GAA clubs need to put a stop to these “academies” and “little blues” and “little ballymac” asking for 4 year olds now to go down to organised training!! It’s insane and goes against all sorts of normal development both motor and neurobiological. They get enough at school. You are not qualified enough to be doing these sessions, I know that for an absolute fact. Because the GAA isn’t qualified for it. The GAA doesn’t deliver any course of scientific reliability for people dealing with small children like this. In fact just doing it shows there is a lack of expertise involved. The answer is not to do it. Usually what it’s for is to get ahead of the local soccer or rugby club. Or as a money maker. But let those sports at it. They are ensuring that some kids are turned off those sports early. My biggest concern is that some kids will be turned off organised sport and maybe even exercise for life. This is happening years. I’m still hearing of coaches roaring at 5/6/7 year olds to “get stuck in” and “pull hard” and all this other adult led bullshit. Especially prevalent in hurling. You are doing more damage than good, take a step back and think logically. I’m not a nostalgic but I do believe in organic development. When we were growing up we started getting some bit formal around 8/9 in school. But really u12 was the first competition or formal team. It flowed well. It was obviously what fitted well for us as kids. And while the horse has bolted and clubs now operate with younger kids and some of it is good, going down below 7 is madness. For me this early race to the bottom has an awful lot to do with early drop out. Kids get sick of what being told to do everywhere, so they move away from it. If you think you are in competition for members, it would be a good idea to step away and go do something else. It’s not for you, you have the wrong motives

This is your annual reminder that the vast majority of humans are not built for marathons, should never do them and the training is arguably shortening your life. At least if you choose do it in the normally emotive north-west European way with our general north-west European genetics. Training prep has got mildly better I would admit over last 5 years but I still meet many people in absolute bits and of little use to their families and themselves where general life productivity drops. In Ireland has become a method of fund raising for some charities, some less on moral foundations than others (in some cases you are just contributing to the CEO’s salary). There are other ways to generate money for meaningful causes without hurting yourself. People suited to it? East Africans and certain long legged European (and other) descendants. People who generally have really long ankle ligaments who produce more power easier, added to light frame and long strides. People running from a very young age , especially Cross Country runners and similar. Built up over 20-30 years yes humans are very capable of adjusting to volume efficiently. Some very particular aerobic animals that played field sports all their lives (but they still need a few years adjustment to linear running load). But they are rare, for all the teams I’ve coached and players met I’d say it’s 1 per team overall. Anyone who has come to me “fresh” to train for a marathon (usually it’s within 3-9 months away) I tell them to think 5 years. Only 1 ever took that advice. However it just might make some people think.

Love this part of Zlatans story. Would he have “made it” anyway without TWD? Most likely. Would he have been as unusual and hard to play against? Unlikely. Donor sports and multi sport approach is a massive tool for the best players to be even better and the rest of us for health and sheer enjoyment. This month alone I’ve heard 4 stories of Cork City FC, PBC Rugby , Cork LGFA & Cork GAA coaches telling kids to give up other sports as young as 13. Often the message is “ you need more of our sport to be better at our sport”. That’s not really true, and certainly isn’t a good idea at all until well post puberty. Telling a girl to give up basketball to play more Gaelic football is not only morally questionable, it’s actually athletically quite stupid, as 1 example. Not to mention the fact that only 2-3% of even players who make rep teams will “make it” but many coaches selfishly steal from their youth with empty promises. That’s just my neck of the woods. It happens everywhere in Ireland in a race to the bottom. What’s more frustrating and bemusing is there is qualified people in many of these organisations who actually know better. In fact in some cases have publicly expressed this knowledge. Parents and local clubs need to be really aware of all this nonsense and being sold a pup.