HOW DO YOU BREAK THROUGH THAT INVISIBLE GLASS WALL

schoolboy082

I've been playing Gaelic football since I was 9,
15 now,
Never missed too many training sessions,
A good player,
can't break through the invisible glass wall to become a great player.
any help?

thirdmantackle

a big hammer?
sorry, couldn't resist

schoolboy082

SERIOUS ADVICE PLEASE?

Mardy Bum

Weights lots of weights, maybe some protein, bulk up like, practice your sprints, brace yourself and go for it.

hardybuck

I was always a good player, would have been on the county team my own age. When I was 16 I really made the break making the minors, and was on the U21s by 17.

Personally I was quite a good athlete and quite skillful. I found that my mental preperation was a crucial factor in stepping up a level. I pushed myself harder in training. Where before I'd be satisfied with a certain level of performance, I was tough on myself and was very critical of myself in attempting to gain perfection. I became ruthless on the field and took no prisoners. As a county player you need to develop a feeling of self confidence that borders on cockiness, but all the best players have it.

Stepping up to senior level is even tougher, and facts of life such as jobs, family commitments may make things impossible, but I stepped up by doing weight conditioning at 18. Bulking up isn't the answer, nor are protein shakes which will make you fat and slow. Adding stregth to appropriate muscle groups while eating well will certainly help you, but let your body develop first. You can get enough natural protein in your diet by eating well. Protein shakes contain low-quality protein that used to be a waste product of pig rendering before all the small people decided they wanted to become massive.

Tell us a little more about your current situation, or ambitions. I applaud you for seeking as much advice as possible.

schoolboy082

Im 15 play u-16 and im u-16 again next year then im minor for two years also. I get tired very easy at trainin and when it comes to the sprints i find it very hard to finish up strong

keane2097

hardybuck wrote: »

protein shakes which will make you fat and slow.

GTFO
:eek:

the drifter

hardybuck wrote: »

Bulking up isn't the answer, nor are protein shakes which will make you fat and slow. Adding stregth to appropriate muscle groups while eating well will certainly help you, but let your body develop first. You can get enough natural protein in your diet by eating well. Protein shakes contain low-quality protein that used to be a waste product of pig rendering before all the small people decided they wanted to become massive.

First off whey is a by product of cheese production....if your eating pig cheese...well id be asking mr store manager where he got it from...

Second..."Fat and Slow" WTF!!!

the drifter

on a completely serious note....try posting this in the fitness forum schoolnoy082 you will prob get better advice there....I know where are alot of people over there play gaa and keep logs aswell

Floppybits

schoolboy082 wrote: »

Im 15 play u-16 and im u-16 again next year then im minor for two years also. I get tired very easy at trainin and when it comes to the sprints i find it very hard to finish up strong

Schoolboy, I think your answer is in that statement. How many of the team you play with are actually finished under 16? Are you the youngest on the team?

I managed an under 16 team for a couple of seasons and half the team were under 16 and the other half where just to old for under 14 and we didnt have an under 15s team so played under 16 and I can tell you that there is a difference in development between the two groups of players. Those players that were older were stronger than the younger ones.

What you need to do is forget about weights for the time being, you are too young and could damage yourself. Secondly when training are you pacing yourself and taking the breathers between exercises. Thirdly practice, practice, practice, start working with your weaker foot more so that you are comfortable with both feet, practice the basics, to be a good player you need to be could at the basics. As for the training keep doing the training and in the next year or so you will see a change. You must remember as I said above you are playing with and against older guys and as we all know everyone develops differently but you keep working and by the time you hit minor you will have improved.

D'Agger

Firstly I'd strongly advise staying away from weights until you're 17 and have developed naturally - do weights if you want to but get advice from somebody who knows what they're talking about. Alot of young players who start off on weights don't pay particular attention to their form and it can result in back trouble which can lead to othher injuries i.e. hamstring, hip flexors etc. - This was the case with myself. Also don't just focus on upper body trying to get a six pack and big arms - work on your legs, and core exercises for balance etc.

As the above poster already said check out the fitness threads

For the time being I'd also say play to your strengths and work very hard on your weaknesses. You should be able to kick with both legs - practice the accuracy of your passing with both and shooting with both - on the run especially.

If you're a forward then don't just practice shooting directly in front of goals - I still see fellas at my club doing this at senior level. Practice running down the wing, cutting in and shooting - again at the risk of repeating myself - Both legs!!

If you're a back then I'd say try to improve your reactions with something like this: A reactions ball - throw it off a wall and run towards it. Alot of GAA players especially backs are using them thesedays.



Just remember that no footballer was ever the complete player at 16, lots of fellas who don't even make their county minor teams make the u-21s and senior panels so don't rush yourself. Just train hard - be a perfectionist, win every ball going your way in training whether it's 50-50 or 30-70, try to win every sprint, be at the front for all laps etc. Get into the mentality of winning and being a winner and the rest will materialise itself

ustari

It is these next two years where you will get to really define yourself as a player.

Presuming you have a good level of fitness, try and work on your co-ordination and reaction times.

