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Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference 2026:
https://irishsandcnetwork.circle.so/c/iscn-news/irish-strength-conditioning-conference-2026

In this episode of Coach's Lab, I’m joined by Dr David Nolan, Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Dublin City University (DCU), applied sport scientist and one of the main organisers of the Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference.

We explore what sport science actually is, how it differs from strength and conditioning, and what coaches and practitioners need to understand about using research and evidence in the real world.

David describes the sport scientist as something like a GP for performance – someone with a broad understanding of the different factors influencing performance who can help coaches identify problems, interpret information and connect with specialists when required.

We also discuss the role of the S&C coach within a wider coaching team, why good physical preparation can often happen "in the shadows", and how practitioners can better integrate their work with what happens on the pitch.

A large part of the conversation focuses on research, evidence and critical thinking. We discuss why science rarely provides a definitive answer, the importance of understanding uncertainty and context, and how coaches can combine research evidence with practical experience when making decisions.

We also explore female athlete research, communication between academics and practitioners, the challenges of applying research to real-world sport, and what good interdisciplinary sport science support can look like.

Towards the end, David discusses the development of the Irish Strength & Conditioning Network and the upcoming Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference.

Topics include:

• Sport science vs strength and conditioning
• The role of the sport scientist
• Integrating S&C with coaching and sports practice
• Using data to support coaching decisions
• Research evidence vs practical experience
• Understanding uncertainty in sport science
• Critical thinking for coaches
• Female athlete research
• Communication between researchers and practitioners
• Applying research in real-world environments
• The Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference

Follow David Nolan on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drdavidnolan/

Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference 2026:
https://irishsandcnetwork.circle.so/c/iscn-news/irish-strength-conditioning-conference-2026

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Philip O’Callaghan’s Constraints-Led Approach Coaching Blueprint:
Learn more and sign up here

In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I’m joined by Skill Acquisition Specialist Philip O’Callaghan for a practical discussion on skill development, the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) and designing practice that better prepares players for the problems they encounter in competition.

We start with a fundamental question: what actually is skill?

Philip challenges the idea that developing skill is simply about teaching players the “correct” technique and then repeating it until it becomes automatic. Instead, we explore skill as the ability to find functional movement solutions to achieve a goal within an ever-changing environment.

That leads us into the practical application of the Constraints-Led Approach and what it means for coaches designing sessions.

We discuss:

• What we actually mean by skill
• Technique versus functional movement solutions
• Why there may not be one “perfect” movement technique
• How perception, decision-making and movement interact
• What the Constraints-Led Approach actually is
• Using constraints to influence player behaviour
• Why constraints should guide rather than dictate solutions
• Representative practice and maintaining the “DNA” of the game
• The importance of variability and adaptability
• Designing problems for players to solve
• Knowing when to add, change or remove constraints
• The role of observation in effective coaching
• Where isolated and more traditional practice can still fit
• How coaches can create practice that transfers more effectively to competition

We also explore some of the challenges coaches face when applying these ideas in the real world. A session can look organised, players can appear technically proficient and everything can seem to be going well—but that doesn’t necessarily mean meaningful learning is taking place.

For coaches working in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie or other team sports, the episode provides a practical introduction to skill acquisition without getting lost in terminology or theory.

If you’re interested in moving beyond simply collecting drills and instead becoming better at designing learning environments, there should be plenty to take from this conversation.

Philip O’Callaghan’s Constraints-Led Approach Coaching Blueprint:
Course information and sign-up

Coach’s Lab weekly newsletter:
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Nathan Heaney – The Conditioning Consultant:
https://runningprogram.com.au/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theconditioningconsultant/

Sportsmith Contributor Page:
https://www.sportsmith.co/contributors/nathan-heaney

Conditioning is one of the most debated topics in GAA coaching. Should you use games? MAS? Tempo running? Long intervals? Short intervals? Or are we asking the wrong questions altogether?

In this episode of Coach's Lab with Dr John Murphy, I'm joined by Nathan Heaney (The Conditioning Consultant) to discuss the principles behind effective conditioning for Gaelic Games and other field sports.

Rather than arguing for one particular method, Nathan explains how coaches can make better decisions based on the demands of the sport, the phase of the season, and the specific adaptation they're trying to achieve.

We discuss:

• What Maximum Aerobic Speed (MAS) really is
• The biggest misconceptions around MAS training
• Different categories of conditioning and when to use them
• Games-based conditioning versus isolated running
• Using Yo-Yo, Beep and Bronco tests to prescribe training
• Individualising conditioning for players
• How conditioning should evolve across the season
• Practical advice for coaches working in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and LGFA

Nathan has worked extensively in AFL and with coaches across a range of sports, helping bridge the gap between research and real-world practice. This conversation is packed with practical ideas that coaches can apply immediately to improve how they plan and deliver conditioning.

