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Article

Limerick brothers believe their new games based GAA coaching website makes sense

Limerick brothers believe their new games based GAA coaching website makes sense
by Jerome O'Connell
on 
May 29, 2022

Limerick senior hurling coach Paul Kinnerk plans his training sessions around a games based approach.

Just like any walk of like, others are keen to learn from the standard bearers.

A new GAA coaching website www.gamesensecoaching.com is doing just that.

Run by three Limerick brothers Stephen, Peter and David Lavin, gamesensecoaching.com is offering a whole avenue for GAA coaches from those involved with children to adults.

"We’re not saying that is is the only way to do things but we believe strongly that it is the best way," explains Stephen Lavin, a former Limerick footballer and hurler.

"We have come from the old-school way of things - out to the cone and back and we just think that there is a better way and that people will enjoy this way a little bit more because it’s more interactive. It's games with a purpose - all skills based games that we think are better than having everyone lined up behind a cone," outlines the Adare man.

The three bothers have worked in the Limerick Underage Football Academy where Paul Kinnerk is the Head of Coaching.

"The three of us were working in the academy and it’s not that Paul (Kinnerk) would give you stuff but he would give give brilliant feedback on sessions. Initially we were thinking of a book as a resource for people and then it was Jim Donovan (former Limerick footballer) who suggested a website that people could sign up to. We already had a couple of hundred games from our football work and then this software called Tactical Pad made it very easy to do up animated videos to show how the games work."

So now, coaches of all levels can log into the website, find the skill they wish to teach, select a game, print it off the share with fellow coaches ahead of the training session.

"It’s just about trying to make the sessions a little bit more enjoyable. You have parents getting involved now and I would say that this is an investment in your kids. They want to right by their kids and want their kids to do well and these parents are often hugely enthusiastic but don’t have a whole pile of coaching experience behind them. This is only a resource and the real learning is doing it and then reflecting on it," said Stephen.

No surprise the three Lavin brothers are teachers.

"It’s a bit like school - is there a plan in place and is there progression, are you teaching them that small bit more every year. It’s not strict because the emphasis has to be on fun and enjoyment but at least they are learning. They are both about learning. What do you do in teaching to make sure their is good learning going on, well it’s the same in coaching. The parallels are huge - the pitch is a learning environment. Kids as young as the age of seven can learn so it’s about how do we pitch it at them and what do we want them to learn. So you think what you want them to learn and then come up with a session that helps them along with that. In the classroom we call that guided learning," outlines Stephen who is a teaching principal in Scoil Naomh Iosaf in Adare.

"It's a resource for someone fairly experienced in coaching to someone just getting started for the first time. If you want to teach U7s to run it’s there on the site, if you want to fun cooperative games it’s there on the site. If you want to play a certain way, you got to train that way. If you want to attack a certain team in a certain way, well you have to train that way." 

He continues: "There is a massive movement towards this narrative. The counter argument would be that the players don’t have the skills to do the games but we would be of the belief that if you play these games right that the skills will be learned in the game. There are hundreds of games there and also it’s not all about hurling or football, it’s about the physical development of kids". 

"I was probably 20/21 when I started to do some coaching in the club and I was the exact same as the coaches that had coached me - everyone lined up and in and out with drills. When I look back now I’m thinking Oh God” But that’s the way I had learned and it was way at the time but now I just feel this way is so much more child friendly." 

There is a financial commitment to the website.

"Coaches need to be prepared to step into uncertain waters. It’s very easy to get children to stand behind a cone and get them to come out and pick up a ball and then come back again. If you are doing that through some different games, maybe you are going to have to think a bit more and maybe it’s a bit more of a trial and error process. People might be reluctant to embrace it but by the end of it they are far better coaches and are also have a much better time. People work, they have kids and need to make dinners and do homework and now they got to sit down and plan this session but maybe they would rather just go and do what they know. Take some time to get familiar with the website and if you get comfortable, it’s literally takes two minutes so come up with an entire session and print it out and share with the other coaches," he explained.

