Kerry legend Colm Cooper has new calling that reminds him why he got involved in GAA
Colm Cooper has found a new calling in Gaelic football.The Kerry legend says the highlight of his week is the hour he spends coaching the under-6s at his club Dr Crokes.Cooper suffered an ACL injury when he was 30 and to this day it restricts the types of physical activity in which he can engage.But when it comes to his mental wellbeing, those sessions with his team of five-year-olds provide the perfect opportunity to switch off from the demands of modern life.“We are all busy working in fast-paced environments, so it’s good for us, without us even knowing it, to be able to switch off and maybe be like a kid for an hour,” he told Fitter Happier in Wednesday's Irish Daily Star.“I think it’s good for your mental state as well as your physical wellbeing.“I miss the big days at Croke Park, seeing Kerry play and thinking I’d love to be out there. But I’m coaching Under-6s at my club, Dr Crokes, with a couple of other coaches and that’s great fun.“It’s like I’ve gone full circle, from being in high-level, high-pressure situations to hanging out with five-year-olds, kicking the ball around and doing fun things.“But I really enjoy it. It probably reminds me of why I got involved in GAA and the innocence of it all.“I really enjoy it and it’s one of the highlights of my week - going up for the hour and having a laugh with the kids and the other coaches. It’s great to be able to do it.“I suppose we’ve gotten so much from GAA, so it’s nice to be on the other side and to give something back.”Cooper’s gains from a stellar career in Gaelic football include five All-Ireland titles with Kerry, nine Munster crowns and a club All-Ireland Championship win.But those glorious moments came at a price. He was closing in on his 31st birthday when in February 2014 he suffered an ACL tear and a fractured knee.“That complicated things,” he said. “I did a right good job to it.”“Realistically it was probably 18 or 20 months before I was right. Because I hadn’t been injured all my life, I probably underestimated the length of time it would take to get back.”He recovered in time to win an All-Ireland club title with Dr Crokes and said: “That made it all worthwhile. All the effort, sweat and tears were all worth it to get back.“It was a journey and there were ups and downs, but it was always worth it.”# Solgar, the official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA and a leading provider of high-quality nutritional supplements is calling on clubs nationwide to enter their Train Like A Legend, Support Your Club competition and be in with a chance to win a training session with the Kerry legend and benefit from a club makeover of €5,000.To enter, click here or check out Solgar's socials.Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond.
