Dear Noel,
I’m at my wit’s end. My father says I haven’t a hope of ever coming to the attention of the county selectors because there’s nothing unique about my style.

I just don’t stand out. I score one point per game, like nearly ever other forward in the county; I have short, brown hair; no tattoo; weigh 12 ½ stone, and work as a primary school teacher. Noel, I’d love to do something to get noticed.

Have you any suggestions about how I might develop a distinctive running style?

     - Daragh, North Co. Dublin

Noel replies:
I’m delighted that you’re leaving nothing to chance in your bid to reach the very highest level, Daragh. I feel confident if you get your running style sorted out, everything else will follow.
1. Go up to the pitch three evenings a week. Bring a good young lad around town with you.
2. Practice running with your elbows extended out either side of your body in a very pronounced way.
3. For the first six weeks do this without a ball.
4. When you’ve got accustomed to that, get the young lad to throw a ball at you.
5. Gather the ball, and continue your run, without bending your elbows back in. Keep them out there like rotary blades.
6. As time goes on, add in a solo, then two solos, three, and before you know it you will be absolutely flying it.
I wish you the best of luck with it and look forward to seeing you make your mark in the inter-county game. The GAA needs some glamorous figures too, always has done, right back to the days of The Red Collier, and before that Handlebars Murphy.
Maybe look into getting a distinctive nickname, too, Daragh, while you’re exploring these particular aspects of your game.

Noel brings the light through the clouds. Contact him on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.knowledgeablenoel.com; Skype (knowledgeable.noel); and Facebook (Knowledgeable Noel.)  

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