Play another sport, soccer is probably the best in my opinion, helps more than you think and your movement(runs) on the pitch should improve.
When you are watching a game on tv or live try and read the game. See where things are going wrong and where they can exploit. When a player is in possesion see if you can predict where he will kick it.

Get smart when playing matches, step in front of a player when attacking. Remember to try and take the ball side on(not with your back to their goal) always if you are a back, it opens up your options and makes it a lot easier for you.

Work on your weaker foot and to a lesser extent, hand. I wish I did this more when I was your age. Something we were only told at a talk when minor was to drop the ball with the hand on the side you are kicking. I used to always drop the ball onto my left foot with my right hand and it gives you a much harder job to kick properly.

Practice kicking with your instep, inside and outside of your boot.

When you are attacking, generally hop the ball first if you are in the clear but if you are running at a defender and taking him on take your solo first and use your hop when you are going around him.

When tackling count out when the other player has to take their hop/solo and put your NEAR hand across then, try and take his hands off the ball more than taking the ball out of his hands. He won't be able to hold the ball with one hand.

If you are a full back, put your knee up in front of you when you are jumping, gives you more protection. Remember to stay goalside and show the player to their bad foot.

Anymore questions just ask, I'll have done it myself.

orourkeda

A Glass Hammer

smashey

Serious answers please ladies and gentlemen.

pipelaser

What you do in the next 4 or 5 years will ultimately define whether you have become a great player or not.

In this period, about 10 of your fellow team mates will go off to college/work (if there’s any) and start drinking, lazing about or concentrating on other sports. They’ll fall by the way side and never fulfil their potential.
Indeed every county player has a “brother at home who’s twice as good as him at club level, only he’s a whore for the beer/ or is a nut case!)
I’ve seen very average underage players who became magnificent club players in their 20’s, just because they stuck at it, found a role in the team and learned over the years.
I know people from Wexford who played against Kevin Doyle (Soccer and Football) underage, all they remember is that he never stood out that much. But he was always the fittest man on the team and the unbelievably hard working (nothing seems to have changed!)
Willie McCreery didn’t play county football (for Kildare) until he was 26! So anything can happen!

For now I think you have to look at your best talents and hone them.
What’s your best attribute? Are you a good ball carrier? Cover the ground quickly? Are you a good free taker/Shooter? If you work on what you do best and become better than anyone else on the team at it will make you stand out.

Colm O’Rourke used to work on strengthening his Right arm (he was completely left sided) so he could hold off a defender as he kicked off his left. Worked to great effect.

Maybe little things like that make a difference.

hardybuck

the drifter wrote: »

First off whey is a by product of cheese production....if your eating pig cheese...well id be asking mr store manager where he got it from...

Second..."Fat and Slow" WTF!!!

Sorry, waste product of cheese production which used to be fed to pigs. Eating better is a much richer source, and yes I've see plenty getting thick necks and putting on too much fat with it.

Mardy Bum

65% Commitment.
35% Talent.

augustus gloop

well the very basic advice i could give would be first of all, drink plaenty of water, i know this is banded about alot but the difference you will have when properly hydrated is amazing, also at your age, upper body is not as important as core strength, if your core is strong, everything else falls into
place*
its a pity you dont say what position you are trying to play as advice varies from here on for me.
but, on a positive note, the fact you are on here shows you have more intrest than 99% of lads your age, and simple as it sounds, kicking as much ball as you cal, day and night if possible is the way, over the past 2 months i read mickey hartes and jack o connors books, the 1 common thing they saw in peter canavan and maurice fitz when they were young was the fact neither lad went anywhere without a ball.
hope to be of help, good luck in the coming year!

thirdmantackle

practice the skills

night and day. on your own. get a ball and kick against wall. practice with both feet. catching, kicking, high catch, low catch, point scoring in a football field, passing

fitness and strength can be attained as you grow. if the skills are not their then you'll always struggle

Ian_K

Firstly i think it would be a good idea if people stopped advising a 15 year old to start taking protein and doing weights, at his age that would probably do more harm than good

As for breaking through that glass wall, some people just don't have it and never will.
One of my clubmates is a perfect example of this. He is the most commited guy i know, a complete GAA fanatic but when it comes to a match situation he just can't do it.
This lad is the bigget and fittest guy on the team and always has been, i've played with him since under 10s. He trains every day of the week and has all the skills in the book but when he gets out on the pitch it just doesn't happen for him.
It's all in his head, he's way too nervous and ends up fumbling the ball or something coz he thinks he's gonna get hit.
Fitness and size are very important but not the be all and end all, some people just arn't meant to be top level players

OP i'm not saying this applies to you i just think it needs to be said

LeoB

I dont believe There is a glass wall.

Basic core strength is vital and I would suggest you look into this dont do to many weights if they are properly supervised they can do more harm than good.

Practice the basics as much as you can. Every day if possible. simple stuff like going to the pitch with a few lads you get on with oor kicking with both feet against a wall.

ustari makes some good points and are well worth taking note of. People develop at different stages so just keep working at different aspects of your game.

