Stage 2: Player Capacities (7-9 years of age)

Technical Proficiency

• Progressively refine and combine fundamental skills to Hurling/Football skills (CPKST)
• Progress the development of Hurling/Football skills in a closed environment
• From imaginary, to stationary, to while moving (walking to jogging to running).
• Perform skills of Hurling/Gaelic Football using the right and left hand side of the body i.e. bilateral coordination
• Use of age appropriate footwear, clothing and protective equipment

Tactical Prowess

• Begin to develop decision- making when on and off the ball within open patterns of game play.

Team Play & Tactical Ploys

• Become aware of basic positional role sense through modified games.
• Develop basic communication and support play skills through modified games.

Physical Fitness

• Continue to develop fundamental movement skills of Agility, Balance and Coordination (ABC) and Running and Jumping Techniques (RJ) through short games and activities.
• Develop physical ability (speed, strength power and endurance) through fun games
• Engage in basic resistance exercises using body weight activities
• Develop and maintain flexibility (mobility)

Participants Feedback

• Continued development of performance through feedback from play and from the coach
• Continued development of performance through outcomes e.g. targets, scores, numbers etc.

Psychological Focus

• Develop a positive attitude to self, others and to Gaelic games through the development of relationships with place, community and role models
• Learn to deal with success, disappointment, mistakes and/or failures through continued positive involvement
• Understand the role of practice, warm-up and cool down routine
• Develop confidence (self/team/group/class) in using a variety of skills in playing, training or school environments.
• Develop concentration and attention skills through focusing activities e.g. coach uses trigger words to focus attention
• Set basic individualised goals (identified as targets or challenges)
• Develop the ability to respond to feedback appropriately.
• Set personal goals

 Fair Play

• Develop an understanding and appreciation of the simple rules and ethics of sport
• Demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship.
• Develop a respect for order, discipline in playing and training environments.
• Demonstrate respect for peers, coaches and officials and the decisions made by them.

 Lifestyle

• Maintain an active lifestyle through further engagement with a variety of physical activities and sports
• Accept parental/guardian/coach support
• Develop good training habits by practicing at home to develop independence of involvement, particularly in relation to technical proficiency and movement flexibility
• Develop a habit of practicing good nutrition and hydration routines.

Personal

• Be open to and contribute to the enjoyment/fun
• Understand the relationship between effort and outcome
• Continue to develop teamwork, interaction and social skills

Stage 3: Player Capacities (10-11 years of age)

Technical Proficiency

• Refine and combine fundamental skills (CPKST) to Hurling/Football skill performance, increasing speed, accuracy, strength, consistency and fluency
• Further progress the development of Hurling/Football skills in a closed environment: from imaginary, to stationary, to while moving (walking to jogging to running).
• Refine the performance of the skills of Hurling/Gaelic Football using the right and left hand side of the body i.e. bilateral coordination
• Use of age appropriate footwear, clothing and protective equipment

Tactical Prowess

• Further develop decision- making when on and off the ball within open patterns of game play
  • Deciding who to pass to or who to mark
  • Choosing to perform the appropriate skill at the appropriate time

• Learn to read the play

Team Play & Tactical Ploys

• Develop a greater awareness of basic positional role sense through modified games.
• Further develop basic communication and support play skills through modified games.

Physical Fitness

• Further develop fundamental movement skills of Agility, Balance and Coordination (ABC) and Running and Jumping Techniques (RJ) through games and activities utilising more sports specific skills (Throwing, Catching, Passing, Striking and Kicking)
• Continue to develop speed, agility, power and endurance through fun games
• Continue to engage in basic resistance exercises using body weight activities and age appropriate equipment.
• Develop and maintain flexibility (mobility)
• Continue to use ABC’s to develop basic joint e.g. shoulder, core, spine and ankle mobility and stability
• Develop the routine of warming up in preparation for activity and cooling down post activity
• Get sufficient sleep for full recovery

Participants Feedback

• Further development of awareness of performance through feedback
• Further development of awareness of performance through outcomes
• Further development of awareness of performance through reflection

Psychological Focus

• Develop a positive attitude to Gaelic games through the development of relationships with place, community and role models
• Learn to deal with success, disappointment, mistakes and/or failures through continued positive involvement
• Understand the role of practice, warm-up and cool down routine
• Develop confidence (self/team/group/class) in using a variety of skills in playing, training or school environments.
• Develop concentration and attention skills through focusing activities e.g. coach uses trigger words to focus attention
• Continue to set basic individualised goals (identified as targets or challenges)
• Practice simple imagery using the senses (sight, sound, touch, smell) e.g. coach uses triggers to activate a child’s imagination
• Continue to develop the ability to respond to feedback appropriately
• Demonstrate commitment through attendance at games and coaching sessions
• Set goals and learn from success and failure

