The 16th Man

From: Chris Murray
Location: GTS, Georges Quay

My Son (Daniel 9yrs old) loves the game of hurling and is doing quite well but tends to stand back from tackles. It is down to a fear of getting hit.

Have you any tips that you could share that might encourage him to get in closer and tackle as I am afraid he will get a bad knock by standing back. Anything I have tried doesn’t seem to work.

Many thanks
Chris

Michael Fennelly, Midfield, Kilkenny (Ulster Bank South Midlands Business Centre)

If Daniel stands back from a tackle he will get a belt from the the end of his opponents hurl or even his team mates (which can be very sore). The closer you are beside your opponent the less chance you will get a belt e.g. if you are in beside your opponent he may not even be able to swing his hurl therefore and this reduces the risk of getting hit. Even if he does swing his hurl fully, the position your in (right beside him) should not allow you to get a belt.
Maybe a drill will help resolve this fear..

Using a car tyre, get Daniel and his team mate to jog shoulder to shoulder towards the tyre and pull at the same time on the tyre (repeat this drill a couple of times). This will help his fear of getting in close to his opponent and he won’t even think about getting a belt.

Also, a blocking down drill may reinforce his fear of getting a belt. When you’re blocking down your opponent it’s very important to be in very close and to keep your eye on the ball and not the hurl. If you do it in slow motion you will actually see there’s no chance of getting a belt once you’re in nice and close.
Unfortunately you will pick up knocks and bruises during the course of your career in hurling but this will make you stronger and braver.

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Exercises taken from:
http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/flexibilityexercises/a/hamstingstretch.htm

Exercise #1
Sit on the floor with both legs out straight.
Extend your arms and reach forward by bending at the waist as far as possible while keeping your knees straight.
Hold this position for 10 seconds.

Exercise #2

Sit on the floor with one leg out straight
Bend the other leg at the knee and position the sole of that foot against your opposite inner thigh.
Extend your arms and reach forward over the one straight leg by bending at the waist as far as possible.
Hold this position for 10 seconds.
Relax.

Exercise #2

Stand and cross your right foot in front of your left
Slowly lower your forehead to your right knee by bending at the waist.
Keep both knees straight.
Hold this position for 10 seconds.
Relax.
Repeat by crossing your left foot in front of your right.

 

 

Exercise #4
Stand one foot from a wall and place your hands on the wall at shoulder-height, shoulder-width apart.
Take a step back with one leg while pushing into the wall.
Keep your back straight and press your heels into the floor.
Hold for 10 seconds.
Step forward and repeat.

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Training

Most weeks during the season tend to look very similar. Almost every evening during the week is taken up with something to do with football, whether it’s training on the pitch, training in the gym or doing your own bit of training on the side. As a goalkeeper, I sometimes even get the privilege of starting training a half hour or so early to do a bit of specialised goalkeeper training. That said, I’d rather start a bit early than do some of the running drills that the outfielders have to do!

Over the weekends, we get together once or twice, depending on what time of year it is. One or two training weekends are thrown in during the course of the year as well. We would usually have a match on a Saturday or a Sunday, if not with Dublin then with the club (sometimes both). At some stage we would analyse these games, and see areas on which the team or individuals can improve. It is during these meetings that the Great Ray Boyne comes into his own; he’s never far away with a stat that shows your strengths or weaknesses.

Nutrition

We have to pay quite close attention to the food we eat, during the season at least. For me, most days would involve a breakfast of a big bowl of porridge and some fruit; lunch of pasta or noodles and a sandwich or two; dinner of more pasta and meat and a bit of veg, with another three or four snacks during the day. We’d be encouraged to eat a fair bit of food during the day to make sure we recover well from training and are ready for the next session. Most inter-county players would follow a similar enough diet, with the ‘jumbo breakfast roll’ that Niall Corkery gulped down in the canteen this morning being an exception to the rule!

Match Days

Different players approach matches in different ways. On days of big matches, I would usually be up a bit earlier than normal with a bit of excitement in the blood. I would follow the same eating patterns as usual, and sometimes go for a short walk to loosen out the legs a bit. Evening games are the worst as you are usually just sitting around all day waiting to meet up with the team, trying not to use up too much energy in the process. The biggest games always seem to go past the quickest. The All-Ireland club final I played with my club St. Vincent’s flew by in an instant- I can hardly remember anything about it. Even though I’m only a goalkeeper, so I wouldn’t do too much running during a game, I am usually shattered after the game.  When I get home I’d normally just put the feet up or go to bed.

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