Duhallow GAA Coaching

What do our U13s love most about GAA? 🧡⚪

We asked some of our Duhallow U13 players one simple question... and their answers remind us what Gaelic Games are really all about.

From making new friends and being part of a team, to learning new skills, having fun and enjoying every training session, their passion for the game shines through.

Sometimes, the best reminders come from the players themselves.

Have a listen and let us know... What do you love most about GAA? 👇

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Warm-ups are important... but so is your language. 🏐🏑
As coaches, we sometimes use words that make perfect sense to us—but not to the children we're coaching.

Instead of saying "change direction"... 🗣️ "Can you lose your shadow?"

Instead of "create space"... 🗣️ "Can you find a patch of grass where nobody else is?"

Instead of "scan the field"... 🗣️ "Have a quick look over both shoulders before you get the ball."

The best coaches don't just teach skills—they communicate in a way that players understand. The right words create clearer pictures, better decisions and more confident players.

Coach in their language, not yours. That's where learning really begins. 💙

DuhallowGAA GameBasedLearning YouthCoaching CoachThePlayer LearningThroughPlay

The instinct of a young player is often to speed everything up.

They receive the ball... and immediately rush.

But great players learn something different.

Slow the mind before you speed up the feet.

Take a look. Scan the field. Draw in the defender. Make a decision. Then play with purpose.

The game isn't always won by the quickest player—it's won by the player who sees the picture before everyone else.

Teach players that slowing down isn't hesitation... it's awareness.

Slow your mind. Speed up your decision. 💙🏐

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