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I’ve just read the names on the two benches for today’s Armagh v Derry game: Wealth of Experience v Exuberance of Youth

Show the two game shapes to your players. Yellows attacking, blues defending. Yellow marked with an X has the ball. Ask: 1. Which team is responsible for the two different game shapes? 2. Which team benefits more from shape B? Yellow should be the answer for both. Lesson?

Let your players have a go at this game…just for the craic. Each figure represents the number of seconds taken to score from the moment a team crosses into the attacking half. Four targets to reach. Times don’t have to be exact (I shouldn’t need to even say that! 🤷‍♂️).

Scenario: Your team has been attacking with little width. This has led to bunching and losing the ball before shooting. You chat with players and set up a 10-min training game. Do you let the game play out before discussing what you saw or do you stop it when you see mistakes?

Most people would let it run and I agree. The game will give you and others a chance to see if there are any signs of change without any further input. It will give players an uninterrupted spell of play where they can experiment. 10 minutes will seem long, but stick with it.

The description below is of a change made by a real player on a Div 1 county team. The solution to a habit (formed at club level) was reached after trying different approaches. This one stuck. Individual coaching can benefit a whole team. Do more of it!

Two of the main hiding places for coaches: 1 - A stream of instructions as players are active on the pitch 2 - Using the word ‘We’ when describing playing problems to the squad. 1 - Stay quiet and watch for longer. 2 - Talk with the individual(s) involved.

Most people cannot juggle three balls. Most players cannot handle three instructions.

Thursday morning thoughts

We have to find a solution. A valuable coach and player education tool is missing from the box.

Twelve bitesize coaching workshops, each 2 hours max. If there’s one on the list to suit your club, contact the official county, provincial and national bodies first. They may offer the same or something similar. If any one of them does, go for it asap. If not, get back to me.

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Some years ago, I asked a few county coaches if they were able to identify examples of adult players who had been working on specifics to improve their game.

I’m sure there are thousands of supporters, hundreds of coaches and scores of pundits who would like to see more kicking in the game. Very often it’s the target player who is the reason for a kick not being played. A 30-40m pass to a receiver only 2m from his marker is too risky.

Before a training game, a coach says to players… “In this game I want you to move the ball forward as often as you can”. A player joins the group late and asks teammates what was said… “We can only pass the ball forward.” NB Always check for understanding before you play.

If you want to encourage the skill of blocking during a training game…..

Things may not always be as we see them.

Who is slowing your game? As many as one in every three attacking opportunities is missed because someone on your team gets on the ball and slows the play for no good reason. It will often be an experienced player and nobody questions his actions. Watch for this player and act!