question these methods for fear of being dropped and they don't have anyone standing up for them. Club committees either don't know what's being asked of players or else they too are hungry for success and think this is the way to get it.

I am specifically talking about club training here. County training is a different matter because you could argue players get some payback from that, be it prestige, honour, glory etc. Their work circumstances would be more likely to be tailored or accepted because of their standing.

GoalsWinGames (Meath) - Posts: 322 - 06/02/2012 12:22:55    1106395

There is no doubt about what your saying is 100% correct. However, this is the way football is going. Read an article from Sean Cavanagh recently who said that its changed so much that teams have no alternative at this stage to go flat out, otherwise they will be left behind. its a sad reality in football which is spreading to clubs.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 06/02/2012 12:37:20    1106413

There was a similar thread a few weeks ago... in my opinion club football has gone too far in terms of professionalism however the recession has brought some clubs down to earth and many clubs are now going for internal managers instead of paying big bucks to outsiders, the penny has yet to drop with some clubs and it will be another year or two before they realise that it is not sustainable to pay a manager 100 euro a night, add in flood lights etc. and a training session is costing some clubs over 150 euro a night!!

I think the biggest problem from a players point of view is the length of the playing season... the division 4 league started yesterday and the minor league starts next weekend. There is going to be something like 15 rounds in Div 4 of the A-league, add in Junior Championship + Tailteann Cup and that is a serious amount of games. I think all competions should be streamlined with less league and championship matches... the leagues could start at the beginning of March instead of Feb and training should start at the beginning of Feb instead of Jan.

I think we need to make all championship grades more competitive; 4 groups of 4 in the SFC with each team getting three very competitive matches - top 2 straight into quarter finals and all grades should be run on a similar basis. Perhaps 6 A-league divisions with 8 teams in each division, each team gets 7 games. A 10-11 month season is tough on players, generally young lads enjoy the long season for the first 3-4 years but then they get sick of it dictating their life and a lot of players end up giving up.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 06/02/2012 12:45:11    1106419

Agree with you thunderstruck about your ideas on the championship-pure common sense really-but none of that will happen. Changes were voted on a week ago that will see the championships messed about with until 2014 until senior, intermediate and junior have 18 teams, more non-competitive championship matches and prolonged league system. Another stupid idea by County Board that was passed by the clubs.

mawmouther (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 06/02/2012 13:41:35    1106489

mawmouther; ye the county board are not helping the situation there was always 16 teams in the SFC but then they caused that farciacal situation between Rathkenny and Walterstown a few years ago and no one got relegated...which kept both clubs happy and was the easy way out for the Co. Board. 16 teams is the max amount of teams that should be in the SFC because there isnt enough decent club teams in Meath to justify having any more... in fact there are 3-4 teams in the senior now who are very average.

Fitness has become the main component of all training sessions with little emphasis on the basic skills... it amazes me the amount of time in training sessions that involves fitness work and not the ball; yet it will nearly always be poor kicking/shooting etc. that decides the outcome of a match. A lot of clubs also need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, they are looking at the short-term and paying big money to trainers in search of instant success, it would make more sense to try and develop a good underage structure within the club so in 5-10 years there will be a constant trickle of good young players coming into their first team... it is handy enough to get players to put in a big push for a year or two but for longterm success clubs need to be looking to improve their underage structure, Moynalveys IFC winning team last year included 4 Meath minors and there is plenty of other good players at different levels, the likes of Rathkenny are also steadily improving at underage level and neither of these clubs have massive picks.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 06/02/2012 14:42:11    1106562

A lot of managers are on a "per session fee", therefore it is only natural that these will start training earlier and do more sessions to earn more money, clubs paying 100 euro a night need to have a reality check

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1514 - 06/02/2012 15:25:10    1106619

It needs to be legislated for and some kind of record of training session dates per grade should be required paperwork for clubs to submit to the board. It's more common with senior clubs but town clubs with a certain amount of disposable income might invest that into overambitious coaching set-ups. Club players need to be protected from burn-out but more importantly you're supposed to enjoy playing a bit of ball during the week.

