Re: Offaly Minor Football Team Named
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 10:46 pm
Lone Shark makes a valid point about the level of work being done by the clubs in preparing the players with the skills of the game.
I think that this is a major issue and that more emphasis at u13 should be on game time for players and skills, and conditioning basics. I know guys out there "coaching teams" who won't play challenge matches without their strongest team available to them, giving guys minimal game time, playing them in the same position, and cant wait for u13 so that 3 or 4 core lads can dominate the game down the middle.
Looking at the game the other night, I have to say that the use of the ball, (albeit in poor conditions) was pretty poor. Passes going to ground or generally putting the receiver under pressure and thus allowing Meath to double up.
What you couldn't fault was effort by most of the team, but there are a few on the team who maybe don't put in the hard tackles, and there is definitely a shortage of scoring forwards out there at this age.
What am I saying, well, Management set up in a certain way and were 2 pts down with 7 mins to go, they were close to winning a penalty which would have levelled the game, (borderline whether player was in the square)…...and played the game to the best advantage. Circumstances can dictate how you go about a game and I admire the management in taking an approach that nearly produced a result.
The point is, many are talking about the fantastic work that is going on in Meath underage and senior level and we have pushed them close the last 2 years at minor and came close on Sunday.
I'm sick to the bollix listening to tradition and how "the Offaly way" should be played and am happy that management have worked to adapt and get the best from what they have. It's not perfect by any means but I like the work that is being done and we are moving in the right direction.
This however needs to filter out across the club scene, and will do if clubs insist on coaches making more effort to educate themselves.
I think that this is a major issue and that more emphasis at u13 should be on game time for players and skills, and conditioning basics. I know guys out there "coaching teams" who won't play challenge matches without their strongest team available to them, giving guys minimal game time, playing them in the same position, and cant wait for u13 so that 3 or 4 core lads can dominate the game down the middle.
Looking at the game the other night, I have to say that the use of the ball, (albeit in poor conditions) was pretty poor. Passes going to ground or generally putting the receiver under pressure and thus allowing Meath to double up.
What you couldn't fault was effort by most of the team, but there are a few on the team who maybe don't put in the hard tackles, and there is definitely a shortage of scoring forwards out there at this age.
What am I saying, well, Management set up in a certain way and were 2 pts down with 7 mins to go, they were close to winning a penalty which would have levelled the game, (borderline whether player was in the square)…...and played the game to the best advantage. Circumstances can dictate how you go about a game and I admire the management in taking an approach that nearly produced a result.
The point is, many are talking about the fantastic work that is going on in Meath underage and senior level and we have pushed them close the last 2 years at minor and came close on Sunday.
I'm sick to the bollix listening to tradition and how "the Offaly way" should be played and am happy that management have worked to adapt and get the best from what they have. It's not perfect by any means but I like the work that is being done and we are moving in the right direction.
This however needs to filter out across the club scene, and will do if clubs insist on coaches making more effort to educate themselves.