jimbob17 wrote:It might seem like an unusual topic name but this area I feel is probably the single most important issue within Offaly GAA. What direction are we taking and what do we need to do. Where can we improve? There has been lot of negativity over years, much posted on here. All said and done, we now have state of art training facility, albeit driven from people outside the county board. There is lot of negativity very often but I've yet to see real good quality debate on what is good or not and where specifically can we improve and who are the people in the county that could take up there? Too often people come on and just have a moan and b1tch.
My intention is that this is a constructive debate! So I just want to ask some questions!
Football first.
Where are we? Are doing the right things? If so what? If not where can we improve? What do we need to do? Who are the people that can help get us up the ladder? What is the good stuff going on in clubs / underage / schools? Where or how can this be improved?
Same questions for hurling!
Football: the up, I hope. New manager, plenty of time to have trial games. We have some quality players. Good u21 team from this year. Decent prospects. Positives aplenty.
Basics. A bit more emphasis on fitnes, nutrition and stretching at a younger age(u8 up). Basic strength work(u10 up)e.g. Body weight squats, plank, etc. More emphasis on skills, technique. Kicking off of either foot, handpassing off either hand. The earlier one starts, the easier it becomes.
Schools: tricky one. Primary: teachers need to take a more hands on approach. Having lads from the club coming to train a school is unacceptable. Obviously some schools have great teachers. Notably in Rhode's parish. A man with unwavering enthusiasm to help nurture and develop footballers to enrich its club successes.
Post Primary: a bit harder. Not all players go to school in Offaly. Tubber, Clara to Moate or Kilbeggan. Bracknagh, Clonbullogue, Walsh Island to Rathangan. West Offaly to Athlone? Ballinasloe?
Hurling:I'll wait in the long grass to see what comes of the report, if the parties get talking again, or if the report is gathering dust on a shelf, somewhere in Tullamore with Duignan and Flanagan's ones respectively.