Speed of Play

Play faster than the opposition can think — quick hands, early decisions and a first touch that already knows where the ball is going next.

Gaelic football
Minor
70 min
16–24 players
2 coaches
Effort 4/5
Half pitch
minor
decision-making
speed-of-play
support-play
transition

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 26 cones, 12 footballs, 20 bibs (2 colours), one goal with a keeper

Warm-up10 min

Heads-Up Handling

Setup: A 25×25m square, a ball between three, everyone moving. Build the tempo in gears the way a growing body needs — easy first, sharp by the end.

How it works: Threes keep the ball moving on the run: fist-pass, follow, take it back on the loop. Every few passes a coach holds up a number of fingers and the receiver must call it before they catch — so eyes come up off the ball and onto the pitch. Raise the pace across the ten minutes until the passes are crisp and the heads are already scanning. This is the habit the whole night is built on: see early, decide early, play early.

What to say

“Eyes up before the ball arrives — know your next pass before you catch.”
“Pass and move — a static support is no support at all.”
“Call the number loud — if you can read my fingers you can read the pitch.”

Easier

Call the number after the catch while the pace is slower.

Harder

Weak hand only, and shrink the square as the tempo climbs.

Activity14 min

Two-Touch Transition

Setup: A 30×20m grid. Five attackers against two defenders, one ball. Spare players rest on the side and rotate in for the defenders every two minutes — chasing as a two is hard work.

How it works: Keep-ball, but a hard rule: no more than two touches before you release — catch and give, or one solo and give. That single rule forces the head up and the decision early, because you cannot dribble your way out of trouble. Five clean passes is a point; a turnover and the nearest attacker becomes a defender. The whole point is speed of thought: the ball should move faster than the two defenders can shuffle across to it.

What to say

“Decide before it lands — two touches means the plan is made early.”
“Move the instant you release — give the man on the ball a new angle every time.”
“Fast feet off you, fast ball off you — both, every possession.”

Easier

STEPR: three touches allowed and a bigger grid while the habit forms.

Harder

STEPR: one touch only in the attacking half of the grid, so the ball is played first time under pressure.

Activity15 min

Wave Attacks

Setup: Half pitch, goal and keeper. Attackers start at the 45 in threes, defenders come out in twos from beside the goal. Two feeder lines of footballs behind the play.

How it works: A three attacks a two, and the whole thing lives or dies on how fast the attack plays before the defence sets. Get the ball to the free man early, draw the second defender, finish. The instant the play ends — score, wide or turnover — a fresh wave launches the other way, so a beaten defence has to sprint back and reset. Keep the waves rolling for three minutes, rest, swap attackers and defenders. Progress to four against three once they are reading it well.

What to say

“Attack the space before they fill it — a half-second early beats a yard of pace.”
“Draw and give — commit the defender, then release the free man.”
“Finish the chance you are given: fisted goal-side, or take the point on offer.”

Easier

STEPR: three against one so the overload is obvious and the decision is simpler.

Harder

STEPR: the defence starts level with the attack, removing the head start and demanding a truly quick first pass.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

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