Teams get big bounce by playing basketball, says Kiely

WHEN Dublin manager Jim Gavin drafted in basketball coach Mark Ingle during 2015, it was seen as an attempt to help the senior football team break down blanket defences. Current coach Jason Sherlock also has a basketball pedigree and the potential benefits of a hardcourt cross-over were confirmed when Éamonn Fitzmaurice brought James Weldon, Ireland women’s basketball coach, into the Kerry set-up for 2018. Kieran Donaghy’s career was testament to the way basketball could complement a Gaelic football career and rising Cork star Cian Kiely — himself an AllIreland-winning basketballer at schools level — is surprised linkups aren’t more common. ‘If you have a basketball coach coming into the likes of Dublin or Kerry, they’re not there to coach football, they’re there to coach basketball skills through the medium of football. It’s not like they’re coaching basketball instead of football, they’re there for a reason,’ said Kiely. ‘I’d be a strong promoter of basketball in the sense that I think basketball can hugely help football. My view as a PE teacher is that there are certain sports that complement each other. So it’s a fact that there are skills you learn in basketball that complement football and because of that, I don’t see why more clubs aren’t playing basketball in preseason. ‘I remember years ago in Ballincollig, they used to tarmac the car park for the winter and get two wheel-on basketball hoops and put them at each end. And instead of going running for eight weeks in December/January which you won’t find many people too enthusiastic about in winter, instead, you’re playing basketball and not only are you getting your fitness up, you’re learning key skills. Fundamental movement skills that will help you across the board. ‘So your jumping will improve, your footwork will improve. Something which is huge is your vision, which will improve. That’s what I think basketball is built on. If you follow NBA, there’s a lot of passing where you’re looking one direction and the pass goes the other way. It’s their vision which is something no one could dispute will help you in football. ‘I think so many clubs should be using it in pre-season to aid their football.’