MOSTLY HURLING:Thirteen teams still stand. The signs may be ominous for at least nine of them, but anything is possible, writes JOHN ALLEN

THE CHAMPIONSHIP season is well under way, but, as yet, the 13 teams still stand. The signs, though, are ominous for at least nine of them. But it’s not too late to refocus and set goals. Whether you’re struggling to make the junior B team or whether you’re the top man on the intercounty side, it’s good to set out the road map every so often.

Start by visualising a captain other than TJ Reid, or any another black and amber-striped player, taking custody of the Liam MacCarthy Cup this September.

But first read Wayne W Dyer’s book You’ll See It When You Believe It. It might help you to see a new future for your team.

Don’t worry about the future though, or worry at all, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to limit the Kilkenny forward line to fewer than 20 scores in a single game by explaining the workings of Nama to a snowman.

Do one thing every day that scares you. Start with imagining yourself telling Brian Cody that you won’t make training tonight because you have an appointment at the local tanning shop.

Try reading Ulysses or Cré na Cille.

If you’re a Dublin hurling forward, try putting up your hand the second time with JJ Delaney winding up behind you and the sliotar dropping from another puck-out.

Don’t talk back to the referee in the next game. This might seem almost impossible in GAA terms, but it might be the start of a culture change.

Don’t waste time on jealousy, sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind . . . the race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Kilkenny are the champs and they have been for the last four seasons. Accept it and get on with the preparations for the championship.

Remember the compliments you receive, especially the “well done” from the manager as he takes you off after 20 minutes in your first championship game (in front of your new girlfriend).

Forget the insults. Well, the truth is ye haven’t beaten Kilkenny or . . . in a championship game in over 40 years.

Read old programmes, especially ones from the year you last won Liam.

The last survivor of that great team turned 90 last July. He’s turned from hero to legend.

Join a Pilates or a Yoga class.

Be kind to your mother/ girlfriend. Who else is going to wash your smelly socks? Who else knows how to turn on the washing machine in your house? Who else knows how to iron your shirt?

Find out how many Railway Cup medals Christy Ring won. It might inspire you to greatness. Maybe first find out what the Railway Cup was.

Buy a juicer. The top sportsmen all juice. It gives them the edge, they say. Only use organic produce, though.

Tweet. Even if you have nothing to say, make it up. Sure everyone wants to know that you belong to the Twitter community and you’re now going to Supervalu to get some skinless chicken for Jilly, the pedigree boxer, who is allergic to the processed goujons you cook for the kids.

Don’t forget to mention you’ll probably stop at Lifestyle to pick up a few grips for your new hurleys.

Use the ice baths more often. It’s worth it. Your body will recover quicker and your career should last longer.

Accept certain inalienable truths: interest rates will rise. Kilkenny will win Leinster and, unless swine flu decimates their first 30, they’ll also win the All-Ireland again.

That, of course, is an opinion and, until we see them playing Dublin in their season’s opener, we’ll stick with it.

They weren’t too impressive in the league so maybe there’s a fault line developing or possibly they’ll explode on to the scene like Eyjafjallajokull, the Icelandic volcano, and begin their five-in-a-row campaign in style.

Accept that Joe Canning or Ger Farragher will score from all 65s (from the other 65 line).

Tommy Walsh will play like Ryanair; he’ll nail you at every opportunity.

Go to a Kilkenny training session once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Go to your club’s junior B training session but leave before it starts, that is if it starts.

Visit Billy Keane’s pub in Listowel during writers’ week and rub shoulders or pens with the literati. There is life outside of sport, you know, so keep you options open. A career in punditry might await.

Walk from Hayes’s Hotel in Thurles to Semple Stadium once in your life. Experience the good- natured banter of the rival fans as they head for the home of hurling for the game they’ve waited for since the draws were made last October.

Don’t buy pants without a back pocket. You might need it before the year is out and the medal presentations begin.

When you’re interviewed after your first big win of the year don’t say “we knew coming down here they’d come at us in the second half”.

Never, ever take the opposition for granted. Use Tipperary hurlers, Kildare or Mayo footballers as your example.

Get hold of a copy of the revised rules for football and read it. It will do you for hurling as well.

So, as they say, set out your stall again and come out with all guns blazing and don’t go down, without, at least, thinking and planning the good fight.