How Skills Really Develop in Gaelic Games | Philip O’Callaghan

Weekly GAA Coaching insights (my list): https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773
Philip’s newsletter (skill acquisition + practice design): https://mrtenniscoach.substack.com/

How do players really develop skill in Gaelic Games? In this episode, Skill Acquisition expert Philip O’Callaghan joins me to unpack the science and practice of learning.

We explore:

• Why skills are best understood as problem-solving

• How to design training that truly represents the game

• The Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) explained in plain language

• When to use opposed vs unopposed practice

• Isolating “slices” of the game to accelerate learning

Philip shares practical examples coaches can apply straight away — from shaping small-sided games to tweaking constraints that bring skills to life.

If you coach Hurling or Gaelic Football, this conversation gives you a clear framework to design sessions that create smarter, more adaptable players.

#GAA #Coaching #SkillAcquisition #ConstraintsLedApproach #EcologicalDynamics #PracticeDesign