The To Succeed Blog

Insights Across
All Four Series

Sport coaching, interview preparation, AI skills and exam strategies — practical articles written by our coaching team.

The 5 Signs Your Junior Athlete Is Overtrained (And What To Do About It)
Training Science
2 July 20266 min read
The 5 Signs Your Junior Athlete Is Overtrained (And What To Do About It)
Overtraining syndrome is one of the most underdiagnosed problems in junior sport. Here's how to spot it before it derails your athlete's season.
Read article
Why Sports Psychology Is the Secret Weapon Most Junior Athletes Are Missing
Sports Psychology
25 June 20265 min read
Why Sports Psychology Is the Secret Weapon Most Junior Athletes Are Missing
Physical training gets 90% of the attention. But research consistently shows mental skills training is what separates good athletes from great ones.
Read article
Cold Water Swimming: The Complete Safety & Training Guide for Parents
Open Water
18 June 20267 min read
Cold Water Swimming: The Complete Safety & Training Guide for Parents
Open water and wild swimming have exploded in popularity. But cold water has genuine risks. Here's what every parent of a junior swimmer needs to know.
Read article
How to Pick the Right First Sport for Your Child (Ages 6–12)
Parenting in Sport
10 June 20265 min read
How to Pick the Right First Sport for Your Child (Ages 6–12)
Sport specialisation before age 12 is a mistake most youth sport science agrees on. Here's how to think about early sport choices and what actually sets athletes up for long-term success.
Read article
The Science of Recovery: Sleep, Nutrition & Rest for Junior Athletes
Recovery
3 June 20266 min read
The Science of Recovery: Sleep, Nutrition & Rest for Junior Athletes
Recovery isn't passive. It's where adaptation actually happens. And for junior athletes, the recovery requirements are significantly higher than most coaches and parents realise.
Read article
Trail Running vs Road Running: A Coach's Guide for Junior Athletes
Endurance
27 May 20265 min read
Trail Running vs Road Running: A Coach's Guide for Junior Athletes
Trail running has gone from niche to mainstream in junior endurance sport. But is it better than road running for developing juniors? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.
Read article
7 Questions Irish School Interview Boards Ask Every Candidate (And How to Answer Them)
Interview Prep
4 July 20267 min read
7 Questions Irish School Interview Boards Ask Every Candidate (And How to Answer Them)
Irish school leadership interview boards follow predictable patterns. Here are the seven questions that appear on almost every panel — and the framework for answering them.
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The STAR Framework: How to Structure Any Competency Interview Answer
Interview Prep
5 July 20265 min read
The STAR Framework: How to Structure Any Competency Interview Answer
STAR is the gold standard for competency interview answers. Here is how to use it properly — and the mistakes most candidates make.
Read article
ChatGPT vs Claude: Which AI Tool Should Professionals Use in 2026?
AI & Digital
3 July 20266 min read
ChatGPT vs Claude: Which AI Tool Should Professionals Use in 2026?
Both tools are remarkable — but they excel in different areas. A practical comparison for working professionals who want to use AI to get more done.
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How to Use AI to Cut Your Admin Time in Half
AI & Digital
6 July 20265 min read
How to Use AI to Cut Your Admin Time in Half
The professionals saving the most time with AI are the ones who identified their three biggest time drains and built simple AI habits around them.
Read article
Junior Cycle vs Leaving Cert: What Every Irish Parent Needs to Know
Exam Guides
1 July 20267 min read
Junior Cycle vs Leaving Cert: What Every Irish Parent Needs to Know
The Irish second-level system has changed significantly in the last five years. A plain-English guide for parents navigating Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert.
Read article
How to Get a Distinction in Junior Cycle History: The Complete Model Answer Guide
Exam Guides
7 July 20266 min read
How to Get a Distinction in Junior Cycle History: The Complete Model Answer Guide
Most JC History students lose marks on the same predictable question types. Here is the model answer structure that consistently earns Distinction.
Read article
Introducing Custom Books: Commission a Guide for Your Sport or Club
Custom Books
8 Jul 20265 min read
Introducing Custom Books: Commission a Guide for Your Sport or Club
