National bosses share a life in the day of Irish coaching elite

BRIAN KERR and Eddie O’Sullivan joined forces in Dublin to call on national coaches to implement long-term coaching strategies in this country.

Ireland’s soccer and rugby bosses also used the opportunity of a coaching workshop to share some fascinating insights into how they prepare their teams for competition at the highest level.

Speaking at a seminar in DCU organised by the National Coaching and Training Centre in association with Lucozade Sport, the duo agreed there were no quick-fix solutions at international level and highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to coaching from the grassroots upwards.

Brian Kerr pointed out that, at underage level, Irish soccer teams frequently come up against both physically and technically more advanced opposition. And whilst acknowledging the excellent work done in organising schoolboy football, he argued that too many matches for young footballers can allow too little time for training.

Similarly, Eddie O’Sullivan noted that in schools rugby, “the need to win often overshadows the need to develop”.

Speaking to an audience of coaches from a variety of sports, the two men also revealed some of the secrets of their preparation of Ireland’s senior teams in football and rugby.

Using video analysis, Eddie O’Sullivan demonstrated how an expansive training ground attacking pattern produced a replica try by Girvan Dempsey against England, while Kerr showed how the Republic nullified the threat of both Thierry Henry and Robert Pires in the recent scoreless draw in Paris.

Covering everything from computer analysis and nutrition to fitness-training and tactics, the session underlined the extraordinary depth of preparation which goes into preparing elite teams in the modern age.

But there was also room for wit and wisdom. Echoing Roy Keane in the round ball game, Eddie O’Sullivan stressed that the more prepared you are, the less likely things will go wrong. He revealed that his mantra is: “Win the war then fight the war.”

Nor is talent by itself enough.

“Some talented players don’t make it because they’re not motivated,” he continued.

“Great players play with talent and huge, intrinsic motivation. People like Woods and O’Driscoll are incredibly talented but also incredibly driven. That’s the crucial combination.”

After O’Sullivan had finished his presentation, Brian Kerr earned laughs when he showed film of the Damien Duff run which led to Robbie Keane’s penalty against Cyprus.

He said: “This is a goal that happened by accident - we don’t do any training.”

Kerr also revealed a mantra of his own - “keep it for the match” - an acknowledgement that training needs to be perfectly pitched so players have plenty in reserve come the test itself.

While underlining the importance for a coach of surrounding oneself with expert support, Kerr also stressed that it’s crucial, in the final analysis, “to go with your own hunch - don’t let others dictate to you”.

“Detailed specific planning is vital but you must trust your gut instinct and intuition to make things happen. You must have the knowledge, information and background work done but every situation is different and you must adapt to what you find.”

And amid all the competing pressures on an international manager’s time, he added that it is also vital “to give yourself time to think”.

The day-long workshop was also addressed by, amongst others, the Cork hurling team’s fitness trainer Sean McGrath, Kerry football fitness trainer Pat Flanagan and Dr Istvan Balyi, an international expert on developing sporting talent and also a special adviser to the NCTC on long- term player development.

But for O’Sullivan and Kerr, the immediate issues are short-term as both will now be hoping to see their preparations bear fruit against, respectively, South Africa and Croatia in the coming days.