Developing High Intensity Football – Coaching Practice & Intensity

(Tony Scullion, Terence McWilliams & Kevin McGuigan: Ulster GAA)

Session OutlineSection Duration

Setting the Scene:Background / Heart Rate / Intensity

5 minutes

Practical DemonstrationHeart Rate Analysis

5 minutes

What Happens During Matches?Heart Rate Profile

10 minutes

The Warm UpTraditional v Modern Dynamic Concepts

10 minutes

Training ActivitiesTraditional Drills v Games

15 minutes

ConclusionsWhat is the way forward

5 minutes

Questions 10 minutes

Background

• What do we mean by ‘intensity’?

• What are the visible signs of ‘intensity’?

• How do we measure ‘intensity’? – Heart Rate Analysis

What is Heart Rate?• What is it?

– The body’s ‘rev counter’;

– ‘Rev Counter’ on a car will tell you how hard your engine is working.

– Your heart is ‘the engine’ in your body

How Do We Measure Heart Rate?

Demonstration

• Practical Demonstration of heart rate analysis;

• A couple of willing volunteers will demonstrate the real time heart rate analysis system;

• Basic exercises to highlight heart rate response.

Heart Rate – Match Data

How Does Heart Rate Respond to Match Activities - Midfielder?

Heart Rate – Match Data

How Does Heart Rate Respond to Match Activities – Half Forward?

Heart Rate – Match DataResult Midfield Corner Forward Half Forward

Maximum Heart Rate (BPM) 194 205 192

Maximum Heart Rate (%) 100% 100% 96%

Average Heart Rate (BPM) 170 178 165

Average Heart Rate (%) 85% 89% 82%

•Over the course of a 60 minute match it is likely the heart will beat in excess 10,000 times;

•While the profile of the heart rate may vary based on position, the core results are fairly consistent regardless of position – average HR% = 80-90%;

•Does the intensity of our training activities reflect this match data?

The Traditional Warm Up

The Traditional Warm Up

Average Heart Rate – 65%

Heart Rate at the end of warm up – 55%

The Dynamic Warm Up

The Dynamic Warm Up

Average Heart Rate – 83%

Heart Rate at the end of warm up – 77%

Training Activities

Traditional Drills;• Basic;• Straight Lines;• Non competitive;• Low Intensity;

The 8 Point Support Square

• Support Square1

8

7

6 5

4

3

2

Key Aspects

•Support off the shoulder;

•Fast Hands;

•Good communication;

•Pace through the middle;

•Vision and awareness

The Support Square

The Support Square

Average Heart Rate – 84%

The Support Line

The Learning Phase Getting it Right

The Support Line

Average Heart Rate – 88%

Who’s Attacking / Defending?

Who’s Attacking / Defending?

Average Heart Rate – 91%

Box to Box

Box to Box

Average Heart Rate – 83%

Circle Score

Circle Score

Circle Score

Average Heart Rate – 89%

The Way Forward• What are the key issues to focus on when designing drills /

activities / games?

– Work : Rest Ratio;– Active Players v Resting Players;– Sporadic v Linear;

• Varied angles;• Varied movement directions;• Varied pass directions;

– Pressurised;• Time;• Opposed;• Race.

Questions