GAA National Coaching Conference 2004
From Theory to Practice
Niall M. Moyna
Faculty of Science and Health
Dublin City University
Gaelic Football
Playing Patterns
What can we learn?
Fouls
Total, Personal and Technical
Personal
43
Technical
7
16%
36
84%
Fouls
First and Second Half
First Half
25
First Half
Second Half
20
15
21
49%
22
52%
10
Second Half
5
4
19%
17
81%
0
3
14%
19
86%
Personal
Technical
Kick-Out
Outcome
100%
100
80
60
52.5%
39.7%
40
20
0
43
Total
7.9%
23
17
Won
Lost
3
Other
Kick-Out
Outcome
24
20
23
52%
Total
Clean
16
12
8
Break
17
40%
Other
13
30%
12
28%
10
22%
4
5
12%
0
Won
Lost
3
8%
Other
Scoring Opportunities
Open Play vs. Free Kicks
Percentage
100
100%
80
75.8%
60
40
56.5
20
28
42.8
21.4
20.4%
2.2%
11.5
6
0
Total
Open Play
Frees
2.2
Other
Percent
Number
Scoring Opportunities
Open Play
80
60
Scores
50
Others
58%
40
Percentage
30
42%
20
60
10
0
40
76%
42.8
39%
20
31%
15%
0
12%
3%
Total
Goal
Point
Wide
Block Short
Rebound
Scoring Opportunities
< 2 Passes
< 2 passes
>2 passes
59.4%
40.6%
Scoring Opportunities
< 3 Passes
< 3 passes
>3 passes
30.6%
69.4%
Scoring Opportunities
< 4 Passes
< 4 passes
>4 passes
19.5%
80.5%
Underage GAA
What is the best Approach?
Participation in Sport Among Children
Determinants
•
To have fun – principle reason cited by boys and girls
for participating in school sport and non-school sport
•
Lack of fun and lack of perceived competence are
the major reasons cited for drop-out after the age of 12
•
A critical task for coaches is to discover ways of promoting
enjoyment and enhancing children’s perceived
competence
GAA Coaches are Experts
Want Evidence!
Studies on Young GAA Players!
Is there any Evidence?
• Other approaches work
• Is there a formula to insure that all children get equal
access, and meaningful playing time?
• Inceased levels of enjoyment
• Increased perceived competence
• More ball contacts
• Physically demanding for all children
Proof
Where do we Start?
Got to start somewhere!
15 a-side vs. 7 a-side
Study
Questions
1.
Will U-14 players have more involvement (in terms of
intentional ball contacts) during a 7 a-side than a15 aside game?
2.
Will the levels of enjoyment and perceived competence
be greater or less in U-14 players during a 7 a-side
than a 15 a-side game?
3.
Will a 7 a-side game be more challenging than an 15
a-side game in terms of the hard the players have to
work?
Research Design
Overview
• IRB approval and meeting with parents
• Visit to the Human Performance Laboratory in DCU - Ht,
Wt, BMI, 5 fat, lung capacity and aerobic fitness levels
were assessed
• 2 competitive games (15 a-side and 7 a-side) which
were videotaped
• Heart rate monitors were worn for the duration of each
game
• Heart rate data was continuously recorded and used to
determine physiological responses during each game
• Questionnaire to assess enjoyment levels and perceived
level of competence was completed following each game
Subjects
Physiological Characteristics
Variable
Mean  SD
Age (y)
14.0  0.0
Ht (cm)
172.0  2.8
Wt (kg)
64.5  10.7
BMI (kg/m2)
20.7  3.3.
%fat
15.9  6.7
VO2max (l/min)
3.5  0.4
VO2max (ml/kg/min)
56.9  4.0
Ve max (l/min)
97.6  12.0
HR max (b/min)
204.0  10.0
%VO2@VT
88.8  1.9
FVC
4.2  0.6
Field
Dimensions
15 a-side
130 metres
9620 m2
320m2/player
7 a-side
80 metres
4480 m2
Match
Analysis
Player
Micky
Micky
John
Fistpass
Handpass
Footpass
Punt
Pick-up
High catch
Chest catch
Low catch
Foul com
Foul won
Intercept
foot
Intercept
hand
Event
Solo hop
Solo tap
Shot score
Score
Shot
Fisted Shot
Won Clean
Break Won
Turnover
Break Lost
Point
Point
Goal
Outcome
Technical
Personal
Study
Results
Heart Rate
Response
Heart Rate
190
% Max HR
90
15 a-side
7 a-side
15 a-side
7 a-side
*
180
85
170
80
160
75
150
70
*
Match Analysis
Chest, Low and High Catch
*
Total Number
60
55
50
*
40
31
*
30
21
20
37
3
21
10
0
11
Total
Chest
Low
5
High
7-a-side
15-a-side
Match Analysis
Scoring Attempts
20
24
19
*
16
19
12
Number
Total Number
20
7 a-side
15 a-side
16
15 a-side (6)
12
8
4
12
3
0
8
8
5
4
3
3
0
Total
3
1
0
2
0
0
3
Player
1
2
4
0
0
5
0
6
7 a-side
15 a-side
Match Analysis
Enjoyment
20
15 a-side
7 a-side
Number
19
18
17
16
15
Match Analysis
Perceived Competence
17
15 a-side
7 a-side
Number
16
15
14
13
Study
Summary
1. There was a greater number of catches, passes, pickups and scoring attempts in the 7 a-side than a 15 aside games
2. Levels of enjoyment and perceived competence were
higher during the 7 a-side than the 15 a-side game
3. The players worked harder during the 7 a-side than the
15 a-side game
Underage Coaching - Specialization