Coaching and Games Development An Mhí. By Brian Carberry and Paddy Kelly. As a well known sportsman once said "you have to expect things of yourself before you can do them," thus sowing the first seeds of self confidence and belief in ability. Building the foundations of self confidence requires an influential Coach and individual strategies. Ensuring that players have the skills to succeed in Gaelic games is of high priority, but of particular importance in the early stage of the players development is the fostering of his/her self confidence. To cultivate this we as Coaches have to mindful of the content of our programmes and the desired outcomes, and more importantly operate within safe guidelines and best practice It is importance to recognise the relevance of the underage process, by planning strategically and generating/creating an environment that accommodates learning, with regular reviews. Coaching and training should provide certain challenges and have a distinctive player focus and be Coach driven. Quality Coaching 1. Coach each skill - individual attention. 2. Consider the whole part - right and left. 3. Use the correct drill, the simpler the better. 4. Leading to effective, economical, progressive and successful players. 5. Maximise facilities and equipment. 6. Ensure the session is game-like as soon as possible. 7. Repeat, re-enforce and reaffirm. 8. Ensure there's a minimum of 200 ball contacts per player in every session. 9. No juvenile player should play in the same position twice in the playing season. 10. Be firm, fair and approachable. 11. Compact (1 hour) coaching sessions for maximum benefit. Ballwork The most important aspect of coaching is ballwork. Players will work twice as hard and perceive it to be only half as demanding when they train with the ball. This type of training is also four times more beneficial and enjoyable for the players. No player should have to endure the hardship of outdated modes of coaching such as repeated laps of the pitch or other exhaustive physical activities. A coach engaging in this type of training should seriously consider upskilling him/herself in the modern day approach to coaching and training. At present there are a number of options for acquiring this, - Foundation Level - Level One - Level Two - Coaching Seminars - Coaching Conferences - Coaching Workshops - Speed, Agility and Quickness Courses It is essential that Coaches keep up to date with the ever changing field of coaching and training to ensure that the dreams and aspirations of our young impressionable players are given a reasonable airing, by an informed Coach. The Coach The Coach has to have a certain knowledge of the game with the relevant coaching qualifications and proven coaching ability. The Coach is a person who empowers players to become competent, confident, competitive and committed by assisting them to perform as a cohesive team unit. The evolving role of the Coach has to take cognisance of the ever changing methods of coaching and training. Gone are the days of the raw physical training - "No pain - no gain" where training should hurt to be beneficial. The modern day Coach has to familiarise him / herself with what it takes for a player to perform to be best of his/her ability on a consistent basis. To achieve this the Coach has to be aware of players Lifestyle, (Diet - Rest -Time management, Study time, etc.) Support systems, Physical fitness and Mental fitness. The Coach must become the change agent that ensures that each coaching session builds up to match play pace thus allowing players advance to the next level of group skill and team play. It is essential that today's Coach keeps abreast of the new and scientifically proven methods of training/coaching and assessment of each individual players physical, emotional and social needs. Mar Sin - "Aris" 1. Ensure there's a minimum of 200 ball contacts per player in every session. Always include mini games and conditioned games for maximum participation 2. No player should play in the same position twice in the playing season - rotate positions 3. Effort not pain. 4. The training/coaching session should not be the same for everyone - individualised programmes 5. Devise training/coaching programmes with the emphasis on ballwork thus allowing the players to learn the skills more easily. 6. Concise (1 hour) training / coaching session, no longer. 7. Focus on Lifestyle (Diet - Rest - Time management, Study time, etc.) Support systems, Physical fitness and Mental fitness. Coaching and Games Development, An Mhí The Coaching and Games Development Programme, formerly known as Scéim feil and Scéim lomana, is now divided into six (6) Coaching Areas: 1. Primary Schools Eu10,000 2. Second Level Schools Eu10,000 3. Schools of Excellence Eu10,000 4. Development Squads Eu10,000 5. Club Coaching Eu10,000 6. Coach Education Eu5,000 Funding is shared equally for both hurling and football coaching, to the tune of Eu55,000 yearly. This demands efficient and strategic planning with an almost full time input from the coaching Officer and excellent Administration and implementation from the games Promotion Officers. (1) Primary Schools Underage Strategic Plan for Primary Schools It's important that clubs place a great emphases on linking up with the Primary Schools in their parish. To ensure the survival of our National Games and its club structure, clubs have to think seriously about nurturing those potential young players of the future. At present our games Promotion Officers have introduced this initiative to twenty five (25) clubs, through coach education, coaching sessions and joint meetings of school Principals and club officials. For this initiative to "Roll Out" success it has to be delivered on a consistent basis by club coaches. This is the way forward, as important link can have lasting consequences for those young players. The Plan As this is the third year of the initiative a number of new clubs invested in it, including: 1. Kildalkey 2. Nobber 3. Kilmainhamwood 4. St. Brigids Ballinacree 5. Moynalvey 6. Summerhill 7. Na Fianna 8. Ballivor There were a total of 440 pupils coached through this scheme by club coaches. Follow up has been maintained with the club who participated over the last two years. Five clubs have also been encouraged and funded to initiate internal and external blitzes in the schools, with a total of 220 pupils participating. Indoor Hurling / Camogie This has been a major success with 71 schools and 968, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th pupils competing. Each pupil receiving a sliothar and a set of indoor Hurley's for the winners. (2) Second Level Schools This programme has been very successfully received by the schools and on the other hand delivered by our games Promotion Officers. The programme encompasses the following; 1. 