On the running side of things we had a coach in our club and he done a lot of work with lads who were not running correctly and it paid off. On the tiredness do you have a lot of studying or a part time job? There is quite often an underlying reason why people struggle when they are as committed as you sound.

Good luck, great to see a young lad showing such interest

Big Ears

hardybuck wrote: »

Sorry, waste product of cheese production which used to be fed to pigs. Eating better is a much richer source, and yes I've see plenty getting thick necks and putting on too much fat with it.

While there is no need for protein shakes if an individual is getting enough protein in their normal diet(1.2-1.8 grams per kg for those undergoing regular intense exercise, particularly resistance training), protein shakes will not make you fat if taken correctly.

Those who got 'fat necks', were either in taking too many calories in their diet or taking too much protein overall(excessive protein intake will lead to increased fat stores). The quality of whey protein can differ greatly with the brand, and people looking to start taking protein supplements should consult the fitness forums supplements thread.

There is no need for a 15 year old to take whey protein however, you should be able to get as much as you need from a good diet, and getting a good balanced diet is quite important. It'll not only give you the fuel you need to exercise to your potential, grow as well as you can and recover from training/matches as quickly as possible but it's also something that'll probably stay with you throughout life and greatly improve your health and lifespan.
There shouldn't be a need for any supplementation as long as your diet is correct, unless you have medical problems which require it.

When you say you tire very quickly at training, is this just at training this happens or do you find yourself to be often tired throughout the day ?, If this is the case you should probably have a check up with your doctor to see if your anaemic or suffer from any other problems.


There isn't a problem with a 15 year old using weights and doing some conditioning training but as pointed out before unless you've someone qualified to show you how to go about it then stay away as it'll do more harm than good. However if done correctly it should result in increased strength and likely speed and endurance aswell.

However a good way to start into this is to use your own bodyweight, push ups, sit ups and plank work for your core, lunges and squats for your legs etc could be very beneficial. However like using weights form and technique is still very important and you should be shown how to do bodyweight exercises correctly before you start doing them regularly.
Doing some sprint work or interval training should help you aswell.

Skill of course is the main thing to work on at your age, the physical things can always be rectified when your older, but skill work is something which is much easier to pick up when you're young.

Lastly if you do become determined and train quite a lot outside of normal training for yourself, remember to listen to your body. When you're body is tired and aches you need rest, not further training. Many people burn themselves out at a young age from trying to do too much. Remember to get a good nights sleep and let your body rest and recover properly from one day to the next.

pipelaser

schoolboy082 wrote: »

I've been playing Gaelic football since I was 9,
15 now,
Never missed too many training sessions,
A good player,
can't break through the invisible glass wall to become a great player.
any help?

Well how did you turn out?

Poor_old_gill

I know it sounds like an obvious answer but get advice on a proper training programme for someone of your age, height and weight and secondly kick ball, a lot.
Buy 2/3 O Neills and go kick ball every day- even out the back of your house for half an hour- just kick off the wall and catch it.
Try get your mates on board aswell as it will make it easier to motivate yourself if a few of you are going doing it.

Trust me on this- kicking ball regularly is the key- practice different types of strokes with both feet: 10/15 yard punt passes, outside of boot, in-step, etc as you will need to establish where your power comes from and which is your best striking position.

If you do a lot of ball practice then your fitness will naturally get better and to be honest most coaches will have the ability to make you fitter but desire to improve skills is something that you need to work on.

These are all subject to financial restrictions- if needs be then ask one of the senior players at your club to draw you up a programme and maybe when the seniors are training- you should go down and observe them and have a few kicks.
If 2/3 O Neills is outside your price range then ask one of the coaches to lend you footballs the odd day and try get at least one yourself.

*Crap- I viewed this as a new thread

davegrohl48

Buy an ONeills football as the last poster said. Most insane thing in Gaelic Football? Most club footballers do not own an ONeills football during key development teenage years. Do even soccer solos with it. You need to get completely comfortable with the ONeills.
When kicking the ball make sure you are really focussing on your release - footwork - follow through.
If yer right footed are you properly taking that first step onto your right n then second step onto your supporting left foot.
One routine I did was to find a basketball court with a steel backboard. Practice from mid court kicking the ball in straight n hook kicks off the backboard. Your practising a pass n shot type kick all in one. Also you'll learn to not be lobbing hail mary kicks into the air.
But if you don't have an ONeills, buy one n practice soloing/catching/kicking everyday.

davegrohl48

Buy an ONeills football as the last poster said. Most insane thing in Gaelic Football? Most club footballers do not own an ONeills football during key development teenage years. Do even soccer solos with it. You need to get completely comfortable with the ONeills.
When kicking the ball make sure you are really focussing on your release - footwork - follow through.
If yer right footed are you properly taking that first step onto your right n then second step onto your supporting left foot.
One routine I did was to find a basketball court with a steel backboard. Practice from mid court kicking the ball in straight n hook kicks off the backboard. Your practising a pass n shot type kick all in one. Also you'll learn to not be lobbing hail mary kicks into the air.
But if you don't have an ONeills, buy one n practice soloing/catching/kicking everyday.