Costello Conducts Skills Module For Academy

Munster Assistant Coach Ian Costello today conducted a Skills module and Q&A session with members of the Munster Academy, imparting useful strategies and systems in the area of skills development.

This afternoon’s gathering in Charleville is another reminder of the strong links forged between the Greencore Munster Academy and Munster Senior squad, with the Academy proving a Senior talent production line in recent years – the likes of Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo to name a few. As Costello points out, today was not the only exposure Academy players have had to the Senior set-up in preseason.

“It was great to carry out the module today as the Academy lads have been training with us (Senior squad) this week as well as all last week. It’s nice to get to know the players a little bit better and to see how they could perform in a Senior squad setting and I’m delighted to say that they acquitted themselves very well, with a number of the lads staying on with us for a bit longer.”

The Munster Assistant Coach went on to tell us what was discussed at this afternoon’s session and the thinking behind it.

“From our point of view we want to see them succeed, and it’s up to us to equip them with the tools and systems that will help them to do that. Therefore today’s session was about developing strategies that will hopefully see them transition between the Academy and Senior squads more efficiently and effectively.

“Today was specifically about skill development, looking at how they prepare and how it transfers to performance. We give them processes that they can employ on a regular basis which in turn give them the greatest chance of being successful. In relation to skill development we looked at how much they can progress on different areas of their game, so that when the time comes to step up a level they can compete in the likes of the PRO12 and Champions Cup.”

Following his presentation to the Academy players, Costello opened the floor to questions.

“There was some very good questions but I think more importantly there was some very good observations from a number of the older players in the Academy. You could say they were more statements than questions, outlining the standards they need to set and the approaches that they need to collectively bring to their game on a consistent basis. They summed them up pretty well and it’s good to see that from the lads.

“From my point of view I hope that some of the messages we conveyed today will spark something in a number of players that means they can put in place strategies and systems that will help them be more successful in the future.”

Ian addresses Academy players at the Charleville Park Hotel.

Taking feedback from the floor as the session progressed.