"It's about taking the difficulty of the planning away from coaches and give them loads of resources."

Claregalway
Ballina
Tipperary
Raheny
Austin Stacks
Clare
GAA
Kerins O'Rahillys
Carrigtwohill
Donoughmore
Kilcock
Tramore
Killavullen
Mullinahone
Ballyhale Shamrocks
Kilkenny
GAA
Na Piarsaigh
Limerick
Adare
Oola
Kilmurry-Ibrickane
Turloughmore
Silvermines
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Adare LGFA
Croom
Claregalway
Ballina
Tipperary
Raheny
Austin Stacks
Clare
GAA
Kerins O'Rahillys
Carrigtwohill
Donoughmore
Kilcock
Tramore
Killavullen
Mullinahone
Ballyhale Shamrocks
Kilkenny
GAA
Na Piarsaigh
Limerick
Adare
Oola
Kilmurry-Ibrickane
Turloughmore
Silvermines
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Adare LGFA
Croom

Pricing

Free
FREE
 
Try some game-based activities in your next training session
Access to over 10 games
Access to over 10 resources
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100
/ year
Perfect for individuals to implement game-based training
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Club
400
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Get your club teams started with game-based training
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5 users
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Club Pro
700
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Give 10 coaches the power of game-based training
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10 users
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Club Pro Max
1000
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Give all club coaches access to game-based training
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20 users
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Features to benefit your team

 
 U7s
 U9s
 U11s
 U13s
 U15s
 U17s
 U20s
Adult
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Warm-Up Games
Skill Games
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Underage General Games
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Functional Movement Skills
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Skill Zone
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In Possesion
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Not-In Possesion
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Set Pieces
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Technical Games
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Building A Score
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Video Explainers
Live Coaching Sessions
Upload Custom Games
Build & Save Sessions
Download or Print
Favourites
Resources

FrequentlyAsked Questions

Can I get a free trial?

There is a ‘lite’ version of the app. Sign up on our website, download our app (Android or Apple) and you will be able to access limited free content to get an idea of how it works.

How do I pay for the app?

You can join the web based platform using a credit card. Once you have signed up using the website, you can download the app and sign-in with the same details. You can choose to use the website or the app.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Your subscription will auto-renew after a year. You can cancel it by visiting your profile on the website and selecting ‘cancel subscription’. 

Do the players enjoy the games?

The beauty of playing games is that, while the players love playing the games, you are also coaching them how to play the game. Players love playing games.

Do the games develop players fitness and strength?

We have been involved in two completed PHDs. The first PhD was carried out by Paul Kinnerk in the PESS department in U.L. and measured the effect of a games-based approach on decision-making in GAA players. The results were very favourable. 

We also took part in a PhD with Kevin Gavin in TUS, Athlone. It measured and compared the physical activity levels in youth gaelic football between a game-based and traditional approach to training. The results were very favourable. 

We are currently taking part in a PHD study with Cian O Dea, in TUS, Athlone, that is asking, ‘does a game-based approach to training lead to increased fitness levels?

How long does one game last?

There are suggested times and numbers of players for every game on the site. These are a guide. We would suggest that experience be your guide when deciding on times, dimensions and numbers for games.

Is there a limit to the number of games I can add to a session?

There is no limit to the number of games but it may affect the quality of your session, if you try and get through too many games in one session.

How many sessions can I build?

You can build, share and edit unlimited sessions using the app.

How do I share the sessions with my fellow coaches?

You can print sessions, email them to other coaches or download them and send them via whatsapp on both android and apple devices.  

Is it available on Android and iPhone?

The app is available to download for Android on Google Play and for iPhone and iPad on the Apple Store.

Is it available on desktop / laptop?

Yes, you can use the website on your desktop and laptop on Windows or Mac. You simply log in through your web browser.

What level of customer support do you offer?

We are available to answer any query or deal with any issue via email or the message form above.

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