Colm’s ‘nerdy’ obsession spawns must-have book
Pictures: Aidan Dullaghan
shown a great attitude. He’s a player who is used to playing every week who hasn’t been playing but he came on and made the difference. Krisztián came in having not started that many games of late and scored and Dylan Connolly, having been left out, he’d have to have been hugely disappointed because he has been playing really well but to come on and play the way he did speaks volumes for him as well.
‘You’re nothing without the team itself playing for each other and every member of the squad realising that the ultimate ambition is a collective ambition. That has been the strength of this club over the last few seasons and that will determine whether we are successful or not going forward.’
What started out as a ‘nerdy’ obsession in north county Dublin in the early 90s has spawned a must-have coaching manual by former Louth star Colm Nally.
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, east-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 90s 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 the book and they’re using some of the activities 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 manulas out there, but this is the first game- based publication that I know of. This is 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.’
If the reaction on social media is anything to go by the book certainly won’t bomb with interest already 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 Louth coaches is that Colm is starting locally and hoping to sell 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 nallysc@yahoo.co.uk.