Limerick hurling manager John Kiely has given a fascinating insight into why he uses an alternative approach to the ridiculous communication method English women's coach Phil Neville utilises.
Earlier this year, former Man United and Everton player Phil Neville explained how he does his best to maintain constant contact with his players.
"We have 30 WhatsApp groups, one for every player, and I also text them individually.
"It's the only way we can be in constant contact with them. For me to know every facet of their lives is important."
He went on to claim he is in contact with every single player every single day and knows minor details like when they last had ice-cream.
It's a draconian approach increasingly infiltrating GAA as players continue to lose a social life due to sporting commitments. However, All-Ireland winner Kiely is not in favour of such an approach, as he revealed in a fascinating lengthy interview with the Irish Examiner.
Kyle Hayes doesn’t want 20 texts a day, he just wants to know where he is to be on a Tuesday and a Friday; ‘that’s it, boss, leave me alone’, so we left him alone.
Players need to be left alone. If I ring them, they could spend four or five hours and they’re thinking about what the conversation was about, so that’s a whole load of bloody energy wasted. It doesn’t need to be done.
2018 saw various prominent players cite the burdening commitments of the modern game as reasons for them walking away. A recent ESRI study revealed inter-county players can spend 31 hours of the week on senior county commitments.
It is refreshing to see a manager utilise a practical, and successful, alternative approach.
Kiely's full interview is well worth your time and can be found in full here or in today's paper on page 15.
