Weekly News, Tips & Skills

Hi all,

This week the drill is one for Under 10’s.

Striking from the Hand
This is the most common method of passing the sliotar or shooting for a score in Hurling. It is important that players are taught to strike from the dominant and non-dominant side from an early age.

There are a few stages to completing striking from the hand effetely and it will take a few weeks before the child perfects the skill but it is important that you focus on the main teaching points –

1. Toss the sliotar from the cupped hand up to shoulder height. Keep your eye on the ball.
2. Slide the non-dominant hand into the Lock Position, bending the elbows to raise the Hurley.
3. Step forward with the lead foot and swing the hurley downward. Strike the sliotar at knee height.
4. Step forward with the opposite foot to follow through and finish of the strike.

Take a look at the videos below for examples of drills and also the last video on how to correct common errors.

Striking From the Hand Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2X14Y9fgPU

Striking From the Hand Fun Drill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMeEDPUCpXM&spfreload=1

Common Errors –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93DPGnN0Uk

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in South Kerry.

Hi all,

The posts for the next few weeks will focus on drills that you can incorporate into your sessions to work on the main skills needed to play at this age group.

We will start this week with Under-8’s.

Children of all ages want to play matches and it is probably the first question that you will be asked the very second you walk in the gate for training.

At Under-8 level, you want a game that will keep their attention, with very little stoppages and you will want to focus on the children using dribbling, striking and stopping a moving ball in a match situation.

Please click on the following link and watch the video.
This game will tick all the boxes in regards to the skills in mentioned above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Kw_GsIzYk

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in South Kerry.

Hi all,

This week I am going to look at the GAA Activity Planner. This is an excellent resource for anyone coaching age groups from U6 to U12.

The link below will take you to the website where all these skills are stored and you can break it down to look at specific skill for a specific age group or ability.

Simply by clicking into the drill you will get a diagram of the how it is to be performed and also in some cases there is a video too.

This is very helpful for making out a training session.

http://learning.gaa.ie/planner/

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in South Kerry.

Hi all,

The video link below shows different ideas for fun games, match situation drills and decision making games.

Using the STEP model we can help our players to develop good decision making skills. If we set up drills in straight lines it is not the same as how a player will run in a game, as they will have to move in all different directions.

This video is very informative and gives a good understanding of what conditioned games and games based drills should contain.

Please watch this video until 4 mins 35 secs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ElEpVXmB0

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in South Kerry.

Hi all,

This week I will look at the STEP
principle. This is something all coaches should think about when they are
making out a session at all levels.

STEP – When setting out
drills/fun games for your players, it is important to take STEP into
consideration.

S – Space – changing the amount of space available to the player performing
the skill. If you are starting of a drill with U/8’s, it’s important that the
space they are given is small, but as they progress the space can be increased.
As the players more proficient again, the Space can be decreased so they must
perform the skill neater without a chance of losing possession of the ball.

T -Time: changing the period of time that the drill is being performed. By
increasing the time, this will increase the physical demand on the player,
decreasing the time will require the player to be more accurate. You can also
use time as a deadline so for instance how many catch can we make in 30 secs?

E- Equipment: The equipment that you use for
each drill or skill you are demonstrating is vital to increasing the player’s
confidence. Using a sliotar with an U/8 when showing them the solo will not
help the player to gain confidence in themselves when they are doing the skill.
Be sure to make sure the player is competent with the bean bag before moving
them onto the bean ball and from the bean ball to the first touch ball and so
on. Again, if the player has become very good at it use cones for them to go
around or have them running through ladders.

P- Pressure: Introducing opposition to the person
performing the skill. This can be done progressively, firstly with a player who
does not challenge the performer for possession. Secondly, allowing the
performer to get possession and then providing opposition in the form of a
tackler. Finally, providing full opposition, the possession is contested
in a game like situation.

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in South Kerry.

Hi all,

This
week I will look at the length and weight of a players hurley, how they grip
the hurley and the most effective swing. It is very important that all players,
no matter what age they are, that they are using the correct length and
weighted hurley.

Length:
Firstly,
you should ask the player to stand up tall, looking straight ahead, with
hands by his/her side. For the player to gain the correct size hurley they
should be able to ‘shake hands’ comfortably with top of handle so, while
still looking straight ahead, the players arms extend down the sides of their
body, their baby finger on the dominant hand (writing hand) should fit in under
the notch at the top of the hurley (the butt).

Weight:
As the picture attached says, “Hurl with your club, Don’t club with your
hurl”. The weight of the hurley is as important as the length of the hurley.
The ideal weight of a hurley can be judged by the child being able to hold the
hurley out like a sword for 20 to 30 secs. They should also be able make the
letter “X” 5 times without their hand getting tired. If the child cannot do this, their hurley is too heavy.

Gripping the Hurley:
“The ready position” should be in use at all times when players
are not interacting with the sliotar or an opponent. Coaches should constantly
highlight this position.
Please find the skill card attached that will go through all you need to
know in relation to the Ready Position.

Tips:
Some excellent hurling aids that may help you and your players improve their
swing are –

Wristband –
if every player is given a wrist band and asked to put it on their
“writing hand” then it is easy for the coach and player to identify
with what hand should be at the “Butt” of the hurley.

Line Balls – An excellent resource
for improving the ground swing. http://www.cumashurling.com/lineball.asp

Pole Trainer – Excellent for improving the childs swing
both off the hand and on the ground.
http://www.cumashurling.com/poletrainer.asp

Hope this will be helpful.

David O’Dea
Games Development Administrator for Hurling in
South Kerry.