14-15 Yr Olds

14-15 yr olds
Stage: Mid Teen’s, Youth: Learn to Compete
Technical	Football – Catching High, Low, Body Catch – Kicking Punt, Hook, Swerve kick – Hand pass Bounce, hand and fist Pass – Solo – Movement Roll, Side step, Dummy solo/Feint – Tackle Near Hand Tackle, Tackle the ball (Pop out, side to side charge, block down	Hurling – Striking from the Hand Static, On the Run, Over the Shoulder, the drop shot – Catching High Catch /Jump Catch, Chest Catch, On the bounce – Hand pass COD pass – Pick up Jab lift, Roll & spin, Foot pick up, Ground flick up – Hooking & Block – Tackling/disposing opponents
	· Improved decision making and master the essential skills in pressure situations. Using the body to protect the ball and playing with the head up · Both sides of the body especially emphasized · Should be predominately developed in a game environment
Physical	· Flexibility: Through dynamic mobility activities and static stretching at the end of the session · Speed: Multidirectional movements between 5m & 25m with recovery in between (Part of the warm / Individual work) · Strength: Body weight exercise, with a focus on core control. · Endurance: Developed through small-sided games
Tactical	Decision Making on and off the ball · Understanding the specific responsibilities of the various position through playing experience and minimal direction from the coach. · Small sided games are crucial in players developing decision making. 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 · Man, to man defense / Defending in numbers · Comfortable in possession and developing good game sense
Team Play	Appreciate the space of a full GAA pitch, using the width and depth · Attacking Play: Implement attacking principles both in possession and support play. How to create space · Maintain possession: Moving the ball as a team and understanding depth of support ie. Third man runner. · Defending: Implement and understand the principles of defending ie. Delay, Deny, Dispossess & deliver

Psycho/social	· Fair play and RESPECT for officials. · Goal setting with individuals and teams and empowerment of players within this decision making. · Decision making under pressure and being able to take feedback from coach/manager · Encourage players to start reflecting on performances and introduce visualization as a performance aid
Coaching Style	Democratic & player centered – · This coach will guide performers towards selecting and achieving their goals. · Implicit in this style is that the coach provides leadership in the form of positive guidance.
Coach Self- reflection	Reflection helps a coach to link their knowledge to practice, helping them to improve what they do and how they do it. Through self-reflection and improved awareness, the coach is able to consciously and purposefully improve their coaching practice · How did the session go and did every player improve/participate? · Was the session challenging, enjoyable and well orgainised? · Were you positive in your body language and in how you communicated throughout the session? (Reaction to error) What are the work on’s for the next session/priorities?
Player Characteristics	· Physical appearance does (Biological V Chronological) not always match maturity and there will be variance of both within groups · Will often compare themselves with others so important coaches need to ensure they can still experience success · Some will become motivated to be involved and highly competitive · Will start into growth spurts which may result in a drop in performance Be comfortable in possession, develop good game sense and adapt to challenges in the game/training
Health & performance	· What foods to eat and when (for training and competition) · Importance of adaptation (recovery) – recovery sessions (pool / cycling / feet up) · Importance of Sleep within the recovery process. · Time management
Equipment	· Football, one per 2 player, cones, Bibs, agility poles, hurdles. · Tactics Board

Recommended session structure: (75 mins)

Warm-up (GAA15 15min)

Used as a pulse raiser and part of a long-term injury prevention programme. Ensure GAA 15 principals are always used while regularly adding fun elements.

Skill Game Activity (7-10min)

Complex skills, two balls pass and moving using both feet and both hands, working on first touch and the skills on the game. Loads on movement as Kick pass must be over 15m long of both feet.

Skill game activity (15min, 7min game, 1min feedback, 7 min game)

Possession based games with the emphasis of kick passing. Team tries to keep possession using both hand and kick pass, score awarded to teams for every kick pass over 20m into space.

Small sided games Conditioning (10/12mins

Pitch size changes within the games to work on different aerobic & Anaerobic conditioning work required at different stages of the season (Pre-season & Competition)

Small sided games (20 mins)

Games should be 5 v 5, maximum 9 v 9, focus on the theme of the session. If the focus was dispossession and defending, let players know you will reward an extra point for their team upon a successful block, hook, interception.

Top Tips:

Coach: Player Ratio 1: 8
At least 1 ball for every 2 players and always make session enjoyable and fun for
Coach well organised/Planned Session
All players to make their own decisions on the pitch, use simple language and set the example by showing respect to players and match officials,
Try and let players problem solve themselves, don’t over coach