Development of intercounty hurling in weak counties

**North Side Gael** Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:12 pm

Through together an idea on the development of hurling in the likes of antrim, let me know what yous think:

u8/10 - Primary school blitzes, run in a league form by coaches from local clubs, with players going to the local club based on locality for training over the summer and more blitzes, if this succeeds secondary schools should not have a problem getting players, they will need to work with county board and clubs to ensure the best coaches and advice for players.

u12 - School of excellence once a month with coaches from all over the country being sent by croke parks HDC to ensure the best four in each club are trained to the highest standard at this important age and coaches watch to bring the style of coaching back to their clubs. With a prestigious primary 7 first year competition being created where players from primary 7 can also link up and play with their local secondary school first year team. Local clubs, create more opportunities for players to play, ie go games, blitzes, challenges etc

U14/16 Three or four develop squads, to be selected on a divisional or geographical basis, in the cases of fermanagh and tyrone and counties like this, it should be a shared venture with neighbouring counties. These teams will play monthly and invite development squads of a higher standard each month to play in blitzes with these teams, at least once a month. The coaches will be selected and interviewed by a special HDC committee in the county. At this level also again coaches from clubs need to be highly trained in coaching and making the player aware of recovery from defeat, contuning winning trends and championship mentality. Club teams and secondary school teams should have regular fixtures in leagues and championships.

U18/21 High profile coach to manage the teams as one unit, although u21 players will play senior this should not interfere with those who do not, it will again improve the hurling rather than having not played intercounty from minor till he is 20 in his last year at u21 this will allow him to continue to develop as an u21 player and inter county hurler.

On top of this, "football only" clubs should be invited to come along to form new under age hurling clubs from u8 onward, using both the schools and clubs, this should possibly involve meetings with managment committees of three clubs to draw together a joint consensus to form a juvenile hurling club.

**hipster 2** Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:50 pm

you need good coaches at clubs to bring the standard up they have to do their drills quicker , dont worry about high profile coaches you need to get them development squads playing against better counties , i am sure antrim has many a good coach antrim is a great hurling county and the passion yous have for it is second to none