Colm Nally launches new gaelic football coaching manual
July 12, 2018
Gaelic Football based training methods by Colm Nally
It's hot off the press but already a gaelic football coaching manual by former Louth intercounty star and coach Colm Nally is set to be a top seller throughout the country.
The renowned coach who is presently managing high profile Dublin club Castleknock was at the helm when St Colmcille's captured the Meath intermediate championship and then reached the All-Ireland decider. The Balbriggan native has extensive coaching experience and is presently a master tutor with the GAA.
Eagle-eyed Twitter followers will have spotted the former Newtown Blues goalkeeper posting 'game-based training games' on a regular basis and after many requests for a printed format, Colm decided to put them all together in one, easy-to-use manual.
The 108-page colour production lays out 80 comprehensive 'games' and Colm feels it will be useful to coaches of teams at all grades from U-13 upward.
"I started writing down drills and keeping a kind of diary when I was with O'Dwyer's in the 1990s and over the years I've kept it going and documented sessions, particularly stuff that worked well.
"Modern coaching is moving away from the standard linear drills and there's more and more of this game-based training being done now and they address different facets of the game such as retaining possession or breaking down a blanket defence.
"Leinster Council approached me about a book they wanted to produce so they're using some of the activities in a manual they've produced to complement coaching workshops they're rolling out.
"But there were plenty left over and I said why not put them in another book and it really snowballed from there.
"It's a first of its kind. There are coaching manuals out there, but this is the first game-based publication that I know of. This kind of stuff has been in soccer for years, but it's relatively new to the GAA.
"It could be a monster or it could bomb, but I said I'd give it a go and so far the interest and demand has been overwhelming. There has been flowing in from all corners of the world, many of them looking to buy it online."
That option isn't available just yet, but the good news for clubs and coaches in the Leinster area is that Colm is starting locally and selling it through clubs.
"It's €10 and a club can buy 11 for €100. It's ring-bound for ease of use at training sessions and to make it durable being thrown around in a kit bag.
"I'd just like to thank Fergal McCabe for the graphic design and Anglo Printers for printing and also Kieran Carr for the photography, they were all a huge help."
To source a copy of the book contact Colm through Twitter or e-mail him on [email protected]
