Olympic Sports from GAA

Clareman

I'm a self confessed sports addict (GAA and Rugby mod ffs) and I have being loving the past 2 weeks of watching the Olympics. I've being trying to figure out what Olympic Sports we could take GAA players and turn into Olympians.

Olympic Handball
I think hurlers and camoige players would be perfect for this, they are used to catching the ball at head height, spotting runs, the physicality of the game as well as the speed of it. I wouldn't think there would be much investment required either as it's played in a hall.

Volleyball
Footballers would be perfect for this, not only used to playing with a ball but jumping to contest (at the next). Would need some training. I also think beach volleyball would be spot on as well, we've so many beaches and fit players would could be a world force.

Waterpolo & Swimming
Handballers here, leg and shoulder power needed here in droves as well as endurance.

Archery & Shooting
Free takers from all sports.

Any others anyone can think of?

Syferus

The Gooch would take gold in the diving..

castletownman

Donegal team. Marathon

km79

Kildare team. Handball

GAAman

Most county teams of the 60's/70's, Boxing. Just throw in a size 5 somewhere in the ring to make them feel comfortable and they would be away in a hack

ShamoBuc

Syferus wrote: »

The Gooch would take gold in the diving..

Had a chuckle at that if I'm honest.

Olympic handball is the standout one for me.

munster87

Tyrone - Judo

Donnielighto

Clareman wrote: »

Archery & Shooting
Free takers from all sports.

why?

ShamoBuc

Donnielighto wrote: »

why?

Hand eye coordination and accuracy maybe.

Stillorganboy

If ever GAA club had an Athletic section, it would benefit each sport. Fast runners. Big players might be good throwers. The Team would benifit with higher fitness

chinguetti

I was lucky enough to be over at a few events last week and saw 4 games in the Handball which would be ideal for GAA players to train in the winter months rather than laps of pitches. Also saw Weightlifting, Track and Field and Showjumping. Handball is just a great sport and really exciting. The France v Sweden match in the group (the final is on at 3pm today with the same teams) was a cracker last Monday night. The French No.8 was just a class act.

The GAA could learn from some of these sports by using music - if a penalty is given, they play 'Under Pressure'. The crowd is encouraged to cheer and shout and makes for a brilliant atmosphere and they explain the main rules before each session so that everyone is aware of what is going on. And they are media friendly sports as the players and coaches talk freely to the cameras after a match.

Clareman

Donnielighto wrote: »

why?

Hand eye, accuracy, dealing with pressure of having to hit a target and ok with being in the spot light.

Clareman

Stillorganboy wrote: »

If ever GAA club had an Athletic section, it would benefit each sport. Fast runners. Big players might be good throwers. The Team would benifit with higher fitness

They used to have (Gaelic Athletic Association) but there was too much pressure being put on resources to allow for a full athletics program, lets me honest, in a lot of places it was a lot just to have a football. There used to be a full Olympic type showcase run by the GAA in the early day (Tailten Games I think), at one stage they were even ran in Wembley I believe.

There was a great comment on RTÉ after the athletics that pointed out that most Irish students will go through school having never tried a long/high jump or thrown a javelin or shot, if it wasn't for the GAA an awful lot more of students would never play any type of sport.

Amprodude

I'm surprised Ireland are not better at sports such as hockey. We would have a lot of handy and skilful hurling players who should be used of hitting a sliotar along the ground that should easily transfer onto a hockey stick.

ArmaniJeanss

Amprodude wrote: »

I'm surprised Ireland are not better at sports such as hockey. We would have a lot of handy and skilful hurling players who should be used of hitting a sliotar along the ground that should easily transfer onto a hockey stick.

We are very reasonably competitive at both Mens and Womens Hockey, ranked in the Worlds Top 16 in both. The Olympics being 12 team events means qualification is difficult though.

http://www.fih.ch/en/fih/events/worldranking

Amprodude

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

We are very reasonably competitive at both Mens and Womens Hockey, ranked in the Worlds Top 16 in both. The Olympics being 12 team events means qualification is difficult though.

http://www.fih.ch/en/fih/events/worldranking

I just think we should be in the top four. Maybe I'm getting carried away. Surely it's possible?

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Hand eye coordination and accuracy maybe.

I think Phil Tayler would be as good if not better!

Clareman wrote: »

Hand eye, accuracy, dealing with pressure of having to hit a target and ok with being in the spot light.

two very different sports, you need to be a lot more accurate with a gun than a boot or hurl!

An Citeog

Amprodude wrote: »

I just think we should be in the top four. Maybe I'm getting carried away. Surely it's possible?

It may be possible alright but I'd seriously doubt there'd be many kids switching over from hurling to hockey just because it's an international sport.

rebel girl 15

To be honest, you'd have to be taking players at the age of 15 or 16 and getting them into the Olympic sports if you are looking to getting them to Olympic standard, and then there would be uproar at other sports taking the talented GAA players.

Irish handball team are actually looking for players atm, to get involved.

ontheditch2

The GAA are doing better work, now more so than ever as regards promoting its games to increase playing numbers and higher participation rates. Each club and county want to have the best players available to them, so to do this, they want those people choosing GAA over other sports.
As said already, the Tailteann games were held originally. Would it not be worthwhile for each club to hold competitions in 5 events (100m, 400m, 1500m, high jump, and a throwing event) once a year, where this person then represents the club at the county finals, then the all ireland finals. It would be up to Athletics Ireland to scout at these events and choose athletes to possibly work with going forward.
It also baffles me, why the likes of cycling ireland don't hold age appropriate sprint races in each town and village in Ireland and try to find a few lads and lassies who might be up the cycling at the highest level. There has to be more kids out there, who are superb at a sport, but due to social, geographical deficiencies are unable to get involved in a sport.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Amprodude wrote: »

I'm surprised Ireland are not better at sports such as hockey. We would have a lot of handy and skilful hurling players who should be used of hitting a sliotar along the ground that should easily transfer onto a hockey stick.

Protestant game as Bill O'Herlihy would say.:D