‘Coaches don’t like to hear players are as one-sided as they are’ – football’s left and right problem

In an ideal world, players would assess the options available and then execute with the necessary side.

RIGHT AND LEFT: David Clifford was the second-top scorer in the 2023 SFC with 5-42, 3-21 from play. In total, he scored three points from eight attempts with his right foot. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

There is always a challenge. Using both feet has generally been accepted as vital to success in Gaelic football for decades. Only now is research supporting this truism. Even still, not everyone is convinced.

“A coach said to me once, why does it matter anyway? Pat Spillane was one of the greatest players of all time and he was completely one-footed,” says Karol Dillon, a PhD Candidate at the University of Limerick who is currently researching laterality in Gaelic football.