Coaching Corner

Articles and resources

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Early Years Football Games, Tips and Clips [158MB]
A booklet of early years Football games, tips and clips for coaches of nursery and Go-Games groups. It features over 40 games, coaching cues and tips, questions and progressions.
Well! Kids Coaches Resources [43,435KB]
A 70 page resource produced by Waterford GAA with a massive range of coaching ideas for football and hurling.
Sample under 6 training session - Week 1 [136KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 2 [138KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 3 [109KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 4 [134KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 5 [133KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 6 [132KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 7 [134KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 8 [135KB]
Sample under 6 training session - Week 9 [133KB]

A programme of nine weekly sessions for the under 5 / under 6 age group.
Fueling for success - Understanding sports nutrition [19,212KB]
A presentation given by sports nutritionist Ronan Doherty in Ballyshannon's Mercy Hall in November 2021. Ronan worked with the Donegal senior team for several years and shared that knowledge and experience in this presentation. Please note, this presentation may not be redistributed.
Fifty games and exercises for football [1,674KB]
This book details 50 football games and exercises. All these games and exercises are highly game related with decision-making and team-play a central element throughout. There are 20 small-sided activities, 20 game situational activities, eight full size conditioned games, one useful warm up exercise and finally some ideas for concluding your training sessions.
12 full session plans [3,151KB]
A detailed programme of 12 full sessions. Sessions can be run as they are, or coaches can mix and match ideas to tailor sessions to suit their own purposes.
Skills-based coaching for under 8s to under 13s [1,607KB]
This 90 page book features a discussion about player development for younger players and supplies a wide range of skills-based drills for football and hurling suitable for this age group.
Developing and Running a GAA Nursery section [740KB]
This 40 page booklet is a helpful resource for coaches working with the 4-7 year old age groups. It includes information on setting up the nursery and what’s needed as well as 10 games for football and 10 games for hurling. These are games which are tried and trusted and used in nurserys and schools all over the country. They will provide coaches with a few simple ideas to ensure age appropriate skills are being coached in a fun, games-based environment.
Sample under 8 sessions [724KB]
A 90 page document with a range of full session plans for under 8 training. A good starting point for building your own session plans.
Sample under 6 sessions [742KB]
A 98 page document with a range of full session plans for under 6 training. A good starting point for building your own session plans.
Summer Camp Games Book [2,079KB]
A 13 page booklet featuring ten games, suitable for all ages which will enable coaches to entertain children whilst also working on skill development.
Fifty games and exercises for football and hurling [1,753KB]
This book details 50 hurling and football games or exercises. All these games and exercises are highly game related. There are 20 small-sided activities, 20 game situational activities, eight full size conditioned games, one useful warm-up exercise and finally some ideas for concluding your training sessions. All the exercises are done in hurling format, with a brief description of what needs to be done to change it to football. The concept of the activity does not change, just a few tweaks to make it football specific.
This video features Don Lucia, coach of the University of Minnesota's ice hockey team. Here he speaks about parents and coaches in youth hockey. Every youth coach should take a leaf out of his book. As he says, "It shouldn't be win at all costs, it should be fun at all cost."
Don Lucia video on YouTube.
A life through sport [1.690MB]
An insight into the life and times of four time All-star Tony Scullion.
Core strength and conditioning for younger players [242KB]
This presentation delivered by Paul Rouse and Ryan Mellon at the 2010 Ulster Council Coaching conference in Cookstown continues the theme of Core and Strength Conditioning for under 12s, under 14s and under 16s.
Breaking and building football skills [117KB]
Presentation by John Morrison on how to build up and break down basic skills using the head, hands and feet technique at the Ulster Council Coaching Conference in Cookstown, January 2009.
Fun and Fitness [3.4MB]
Presentation by Ryan Daly and Stephen Beattie at the Ulster Council Coaching Conference in Cookstown, January 2009.
Coaching the 12 to 16 year-old age group [1.1MB]
Presentation by Diarmaid Marsden at the Ulster Council Coaching Conference in Cookstown, January 2009.
Coaching the eight to 12 year-old age group [1.2MB]
Presentation by Tony Scullion and Terence McWilliams at the Ulster Council Coaching Conference in Cookstown, January 2009.
Meaningful coaching sessions [286KB]
Stations exercises [530KB]
Improving your jumping [343KB]
Fitness with the football [58KB]
Coaching defensive play [52KB]
Games for better team play [92KB]
Kicking for scores [83KB]
Coaching the tackle [64KB]

Useful Links

The following sites provide coaching articles and information

The Armagh GAA website contains a huge video resource of information on drills and training techniques for hurling and football. You can find it at www.youtube.com/profile?user=armaghgaa#g/u.
The site also contains a full session on strength and conditioning coached by Tommy Stevenson who is regarded as the top GAA conditioning coach in the country.