Training methods wrong, says Shanahan

THE time has come to stop the “madness” of over-training players, said outgoing Tipperary Chairman Donal Shanahan in his address to yesterday’s annual convention in Thurles.

Saying that he had recently witnessed under-12 and under-14 players undergoing a warm-up routine which would do justice to a the world of professional rugby, he called on clubs to re-examine their coaching and training methods at youth level.

"There is an increasing body of opinion which suggests that some training methods adopted by some coaches at club level is unhelpful, inappropriate and irrelevant in the context of the age groups covered,'' he commented.

"I do not want to underestimate the tremendous work that is carried out by these people, but what concerns me is that young players will cease to enjoy the games and that this will in the long term lead to their exit from the playing fields. The emphasis with our young players should be coaching the skills with special focus on the enjoyment of the games.''

In general, Mr Shanahan said that was a growing awareness of players being over-trained and lacking the "freshness" required for vital championship games.

A further concern was the negative effect of the expanded inter-county programme on divisional and county board fixtures. The consequence was that club players "suffered" for much of the year.

"I would hate to see a situation develop where the club scene slips further down the line, despite its repeated claims about its status as the bedrock of the GAA. The club forum which took place in Killarney last month was timely and if the views expressed by many of the club delegates are acted upon, there may be hope yet.

"Quite simply, we need protected dates during which clubs have an opportunity to play championship games.''

Referring to demographic changes in recent times, Mr Shanahan suggested that it might be time to "re-visit" the parish rule which applied to rural clubs in the county. Populations were declining as a result of young people setting up homes in urban areas and where rural clubs would experience difficulties in fielding under-age teams their future could be in doubt.

New chairman John Costigan, a prominent defender with the Tipperary hurlers in the late 1960s, told convention he "had no notion" of bringing any innovations to the fore. But he would spare no effort in ensuring that they "fine-tuned" certain areas within the association and made them "more progressive and more productive." Favouring a "template" for the running of their championships in the various grades, he said that whether "they liked it or not" the extra intercounty new provincial and national club championships in the different grades were in place. It would be up to them to adjust accordingly.

Lack of success at underage level in both hurling and football was a serious concern, he added, saying that he proposed to put special emphasis on development squads during the coming year. To achieve this, they would need top-class coaches and put them to work with the squads.

"One All-Ireland under-21 title and one All-Ireland minor title in a decade is not conducive to producing a conveyor belt of talent at senior level."

Alluding to the loss of over €90,000 despite record income from gate receipts Mr Costigan said that "arresting this spiral" would be one of his priorities in office.

In a short address, Munster Council Chairman Sean Fogarty echoed the concern of Mr Shanahan in relation to the survival of rural clubs. His view as that unless the planning laws were changed, rural clubs would be in trouble. "The parish unit needs to be maintained,'' he said.

He revealed that the Council had recently paid out €1.6 million in development grants at club and county level. This figure represented 40% of the Council's total income and a further 15% went back to counties by means of rental income.

"It's very easy to answer the question what the GAA does with its money. And at next year's convention we will have a full breakdown as to where every shilling goes."

Officers: President: S. O Riain; Chairman: J. Costigan; Vice-Chairman: B. O'Brien; Secretary: M. O'Brien; Treasurer: M. Nolan; Assistant Treasurer: E. Buckley; Development Officer: J. O'Donnell; Coaching Officer: D. Floyd; Cultural Officer: C. Ryan; Youth Officer: N. Moroney; PRO: E. Donnelly; Munster Council delegates: M. Power and J. Ryan; Central Council delegate: C. Hogan.

*The death has taken place in Thurles of Mary Byrne, the wife of former Tipperary hurling great Mickey Byrne, better known as 'The Rattler.' Their son Paul was a member of the All-Ireland-winning team of 1971.