The Potential Issues with Centre of Excellences in the GAA

Most counties now have a centralized training center for all their teams to train in.

This was a huge step forward for the GAA, as before, teams would have to beg GAA clubs for a loan of their facilities. Gym sessions would be held in one location, while pitch sessions would happen in another. This was okay, but it was far from ideal if you wanted to conduct a mixed session. The standard of the pitch could also be hit or miss; the GAA club could send you to their worst pitch, among a million other small issues, such as a lack of meeting room space, the inability to leave gear on-site, etc.

So, what happened?
County boards fundraised, hustled, and secured brand-new, shiny training centers with gyms on-site. Problem solved? Well, not quite—at least not in my opinion. In my ten seasons coaching senior county teams, I had access to a COE for four of them. In many ways, I much preferred the old setup. Below, I’ll list the potential issues with COEs and how to overcome them.

Problem 1: Autonomy
When you typically use a COE, you have to share it with many other teams. This means you need to be strict about times for gym sessions, meeting spaces, pitches, and floodlights. For example, in Hawkfield in Kildare, it's such a great space, but with teams constantly moving between the four pitches, even parking your car can become a slight problem.

Autonomy for a team means controlling who enters and leaves the building. Are they positive? Will they leak information about who is injured or not? These are all valid concerns. The Dublin footballers, for example, have a dedicated area in DCU, which is completely reserved for them while they’re there. No one can approach this space unless they’re vetted. This may sound extreme, but I believe it’s necessary.

As a management team, you should be able to do things your way. It's totally selfish, but it's required. Simple things like setting up the gym the way you like, putting target sheets on a notice board, and having the flexibility to change plans quickly based on weather—all of this adds up.

When I coached Offaly, we had access to a modest but brilliant GAA club called Walsh Island. I was able to set up that space in the way I thought would get the best results. In retrospect, it was perhaps better than what I had at the Faithful Fields. The Faithful Fields is world-class, but it was difficult to secure time slots, and you had to respect the other teams coming in and out. There was also a caretaker there who was very strict, making it a chore to get on the pitch when it rained or get the gym access you wanted. 

Problem 2: Too Many Cooks Can Spoil the Broth
I don’t know why, but generally, S&C coaches don’t get along with each other. I think it’s because it's one of the most insecure job positions you can have, with everyone vying for the same gigs. This has been my experience. Compare this to chefs, who regularly observe other chefs in their kitchens. In S&C, there’s typically none of that.

With a COE, you now have at least eight S&C coaches working out of the same gym, walking around at the same time, on different pitches, with different ideas. This can create chaos and little cohesion. One coach might dislike the way the gym is configured, while another might hate bands or Glute-Ham Raise machines, and so on. It just becomes a headache.

I believe that any senior inter-county team should have their own dedicated space. I think in the next ten years or so, The senior teams in most counties will move to their own dedicated space on COE land. 

Problem 3: Prying Eyes
When Jim McGuinness returned to Donegal, it was reported that they spent a fair amount of money making their training grounds completely private. If you go down to St. Clare’s in DCU and try to peek at the Dublin team’s training, you'll get a very prompt response from a security guard asking you to leave. It might sound paranoid, and on some level, it is. However, something as simple as an open training center means anyone can see who’s training, what kick-out or puck-out strategies you’re working on, the general body language of the players, and a host of other small details.

We haven’t quite reached Bielsa-levels of spying in the GAA, but it’s slowly getting there. Of the two COEs I worked in, both were wide open to the public. While it’s not a deal-breaker, it’s certainly not ideal.

Problem 4: Poorly Designed
I have yet to see a COE that was designed by a coach who works in the trenches. For example, in Hawkfield, a fantastic gym was added only three years ago, and it is large enough to accommodate a full county panel (designed brilliantly and a joy to work in). The Faithful Fields is excellent, but they built the gym slightly too small, and the astroturf they added is a weird shape and not big enough. The meeting rooms upstairs were great but again, slightly too small.

I’ve noticed issues in nearly every COE I’ve worked in. The flagship GAA center in Abbotstown, for instance, built the dressing rooms slightly too small for a full county panel. If your county is planning to build a new COE, make sure you consult with an actual coach to ensure the space is designed appropriately. Also, be sure to future-proof it with spacious rooms and tall ceilings.

Conclusion

While centralized training centers represent a big step forward for the GAA, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed to maximize their effectiveness. Autonomy, cohesion among staff, privacy, and thoughtful design are key areas to consider when planning or using these facilities. Until these issues are worked through, the old ways—though not perfect—may sometimes offer better results.