Next Generation speed (NGS) was set up in early 2011 by Mullingar locals Paul Sharry and Shane Flynn. Both Paul and Shane have spent the last three years studying under some of Ireland's top strength and conditioning coaches. These coaches possess valuable experience with top organisations including the IRFU and indeed multiple leading British and Irish rugby teams.

NGS believes in the transfer of strength and conditioning into team performances on the pitch. It takes pride in analysing the sport, the team and the individual players they are training in order to identify the specific muscular and fitness adaptations each player requires in order to perform to their maximum ability in the team. Experience has shown that one program does not fit all and therefore the necessity to individually assess every player is crucial to determine any weaknesses or compensations.

Paul strongly believes that gym programs need to be rationalised and have a precise goal. "Strength and Conditioning is becoming more important every year in the G.A.A. However with the rapid growth of teams utilising strength and conditioning it has turned more into a buzz phrase. Every team is doing something extra in the gym but is what they are doing having any transfer onto the pitch?"

Shane added to this by stating that "although Strength and Conditioning has grown in the G.A.A world it has been somewhat misconceived by coaches who think that it just involves laying out a circuit of some sort and once guys leave tired that it's great. However when you reassess these bunch of players a year or two down the line you will find that no real adaptation will have been elicited. Strength and Conditioning is a science and when there is a legitimate rationale behind exercises, repetitions and recovery athletes can experience huge gains e.g. our Dublins and Donegals"

Throughout the summer NGS hosted very successful speed/weight training camps where athletes underwent a structured program each day for 5 days and as a result they learned the correct mechanics of running and weightlifting. From the simple task of getting athletes to change the way they run all players involved in the program ran a faster 10m and 30m sprint time.

Currently NGS are working one-on-one with Kerry All star Darran O Sullivan. Indeed having completed a sample session Darran expressed his belief that NGS can make a real difference.

If you would like to contact NGS for pre-season programmes, fitness testing, functional screening etc you can do so by their Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NextGenerationSpeed or

Email: [email protected]

Check out the video below of a sample speed session with Darran o Sullivan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZftjK9gRcA&feature=plcp Tweet

Most Read Stories