Sunday in the sun

I am not sure what I look like while playing Gaelic Football and I am pretty sure I never want to see  a video of it. But I can tell you this is how I feel and see myself while playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEAbWrdB9XU&feature=related

Sunday we had record people out again playing both hurling and football again. There were 3 subs per line in both scrimmages and foaming at the mouth to play. Togher ran a tight re’fing job which always helps the newer players learn the rules and get accustomed to thinking as they are playing. Most of us cannot remember when we learned the rules to baseball or basketball we’ve just played by them. Thus learning the GAA rules can be a bit tuff. Lots of encouragement and coaching from the vets. Just one little building block on top of another for the new 2012 season.  Were so close to a great foundation and we are 2 weeks into spring!

Comradery built through training apart

After the 2011 season our club sent out a questioner to the members, it was very insightful as to what everyone expects and looks for in a club. One of the main things was travel time to training session and the locations of these. I am centrally located in Denver and have never really minded the travel, but others found the travel too time consuming and or not worth it. The club decided in 2012 to have 3 locations for training sessions to accommodate players. Only in its third week it has worked leaps and bounds in attracting more people. Over 40 people training and playing hurling in the front range, I have only seen that many numbers once or twice in my 4 years. It is a great way to get small numbers of people together playing hurling with the goal of getting fit and working on skills. In the next few months we will all come together to start training as a whole for Philly. I really feel the excitement level when were all together again will be almost fever pitch. Each group will be brining the pride they’ve built up and anxious to see how everyone else is doing as well. So much promise on the field right now, everyone’s pushing the club to a new level.

Heels are still intact after Tuesday’s session, thanks to WEB MD found some great stretches to work on the calf’s and heels. Arms were soar as hell but we were working on striking the ball in 6 different ways. (side note my partner Emily for the drill was absolutely amazing with striking over her shoulder high balls. I was jealous of her for sure)

The other promising note of 2012 is the Gaelic Football team. We have had huge success in drawing new players and MY GOD are they some big lads this year! One fella, I can’t remember his name looked like a DT for a division A football team. (hoping to God I never have to mark him). I always find it so hard to explain soloing the ball in G.F., but a few demonstrations by BMac and Kiefert and everyone was off and running. Very good control and concentration, hand passing is going well also for it being so early. A few months of some solid training and I think we won’t be playing for a Shield this year but the Junior C Cup! One more side note the “Give and Go” drill was a total s**t show as always, when we master that we will dominate.

I personally scored points in both scrimmages this year so far, ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS IN THE WORLD putting that ball over the bar with your foot!!!

Denver Gael

(I don’t not write for or on behalf the club, I merely am tracking my thoughts and observations as a member and  player trying to better himself)

I have been playing Hurling for 4 years now and Gaelic football for 2 years with the Denver Gaels. I really enjoy these beautifully simplistic Irish games. They are devised a pure finesse and fitness and a large dose of passion. I met my soon to be wife through my club and many, many great friends. I have been amazed at the sights and sounds of a GAA club on and off the pitch. My goal with this blog is take notes of my last few years of playing and to possibly understand the games to a level I can contribute as a coach to younger American generations that will play.

As we start the 2012 season I am plagued with the nagging heels and sore calf’s. I was able to attend all of the winter indoor league so my fitness is OK, but always needing improvement. We have begun with 2012 with basic drills and endless cardio, which is great as 95% of the club needs this to shake off our winter coats. There is real promise with this year’s new recruits and returning veterans. Everyone is foaming at the mouth for Philly and were 7 months away. As our girls won the NAGAA cup last year in Camogie, everyone wants that feeling. Everyone wants to hold up the cup of a champion. Our coaches are revved up and ready to go, it’s going to be a great 2012. God willing my heels don’t fall off!

www.denvergaels.com