If you enjoy the episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with another coach who might find it useful.

More Free Resources

Free Games-Based Conditioning Guide:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/cb11069f54

Free Youth Athletic Development Programme & 5-Day Email Course:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/a441db6d48

Join my weekly coaching newsletter for practical coaching insights, resources and sport science content:⁠https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773⁠

In this episode of Coach's Lab, I sit down with Shane Hassett, coach with the Clare senior hurling team and founder of Master Coach Consultancy, to explore how elite coaches design training sessions, develop a game model and connect every activity back to how they want their team to play.

Shane shares his journey from strength & conditioning into senior intercounty coaching and explains how his background in sport science continues to shape his coaching philosophy. We discuss representative practice, constraints-led coaching, principles of play, session planning, games-based conditioning and how coaches can better integrate physical development into technical and tactical sessions.

Whether you coach hurling, Gaelic football, camogie or any invasion sport, this conversation is packed with practical ideas that you can immediately apply to your own coaching.

In this episode we discuss:

• Shane's journey from S&C to senior intercounty coaching
• Building a game model and principles of play
• Designing representative training sessions
• Using constraints to shape player behaviour
• Games-based conditioning and integrating S&C
• Balancing drills with game-based practice
• Planning around the opposition while maintaining your identity
• Practical advice for coaches at every level

Connect with Shane:
https://mastercoachconsultancy.com/

Join my weekly coaching newsletter for practical coaching insights, resources and sport science content:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps more coaches discover the podcast.

Join my weekly coaching email for practical insights on GAA coaching, athletic development and sport science:

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Sprint & Speed Development Resources Mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ0BRPgUxb8&list=LL&index=118

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6YEP9bygg&t=1487s&pp=ygUSc3ByaW50IG1hc3RlcmNsYXNz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALARm283e4&pp=ygUYc3ByaW50IG1hc3RlcmNsYXNzIGpvbmFz

Recommended YouTube Resources:

• Speedworks Training

• ALTIS World

• Les Spellman

How do we know if our athletes are actually getting faster?

What distances should we use when testing acceleration and maximum velocity? How reliable are timing gates and GPS? And once we have collected the data, how can we use it to improve training?

In this episode of Coach's Lab, I’m joined by Dr Eddie McGuinness to discuss speed profiling, sprint testing and the practical development of faster athletes.

Eddie is an Assistant Professor in Athletic Therapy and Training and Strength & Conditioning at DCU. He completed his PhD research on speed profiling and combines his academic work with experience as an S&C coach, athletic therapist and senior inter-county Gaelic footballer.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What speed profiling is and why it can be useful

• Assessing acceleration and maximum velocity

• The best distances for testing speed

• How to set up reliable sprint tests

• 5m vs 10m acceleration testing

• Timing gates vs GPS

• Using speed profiles to inform training

• Speed testing and talent identification

• Whether speed training should be sport-specific

• What actually makes an athlete faster

• Force production, force expression and force application

• Strength training and speed development

• Developing sprint mechanics

• The role of drills, skips, wall exercises and actual sprinting

• Using video feedback to improve sprint technique

• Male and female considerations for speed development

• A practical hierarchy for developing faster athletes

• Why simple and reliable testing can be more valuable than collecting endless data

Throughout the conversation, Eddie provides practical recommendations for coaches looking to test and develop speed without unnecessarily complicating the process.

A useful episode for GAA coaches, S&C coaches, athletic development practitioners, sport scientists and anyone interested in understanding how to test, profile and develop faster athletes.

Join my weekly coaching email for practical insights on GAA coaching, athletic development and sport science: https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

Read the paper discussed in this episode: Player Development Pathways in Gaelic Games

In this episode of Coach's Lab, I'm joined by Rob Mulcahy to discuss his latest research examining player development pathways in Gaelic Games and what happens to players after they're selected to inter-county development squads.

Rob's research follows players from Under 14 through to senior inter-county level, exploring how many progress, the different routes they take, and what the findings mean for talent identification and long-term player development. Alongside the research, we also discuss practical lessons from Rob's work redesigning development squads within Clare GAA.