As for intercounty teams, I really feel that has to be legislated for aswell. You could justify perhaps four training sessions a week but the early morning training that Dublin employed last season should not be permitted. This is a sport played by amatuers too.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 06/02/2012 15:39:58    1106636

I agree its a sport played by amatuers but you either want it or you dont, and if you are only prepared to train twice a week well play at a lower division. I mean lets be honest training 4 times a week isnt a lot. To be healthy & actice the recommended training load is 3 times a week. Thunderstruck in all honest any coach/strenght & conditioning coach worth there salt should be incorporating ball work into there fittness right from the word go be it hurling or football and likewise for our under age as well. I really feel that a strict calendar should be put in place with regard to games so players know where they stand from the start of the year and can plan ahead. This can be hard on players/coaches/managers with young families who sacrifice a lot of time. I also feel a two week break would be a good idea where players can take a holiday, after all we should never under estimate the importance of rest and recovery

Euroman (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 07/02/2012 10:14:00    1107104

Yes its a disgrace that some teams would go and put in a bigger effort than others, and push themselves to the peak of their physical potential, this isn't fair on the guys who don't bother. No team should be allowed to take an advantage like this. Ollie99 is correct, it should be regulated, teams should be only allowed train twice a week and only allowed to do old school style training of 20 laps of the pairc, and they definatelly shouldnt be doing their own extra training to give them an edge on other players. Maybe it could even be taken a step further and every player should be tested to make sure they are not exceeding a recommended fitness level designated by the county board.

Lebowski (Meath) - Posts: 363 - 07/02/2012 11:34:22    1107167

Driving into Dublin this morning at 7.15 i noted the lights on the alfie byrne road where dublin train. I said I'd swing around. there was about 7 people training and they were kids - u12-u14 age at most. The world has gone mad. The idea is as orignal as goalkeeprs taking long range frees and blanket defences. I wish coaches showed more originality

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 354 - 07/02/2012 12:22:12    1107204

I have heard rumours that certain clubs at under 14 are trying out strength & conditioning training! This is crazy and GAA HQ should be stepping in and trying to put stop to this.

toon (Meath) - Posts: 247 - 07/02/2012 14:51:30    1107329

I don't think the GAA or clubs can stop these coaches from early morning and strenght and conditioning. I agree they should but at the end of the day some coaches are simply living out their dreams. They all think that they are running intercounty teams, that they are some sort of genius, a brian cody or Pat gilroy. its all a bit sad. a big bit sad

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 354 - 07/02/2012 15:00:30    1107343

Maddnes with regard to underage training at that hour of the morning but fully understandable with regard to the Dublin sen team training that early.

Euroman (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 07/02/2012 15:23:31    1107360

why shouldn't they be trying out strength and conditioning once it doesn't come at the cost of learning the basic skills etc?

Rags_2_Royal (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 07/02/2012 16:14:51    1107413

If its done right I have no problem with that as it will give them good foundations/techniques for later years.

Euroman (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 07/02/2012 16:23:59    1107417

My God some of you people would be absolutely horrified by what goes on in countries like Australia and America, why is excellence and determination looked on in as a bad thing? S&C should be taught to young children in PE, it can help to improve posture and stop people developing imbalances. No wonder we're so far behind these Nations. God forbid somebody gets competitive and is willing to work hard to achieve something. It's a hell of a lot sweeter when the hard graft is done too.

shldrs2thewheel (Meath) - Posts: 200 - 07/02/2012 19:04:28    1107525

Shoulder- Most people will agree that that S&C is generally a good thing as it pushing yourself in order to achieve your goals. I just hope it is being done correctly when your talking about 13 & 14 year olds.
What's you opinion on having club players out 5 times a week during December & January? What's your opinion on 6am starts?

GoalsWinGames (Meath) - Posts: 322 - 08/02/2012 10:32:09    1107702

I am currently unemployed myself and am actually quite enjoying the heavy training schedule my club manager has imposed, fair enough each session can be close to torture but seeing as im out of work boredom is a big factor and therefore i look forward to most sessions/matches. I know this is certainly not the case with some of my team mates who are employed or in college and are finding it extremely difficult to make 3/4 sessions a week. Its very hard to keep everyone happy

Crawley_JuniorD (Meath) - Posts: 211 - 08/02/2012 21:34:52    1108219

Are club teams actually going out 5 times a week? The odd early morning session isn't that bad imo, but I'd be surprised if club teams are out this often, county teams would struggle to get that many sessions in. But yeah definitely quality over quantity!

shldrs2thewheel (Meath) - Posts: 200 - 08/02/2012 21:52:16    1108248