We've built 72 books across four series. Now we're opening that pipeline to clubs and organisations who want a book of their own — either brand new, or tailored to their identity.
Read article
The 5 Signs Your Junior Athlete Is Overtrained (And What To Do About It)
Training Science
2 July 20266 min read
The 5 Signs Your Junior Athlete Is Overtrained (And What To Do About It)
Overtraining syndrome is one of the most underdiagnosed problems in junior sport. Here's how to spot it before it derails your athlete's season.
Read article
Why Sports Psychology Is the Secret Weapon Most Junior Athletes Are Missing
Sports Psychology
25 June 20265 min read
Why Sports Psychology Is the Secret Weapon Most Junior Athletes Are Missing
Physical training gets 90% of the attention. But research consistently shows mental skills training is what separates good athletes from great ones.
Read article
Cold Water Swimming: The Complete Safety & Training Guide for Parents
Open Water
18 June 20267 min read
Cold Water Swimming: The Complete Safety & Training Guide for Parents
Open water and wild swimming have exploded in popularity. But cold water has genuine risks. Here's what every parent of a junior swimmer needs to know.
Read article
How to Pick the Right First Sport for Your Child (Ages 6–12)
Parenting in Sport
10 June 20265 min read
How to Pick the Right First Sport for Your Child (Ages 6–12)
Sport specialisation before age 12 is a mistake most youth sport science agrees on. Here's how to think about early sport choices and what actually sets athletes up for long-term success.
Read article
The Science of Recovery: Sleep, Nutrition & Rest for Junior Athletes
Recovery
3 June 20266 min read
The Science of Recovery: Sleep, Nutrition & Rest for Junior Athletes
Recovery isn't passive. It's where adaptation actually happens. And for junior athletes, the recovery requirements are significantly higher than most coaches and parents realise.
Read article
Trail Running vs Road Running: A Coach's Guide for Junior Athletes
Endurance
27 May 20265 min read
Trail Running vs Road Running: A Coach's Guide for Junior Athletes
Trail running has gone from niche to mainstream in junior endurance sport. But is it better than road running for developing juniors? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.
Read article
7 Questions Irish School Interview Boards Ask Every Candidate (And How to Answer Them)
Interview Prep
4 July 20267 min read
7 Questions Irish School Interview Boards Ask Every Candidate (And How to Answer Them)
Irish school leadership interview boards follow predictable patterns. Here are the seven questions that appear on almost every panel — and the framework for answering them.
Read article
The STAR Framework: How to Structure Any Competency Interview Answer
Interview Prep
5 July 20265 min read
The STAR Framework: How to Structure Any Competency Interview Answer
STAR is the gold standard for competency interview answers. Here is how to use it properly — and the mistakes most candidates make.
Read article
ChatGPT vs Claude: Which AI Tool Should Professionals Use in 2026?
AI & Digital
3 July 20266 min read
ChatGPT vs Claude: Which AI Tool Should Professionals Use in 2026?
Both tools are remarkable — but they excel in different areas. A practical comparison for working professionals who want to use AI to get more done.
Read article
How to Use AI to Cut Your Admin Time in Half
AI & Digital
6 July 20265 min read
How to Use AI to Cut Your Admin Time in Half
The professionals saving the most time with AI are the ones who identified their three biggest time drains and built simple AI habits around them.
Read article
Junior Cycle vs Leaving Cert: What Every Irish Parent Needs to Know
Exam Guides
1 July 20267 min read
Junior Cycle vs Leaving Cert: What Every Irish Parent Needs to Know
The Irish second-level system has changed significantly in the last five years. A plain-English guide for parents navigating Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert.
Read article
How to Get a Distinction in Junior Cycle History: The Complete Model Answer Guide
Exam Guides
7 July 20266 min read
How to Get a Distinction in Junior Cycle History: The Complete Model Answer Guide
Most JC History students lose marks on the same predictable question types. Here is the model answer structure that consistently earns Distinction.
Read article
Introducing Custom Books: Commission a Guide for Your Sport or Club
Custom Books
8 Jul 2026undefined
Introducing Custom Books: Commission a Guide for Your Sport or Club
We've built 72 books across four series. Now we're opening that pipeline to clubs and organisations who want a book of their own — either brand new, or tailored to their identity.
Read article