 Fair Play

• Develop an understanding, appreciation and application of simple rules and ethics of sport.
• Demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship
• Develop a respect for discipline and playing and training environments.
• Demonstrate respect for officials and decisions made by them.
• Respect the rules that the group sets for itself

 Lifestyle

• Further engagement with a variety of physical activities and sports
• Accept parental/guardian/coach support
• Further develop good training habits by practicing at home to develop independence of involvement, particularly in relation to technical proficiency and movement flexibility
• Further develop a habit of practicing good nutrition and hydration routines.

Personal

• Understand the relationship between effort and outcome
• Continue to develop teamwork, interaction and social skills

Stage 5: Player Capacities (14-15 years of age)

Technical Proficiency

• Further adaption of skill performance in response to environment
• Awareness and of skills and challenges through guidance & reflection

Tactical Prowess

• Be able to perform and alter decision making based on situational factors e.g environmental conditions (weather, facilities), opponents.

Team Play & Tactical Ploys

• Have a comprehensive knowledge and application of the principles of attack/defence
• Further develop team play skills in open competitive environment

Physical Fitness

• Continued development of functional control, stability and range of motion through the major joints
• Identify the need to taper performance in order to maximize recovery at appropriate times
• Maintain flexibility
• Maximise the opportunity for speed development

Participants Feedback

• Develop greater awareness of self performance based on internal and external feedback (including structured testing)
• Continue to inform development of skills through awareness of individual strengths and challenges (including personal style of play).

Psychological Focus

• Utilise self talk to create/maintain and enhance focus and thought control
• Dealing with distractions and self worth
• Develop long term performance and outcome goals to inform player advancement
• Utilise imagery techniques to prepare for competition, different situations/problems and performance strategies

 Fair Play & Rules

• Continue to adhere to the guidelines of the GAA Respect Initiative and Code of Behaviour
• Develop an appreciation of, and responsibility for, ones own actions and their consequences for self and team
• Continue to develop knowledge of the rules

 Lifestyle

• Utilise a training and performance diary/log to monitor and inform development
• Awareness of one’s own body limitations
• Players will have injury prevention strategies while having knowledge of injury management protocol
• Continue to increase appreciation of the link between playing and a healthy lifestyle

Personal

• Continued personal development as a support mechanism for lifelong learning
• Develop the responsibility to prepare fully for training and competition

Stage 6: Player Capacities (16-17 years of age)

Technical Proficiency

• Be able to perform the skills of Hurling/Football to an autonomous level in an open environment incorporating team mates and/or opponents.

Tactical Prowess

• Utilise event and position specific tactical preparation to further develop capacity to make appropriate decisions at the right time.

Team Play & Tactical Ploys

• Be able to alter team play/style/tactical ploys based on opponents and environmental factors as practiced in a training environment

Physical Fitness

• Physical conditioning is of a high standard with extra focus appropriate to position/unit requirements (informed by individual fitness testing and screening)
• Continued development of functional control, stability and range of motion through the major joints
• Introduction to major lifting techniques and plyometrics under supervision
• Understanding anatomical adaptation and progression

Participants Feedback

• Be able to monitor and evaluate an opponents decision making, style of play and technical ability and utilise this information to greater enable one’s own decision making process
• Utilise team and opposition playing facts to improve development and performance
• Continue to inform development of skills through awareness of individual strengths and challenges (including personal style of play).
• Be able to undertake self evaluation to maximize potential

Psychological Focus

• Utilise self talk to further create/maintain and enhance focus and thought control
• Dealing with distractions and self worth
• Establish individual performance routines and pre-competition preparation that complimentary to team preparations
• Utilise imagery techniques to prepare for competition, different situations/problems and performance strategies
• Combining personal goals with team goals

 Fair Play & Rules

• Develop an awareness of ones rights and responsibilities as a player
• Apply the rules of the game to maximise performance within a spirit of fair play and respect for all involved
• Adhere to GAA Code of Behaviour.

 Lifestyle

• Be aware of and utilise ancillary supports e.g basic performance analysis, physiotherapy to enhance individual development
• Develop an individually appropriate fuelling routine around training and competition
• Manage study, part time work, career and sport options to ensure a healthy life balance

Personal

• Integration of sport, career and life goals
• Be aware of the need to address economic and independence issues
• Understand ASAP programme and support mechanisms