ga('set', 'userId', {{USER_ID}}); // Set the user ID using signed-in user_id.

 

 

===================================================================================

===================================================================================

2016/17: Following our successful ....... Netherlands, MatchFit are now updating our calendar of events to include extra workshops in Lester and .... in the UK and Dublin & Cork Ireland through to Q2 in 2017.   See our Events Calendar and Map for more information.

...

About Us Text

With coaching and performance experience across all ages, grades and levels Paul Clarke has been offering performance insights to clubs, teams and organisations since 2002. Paul’s approach is based on learning the individual needs of the teams and players he works with so that he can compile effective performance programs that will meet these needs and sustain higher performance levels. Through learning from successful teams, players and athletes he has worked with and observed, Paul has the unique skill-set to position performance issues and create processes and plans to ensure that the road to success, whilst not easy, is simplified. Knowing that performance is made of many components Paul, and his global team of advisers and collaborators, will set in train new approaches, actions and mindsets towards fulfilling your performance goals.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Ready to Perform into Europe

Our most recent “Ready to Perform” workshop was held in The Hague in early November to professional coaches from the Klein Zwitserland club as well as coaches from the Netherlands Hockey Association. Having invested in VX Sport the coaches are very focused on gaining the most from the system. Our workshop was aimed at identifying their key performance “questions” so that we can use VX Sport data and insights to offer insight and direction to the coaches as they validate their programs and decide how to amend their approaches as appropriate. Looking forward to returning to Netherlands in early 2017 for part two of the “Ready to Perform” module - educating coaches in best practices in their performance monitoring.

All-Black Wisdom

Really great to spend some time and catch up with Nic Gill on Nov 14 in Dublin. Nic was delivering a seminar on his coaching experiences with the All-Blacks over the past eight years. Hosted by Greg Muller and “Lead The Pack” the seminar, supported by Match-Fit and VX Sport, was a huge success…..watch our Events Calendar for more great workshops and seminars across 2017. Better again…..send us an email telling us what type of content/themes you would like to see in our workshops.

Trim GAA embrace “Be Your Best”

Last Thursday night’s launch of the Trim GAA Long Term Player Development pathway was a huge success with over 250 players, parents and members attending. With some of Ireland’s finest sports facilities Trim GAA see the absolute need to embrace the LTPD process as the best way forward for their club. The Match-Fit “Be Your Best” program will be an integral part of this process - our experience in the area of youth development will provide the platform for the pathway. Not only will we devise age and stage appropriate physical development programs, we will also ensure coach education is a large part of our work. “Be Your Best” aims to ensure that every player has the chance to fulfill their potential and enjoy lifelong participation with their club.

Match-Fit scouting for success

The soccer scouting profession received a timely boost some years back with the establishment of the Professional Football Scouts Association. Dave Hobson, former head scout at Manchester United, along with Purves Ali, also ex-Manchester United, moved to legitimise and professionalise the work of scouts across the world. The latest move in this direction has been to embrace the VX Sport player monitoring technology as a key cog in their Talent ID process. VX Sport offers objective feedback on the performance outputs of players on trial and so offers another layer to the scouts expertise and recommendations. Paul spent a fruitful week-end in September with the PFSA staff introducing them to VX Sport and Ready to Perform as well as laying foundations for an exciting partnership into the future.

Since 2002 Paul Clarke has acted in a coaching and performance consultancy capacity In Ireland, UK and the wider EU. In a recent visit to the Netherlands, Paul 

 

 

 Return to Play

Higher Training Loads  |  Faster Games  |  Less Recovery  
No Performance Monitoring  |  More sitting every day

All of these factors play a huge role in the rise in injuries in our athletes and players. Numbers involved in sport at every grade are reported to be increasing - however so too are injury levels.

 

The Number 1 predictor of future injury - past injuries.

In short this phenomenon stems from the fact that very often injuries are not rehabbed to the degree necessary to ensure the player/athlete is robust to training/playing demands before they enter the competitive training/playing arena.

“Return to Play” is a proven approach to ensuring that not only are players/athletes taken through a planned, staged and monitored rehab phase (as soon as their medical professional releases them) they can be assured that when they follow the process they will come out the other side more robust, with finer athletic skills and enjoying a reduced chance of future injury.

Our approach is to not just treat the condition - instead we work with the player/athlete to establish why they may have suffered the injury and so initiate a specific program aimed at ensuring the player works towards a higher level of athletic development in keeping with the demands of the their game/sport.

For many years we have worked with players and athletes of all ages and grades and offered them the opportunity to Return To Play ready to train at the top of their ability safe in the knowledge that their injury chances have been lowered.

 

Doesn’t all you hard work deserve the proper back-up and support
the “Return To Play” will offer ?

“I first worked with Paul in 2007 when he was part of the Meath Senior back-room team.  We reached the All Ireland Semi Final and he was very important in physically preparing the team.

Since then Paul has been a huge support with the many injuries I have had, advising on rehab excercises,  prehab exercises and one to one strength and conditioning sessions”.      Stephen Bray: Meath GAA Footballer, All-Star 2007.

---

 “I was having serious re-accuring injury problems and went to Paul to see if he could help me.  He took into account my new lifestyle and rigorous demands that were being placed on my body.  He worked out a programe that was specific to me and provided a great personal service, I am now on the way to a full recovery, I would recommend him to anyone who wants to get into the best shape they can whether it be for sport or to achieve a long term goal”.   Paddy Gilsenan: Oldcastle GAA 

---

"I went to Paul at Match-Fit before starting a marathon training programme this year. After many unsuccessful attempts in previous years, I finally made it to the start line at Dublin City marathon this year. Thanks to my ongoing work with Match-Fit I was able to focus clearly on my goals, tailor my training to have a specific purpose for each session, work on strengths and identify weaknesses with a practical and scientific approach. The approach adapted by Match-Fit helped me both mentally and physically to finally cross the finishing line. I look forward to working with Match-Fit next year in order to improve my time!"        Liam Carey, runner/athlete, (first marathon 3:22!!).