Why Constraints Make Better Coaches
Why Constraints Make Better Coaches — Lessons from a Squash Court Gym
Coaching success is often associated with high-performance centres, strength labs, and full-time squads. But the reality for most GAA coaches—especially at club and the lower levels—is far removed from that ideal. Resources are limited. Spaces are improvised. Equipment is often whatever’s lying around or donated.
It may not seem like it but that can be a strength.
Years ago, while working with Longford and Offaly, I was faced with one of the most restrictive training environments I’ve ever had—no gym starting out, no specialist equipment, and certainly no budget for fancy tech. What we did have was a squash court/attic space, a handful of dumbbells from Argos, a bent barbell, and a squad willing to learn.
Those campaigns ended in some success—not because of facilities, but because we made decisions based on the constraints, not despite them.
Here’s how being boxed in can make you a better coach—and how to make the most of limited resources:
1. Constraints Force Clarity
When you only have a small space and a few bits of kit, your programming has to get razor sharp. There’s no room for fluff. You can’t afford six-station circuits or isolated accessory work that only suits one or two players.
You’re forced to ask:
- What’s essential here?
- What movements give me the most bang for buck?
- How can I adapt this plan to this space, with this group?
The result? Better decisions. Focused sessions. Less wasted time.
The Longford/Offaly programme was built around basic, repeatable movement patterns: push, pull, squat, hinge, core. No fancy machines—just bodyweight, free weights, and serious intent. We didn’t have luxury, but we had structure.
2. You Coach More When You Have Less
It’s easy to rely on tools when you have them. Tech, monitors, spreadsheets, timers—great when they’re available. But in a squash court or an attic space, there was none of that.
Which meant I had to coach more. Cue more. Watch closer. Give better feedback. Adjust loads and tempos by feel, not formulas.
That kind of coaching—where your eyes and your voice are the most important tools—sharpens your craft. You develop better awareness of how players move, when they’re tired, when they’re coasting, and when they’ve got more in the tank.
If you're a developing coach, this is where you cut your teeth.
3. Players Buy In When They See Effort, Not Equipment
The assumption is that better gyms equal better buy-in. That can be true—but what really gets players invested is seeing effort, structure, and intent from the coach.
In Longford, I turned up early. I set up every session. I kept things organised and made sure the lads knew I wasn’t phoning it in, even if the setting wasn’t glamorous.
That commitment is contagious. Players started arriving earlier. They brought their own gear. They stayed later for extras. Because they knew we weren’t wasting time—we were building something.
You don’t need chrome rigs to get buy-in. You need consistency and standards.
4. Winning Doesn’t Care About Setup
There’s a myth that only well-funded setups produce results. The truth is more nuanced. Good programming, consistent effort, and athlete trust can take you a long way.
Sometimes a stripped-down approach leads to sharper execution. There’s no hiding behind new gear. It’s all action, all accountability.
5. It Makes You More Resourceful—And That Stays With You
What you learn from coaching under constraint doesn’t disappear when you step into a better facility. In fact, it makes you more adaptable and more effective.
You learn how to:
- Modify sessions last minute.
- Build full-body strength without machines.
- Manage large groups in small spaces.
- Communicate clearly without tech doing the work.
It stays with you when the environment changes. And in the GAA—where weather, pitch access, and player availability shift every week—those are the skills that really matter.
Final Word
The takeaway isn’t that we should avoid better equipment or bigger spaces—they help. But coaching quality isn’t defined by square footage or shiny tools.
It’s defined by how you use what you have.
How you plan.
How you adapt.
How you lead.
And if you’re in a club with next to nothing? That’s your edge—not your excuse.