Who this episode is for:

• GAA coaches
• LGFA and Camogie coaches
• Games Development Officers
• Coach Developers
• Strength & Conditioning coaches
• PE teachers
• Parents of talented young athletes
• Anyone interested in talent identification and player development

What the episode covers:

• The purpose of inter-county development squads
• How players progress from U14 to senior inter-county
• Why talent development is rarely a linear process
• Selection bias and biological maturation
• A teams, B teams and widening player opportunities
• Bio-banding and its potential role in Gaelic Games
• Creating development-focused environments
• The relationship between clubs, schools and county squads
• Practical recommendations for improving talent development systems

This conversation combines new research with practical coaching experience to provide evidence-informed insights for anyone involved in developing young players in Gaelic Games.

Join my weekly coaching & performance email newsletter:

https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

In this episode of Coach's Lab, I sit down with Peter Wright of Petey Performance to discuss one of the most challenging aspects of coaching and athletic development: helping players return from injury and preparing them for the demands of competition.

Pete has built a reputation working with Gaelic Games athletes and other field sport players, helping bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance. This conversation explores how coaches, physios and S&C practitioners can better prepare athletes for the realities of training and match play after injury.

Who this podcast is for:

• GAA coaches
• S&C coaches
• Physiotherapists and sports therapists
• Athletic development coaches
• Players returning from injury
• Coaches responsible for player welfare and availability

What the podcast covers:

• Return to play vs return to performance
• Building effective return-to-running progressions
• Reintroducing speed and high-speed running
• Preparing athletes for the demands of training and competition
• Criteria-based rehabilitation
• Conditioning during injury recovery
• Managing recurring soft tissue injuries
• The role of diagnosis in rehabilitation planning
• Collaboration between coaches, physios and athletes
• Health, body composition and injury risk
• Why micro-dosing speed and plyometrics can be valuable year-round

Pete's podcast:
The Athlete's Advantage Podcast

Follow Pete:
Instagram: @peteyperformance

A practical episode for anyone looking to better understand the journey from injury rehabilitation back to confident, high-level performance.

In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I’m joined by Darren Lewis, performance analysis consultant and researcher at Atlantic Technological University, to discuss his recently published paper proposing the ACE Model of Video-Based Feedback Design.

Darren has worked in professional rugby and consultancy roles across multiple sports, with a particular interest in how video analysis and feedback can better support learning, decision-making and performance.

This conversation explores how coaches and analysts can move beyond simply “showing clips” and instead design more effective, athlete-centred feedback sessions.

Who this podcast is for:

• GAA coaches

• Performance analysts

• S&C coaches

• PE teachers and coach educators

• Coaches using video feedback in team sports

• Anyone interested in coaching, learning and skill acquisition

What the podcast covers:

• The ACE model explained

• Designing effective video-based feedback sessions

• Athlete-centred vs coach-centred approaches

• Improving player engagement and discussion

• Key messages, questioning and scaffolding

• Positive vs negative feedback and athlete confidence

• Evaluating whether feedback sessions actually work

• Opposition analysis vs focusing on your own team

• Transfer of learning from meetings to match performance

• Video analysis in youth sport

• The future impact of AI on performance analysis

Join my weekly coaching & performance email list:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

Full paper discussed in this episode:
The ACE Model of Video-Based Feedback Design

Join my weekly coaching & performance email list:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

What does physical preparation look like inside two of the best club teams in Ireland?

In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I’m joined by Shane O'Rourke (Dingle) and Darragh Mulcahy (Ballygunner), the strength & conditioning coaches behind the reigning All-Ireland club football and hurling champions.

We discuss how elite club teams manage:

• Conditioning and athletic development

• Gym integration within busy club schedules

• County player management

• Recovery and load monitoring

• Second team fixtures and player availability

• Aerobic conditioning, speed and repeat sprint work

• Communication across the backroom team

• Building player buy-in and long-term trust

This is a practical conversation about the realities of club GAA and how successful teams balance performance, workload and preparation across long seasons.

A valuable listen for GAA coaches, S&C coaches, athletic development coaches and players interested in high-performance club environments.

Join my weekly coaching & performance email list:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773

What do kids actually need from sport — and are we getting it wrong?

In this episode of Coach’s Lab, I sit down with Colman Noctor, child and adolescent psychotherapist, to explore the role sport plays in the psychological, social and emotional development of young people.

We move beyond drills, fitness and results to look at the real impact coaching has on children, and how small changes in approach can shape their long-term experience in sport.

We discuss:

• What children need from sport at different ages
• The balance between fun, development and competition
• Why more kids are dropping out of sport
• The influence of parents, coaches and environment
• Coaching your own child and managing expectations
• What to say (and not say) after games

A thought-provoking episode for coaches, parents, teachers and anyone involved in youth sport, focused on creating environments where kids can enjoy, develop and stay involved for life.