The Best time to begin training for the forthcoming season...opinions/experience

thunderone

Hi lads,

Happy new year to all. First post on this end of the boards and just looking for some views or advice.
I am a member/player of a small hurling club here in the Midlands, (intermediate). Like most clubs at this time of year we have just had our agm etc and now wait in anticipation of the forthcoming season. A new trainer/coach has been appointed and has decided to begin training the first week of March. He has asked players at a team get-together(puck-around) after the xmas to maintain fitness levels themselves until we start training together as a team. A dedicated fitness coach will assist him to that end.
Here is where I would like to get some views from people (players/coaches whatever etc).

Too late to begin training do you think?League begins late march..Cship in May. I know this is debated in many clubs throughout the country each season. Trying to "get it right". There are many views from different camps, the start early and wear players out, loose interest early camp Vs the start early, progressive & structured training to try and reap & gain success, achieve peak fitness/skill for Championship.
There are a huge number of variables that may influence this as I am well aware: the fitness, age profile, skill level of players to when did season end last year...knocked out early in cship or defeat/success, along with many others have to be taken into consideration.

Ok..back to my situation. Small, rural club, intermediate level. Players age from 17 to eldest in mid 30's. Some ex-minor inter-county players, ex-senior inter county along with some very talented minor players coming through. Our success rate..well 3 county finals (cship) in last 5 yrs..no win. That is just a quick over-view. Player fitness would be ok, but could be alot better. Some very fit/skillfull guys to those who are not. I know its not all about fitness, and I am sure this would be pointed out to me very quickly! But it is a very important ingredient I am sure all will agree. Some of the players have expressed an interest to get together prior to our official start date (2 nights) to work on basic fitness and bring up the levels somewhat. Some guys will do some work in the evenings themselves to keep fit, but alas alot wont. Training together would be a better option. Playing a weekend soccer match is regarded by some as sufficent(who play soccer)...and maybe to some it is...but I am not convinced. Anyway I am sure many clubs could echo, similar situations to what I have mentioned. A few of us want to make a real go this year... I am also vivdly aware of the commitment players make to GAA each season, year in year out and pressures incurred on family, wives, g/f etc and how long this can be dragged out each year.
What do you guys think? Have any of you similar experiences?Dont want to kick off " is fitness over-emphasised debate", rather see what other clubs have done that they feel worked or worked for the players/team.

Thanks lads.




(*I know this maybe more suited to the fitness thread, apologies moderator if it is judged to be so. I had a look at that forum prior to post and felt most topics there were more fitness specific orientated.*)

goalkeeper

Well Thunderone a few observations for you. I have always felt that there is a need for six/seven weeks of pre-season type physical training just to get a good stamina base in.ALL PLAYERS need to adhere to this or it is a complete waste of time.I would also recommend that ALL PLAYERS do 40 minutes in an alley or using a ball-wall to get their touch and their eye in.Given your timeframe I would start in early February with the six week pre-season programme.Once the base is in, as it were,ye can concentrate on Jim Kilty's SAQ model with little or no emphasis on long runs and total concentration on short sharp routines and ballwork. I suspect from what you are saying that there is a tiered commitment in your squad, as there is in most squads, with a few key players not pulling their weight as much as everyone else.An hour resting their backsides on the bench in an early season league game would always be my way of testing these types of player out.They will either react positively and roll up the sleeves and you will get great mileage out of them or they will walk or sulk, in which case you find out sooner rather than later that they will let you down anyway and you can show them the door.All the best in yere quest for the title in 2008, hopefully ye will go one better this year.

blackbelt

Fitness is always stressed around January and February post Xmas.Early March is leaving it a bit late.I think its imperative that your team goes training without the intervention of this coach.It sounds like he has too much on to start proper training early.Unless the teams diet has been religious during Xmas and those months where playing/training were at a standstill,I can't see all of your team being as fit as they were coming through the Autumn months.

Possibly if your team concentrates on running and stretching pre-March and sipping water through days working,your hamstrings/quads/calf muscles will be in top shape and players won't get cramps etc so easily.Then when fitness is sorted out in the 2 month period up to March,puck work will then be the primary focus.

Good luck.

thunderone

Cheers Goalkeeper & Blackbelt, sound advice lads and have been getting similar all week who ever I ask (physical trainers, other coaches etc).Appreciate it. We are gonna kick off in 2 weeks time so we managed to convince some of them. I am taking them for a few sessions (purely fitness) also. So going to organise some good sessons with a 1 or 2 talks on hydration/nuitrition etc also..nothing too boring..aiming this at the lads. If you guys know of drills that work for ye, please pm etc..always like to add new skills.
many thanks again,

Da Bomber

Jesus March is way to late to be starting in my opinion! Last year our minor team started training the first week in Febuary twice a week up until half way through March just doing Fitness,twas tough but it payed off in the end,we got to the championship finally only to lose in a replay at the end of November. At that stage we were so fit there was virtually very little fitness done, just ballwork. For an intermediate club with high aspirations i think ye should definatly be starting now, doing at least two nights a week purely based on fitness and just hurl yourselfs at home against a wall for half an hour a night getting the eye in.

thirdmantackle

if you only have a few games in May and then more later in the summer then I'd fully agree with the approach of the trainer.

so many teams peak in early summer then fizzle out when its really required. better to build up the training over the summer and be at full tilt when it matters.

still though, i'd agree with the other comments here. you'd want to start your own training. Some gym training and ballwork using a wall.

fitness doesn't win all games. it helps, but is not the most important thing in team sports (see irish rugby team). playing to full potential, everyone pulling together and ensuring match sharpness is much more important.

patmac

Well our Footballers are back next week but our Hurlers are not back till the end of February, when I asked the Hurling manager this, he said that if he was getting expenses like the Football manager they would have been back last week!

GAAman

In my humble opinion i always start at the very start of the year and as goalkeeper said i build myself up bit by bit. I was given a training regime by the sports institute of ni for core strength so it is gym work as well as lashin a size 5 between the posts