A Connacht GAA Coaching Conference is taking place on Saturday.
By Cian O'Connell
Connacht GAA is hosting a coaching conference focusing on a game based approach to training this Saturday, February 4.
Cathal Cregg, Connacht GAA Games and Coaching Manager, and the highly regarded Lavin brothers - Stephen, Peter, and David - from Limerick will deliver workshops.
The sold out event at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome will afford coaches an opportunity to monitor innovative approaches according to Cregg.
"The games based approach is something that has become popular over the last number of years, but there is a small bit of a misunderstanding about what exactly it is," the former Roscommon forward says.
"Some coaches feel that if they are just playing games, they are implementing a games based approach. Really there is more to it than that. There are some major components to it.
"The first one is the design and manipulation of games. The second one is the use of questioning - how you draw information from players, how you get dialogue from groups of players, how you build a socio moral environment, so they enjoy it."
Cregg highlights the importance of making players part of the learning process. "Really the whole concept behind it is that we are getting away from the traditional drill to game when you're doing running and drills and finishing up your training session with a game," he adds.
"It is really about making players part of the learning process. They enjoy playing games and you're trying to get them to be part of the learning."
Connacht GAA Coaching and Games Manager Cathal Cregg. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
A real thirst for coaching knowledge exists and Cregg is hopeful that similar events will be organised in the future. "It sold out at the start of the week, we probably expected it would because from early doors there was a big uptake on the tickets," Cregg responds.
"So, it is great and this is an add on because lots of counties are running workshops and conferences themselves - they are well attended too.
"This is something we are hoping to do a lot more of in the Dome in the coming years."
The Lavin brothers, heavily involved in Limerick football, have significant coaching experience at every level.
"It is great to have the Lavins involved," Cregg says. "They have a huge wealth of knowledge and experience around implementing the games based approach in a practical setting.
"They would have trained up originally under Paul Kinnerk with the Limerick Football Academy which they still run.
"They coach in schools and at adult club level over a long number of years. Myself and others would have done various bits of research on games based approaches and implemented it to a certain degree, but the Lavins have been implementing it on the grass for many years.
"It is great to be able to combine all of that. At the weekend all of the coaches will see how it is implemented in both football and hurling sessions."