The Ladies Gaelic Football Association has confirmed the 16 clubs who have been selected to take part in the Gaelic4Teens programme over the coming months.

Following a hugely-successful pilot in 2017, Gaelic4Teens will now roll out across four provinces, almost doubling in size.

The programme will help clubs to retain their current playing bases while also recruiting players in the 15-17 age bracket, which has been identified as a group with a high drop-out rate.

The 16 clubs taking part this year are as follows:

Leinster: Clonard/Volunteers (Wexford), Naomh Mearnóg (Dublin), Erin go Bragh (Dublin), Ballymore (Longford).

Connacht: Elphin (Roscommon), St Molaise (Sligo), Kilmeena (Mayo), Four Roads LGFA (Roscommon).

Munster: Cappawhite (Tipperary), Burren Gaels (Clare), Naomh Abán (Cork)

Dromin/Athlacca/Banogue (Limerick)

Ulster: Dromintee (Armagh), Killygarry (Cavan), Tattyreagh (Tyrone), Latton (Monaghan)

The programme will work closely with coaches, influencing the content of their coaching sessions as well as establishing the best ways for coaches to communicate with their players.

The programme will be monitored and evaluated to ensure that it achieves the aim of having a direct impact on the retention of players.

As well as tailoring training sessions, there will be a focus on education that will see star inter-county players Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Cliodhna O'Connor (ex-Dublin), and Orlagh Farmer (Cork) provide expertise and advice to participants throughout the duration of the programme.

The research that prompted the development of the Gaelic4Teens programme revealed that players play for enjoyment, to keep fit and healthy, to relieve stress and because their friends also play.

The reasons highlighted for giving up the sport are that they don't get enough playing time, there is no fun at training, that it is too competitive and that they are treated differently.

The programme will begin on Saturday, February 24.

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