1st year indoor Hurling blitz 2. 1st year Boys football 3. Senior Ladies football 4. 1st / 2nd year Ladies football 5. Vocational Schools Football Team 6. Super 7's 7. Second Level Skills Competition 1st Year Hurling Blitz This competition was organised very successful in April, with five (5) teams/schools and 100 pupils involved. 1st Year Boys Football This competition was held in May with six (6) teams/schools and 120 pupils involved. Senior Ladies This competition was held in May with eight (8) teams / schools and 170 pupils involved. 1st/2nd Year Ladies Football This competition ran through October - November with eleven (11) teams/schools and 240 pupils involved. Vocational Schools Football Team This team started its preparation, under the mentorship of Dudley Farrell with coaching sessions from November 2003 to Feb 2004. There were eight schools and twenty eight (28) players involved Super 7's This was one of the most successful competition of the programme. It ran from February - May and there were thirteen schools - 116 teams and 720 pupils involved. The finals were played in Pairc Tailtiann and each pupil received a hoodie. Post Primary Skills Competition This is a unique competition, with three different strands, which was introduced by An Mhí and is now replicated throughout Leinster. Sixteen schools and 256 pupils participated during the month of May. (3) Schools of Exellence Football U13/U14 This year again the coaching sessions were centrally located in Pairc Tailteann. There were ten coaching sessions, which included games from August - October. The players then participated in three simultaneous 10-aside conditioned games at half time in the Senior Final in Pairc Tailteann. These players were representative of a group that may have been inadvertently overlooked at club on county level during the presentation of county trails. There were a total seventy (70) players involved U-14 County Team Following a series of trial games (150 players) a loose panel of fifty players were selected for on going coaching and games. This team had tremendous success during the year The entire panel participated in two competitive games most weekends. There were a total of 30 training sessions and 25 games. The team completed in the Leinster League and won the Offaly blitz, the Louth Shield and Fr. Bannon Cup and participated in the Laoise Tournament, which was aborted. An excellent presentation night was held in Walterstown GFC complex in October last This team has great potential. Coaches Involved with above: Brian Carberry - Coaching Officer, Pat Coyle (Manager U-14), Brendan Darby, Liam Mc Partland, Richie Cahill, Tom Flynn, Stan Kennelly, Dudley Farrell, Martin Mulhall, George Plunkett, Donie Mooney and Francis Flynn Hurling Under 14 Hurling Schools of Excellence The under 14 squad started training in June under Paddy Kelly (Kiltale) and Martin Massey (Killoyan). Trials were held in June and a panel of forty was selected. 17 of this panel were picked to attend the D.J. Carey School of Hurling which involved the panel staying in Saint Kierans College, Kilkenny for a week and taking part in coaching sessions with D.J. Carey, Henry Shefflin, Peter Barry, Brian Cody, James McGarry, Rory McCarthy, Damien Fitzhenry and Tommy Walsh. This School of Hurling was set up by Paddy Kelly as Chairman of the Leinster Hurling Development Committee and is proving very beneficial in the promotion of the game within the counties of Leinster. The under 14 squad took part in the annual Tony Forrestal tournament in Waterford and reached the final only be defeated by Kildare in the final. Under 15 Schools of Excellence This squad got together in July under Jimmy Burke (Blackhall Gaels) and Martin Heffernan (Trim). The squad of 30 trained each Saturday and started off with a match against Laois which they won. They played in the Leinster Blitz in Mullingar on the 21/8/04 and they defeated Westmeath and Carlow but lost by one point to Kildare. They also took part in the Leinster under 15 league in October and were defeated by Kilkenny and Carlow. (4) Development Squads Football U-15 / U-16 U-15 County Team Following nine coaching sessions and games, the initial Development Squad of 100 players was reduced to thirty. This panel had thirty five further and more technical training and coaching sessions in preparation for competitive games. The team competed in twelve games in the following: A) Leinster Blitz B) Leinster League C) Louth Tournament U-16 County Team This team of thirty players was assembled after ten coaching sessions and games from a total of seventy players; had a successful campaign. The squad had forty five training sessions and sixteen games, winning the Leinster League and Louth Tournament and missing out in the Oldcastle Tournament (Gerry Reilly). Football U-17 This was the first year for an U-17 Development Squad to be assembled. The squad of forty had ten coaching sessions and a number of games over the months of August, September and October. This proved a real success and unearthed some potential talent for 2005 minor campaign. Coaches Involved: Brian Carberry - Coaching Officer, David Farrelly (Minor Manager), Macartan Mc Groder, Peter Higgins, Michael Moore, Gerry Murphy, Pat Flynn (U-15 / U-16 Manager), Patsy McHugh, Gerry Morgan, Pat Mc Cabe and Colm Menton Hurling Under 16 Development Squad This squad got together in March under Michael Bailey (Na Fianna) Bernard Smith (Dunboyne), Mick Quinn (Trim) and Paul Reilly (Dunboyne) and trained every week in Warenstown College. They played in the Leinster under 16 blitz in Kildare were they beat Westmeath and Kildare before losing to Carlow in the final. Meath took part in the All Ireland under 16'B championship in July and defeated Wicklow but were very unlucky to lose to Kerry in the semi-final. (Kerry were included in the Leinster section). Under 17 Development Squad The under 17 squad was got together in October to play in the Leinster under 17 league in November. The squad is trained by Michael Wallace (St. Martins) and a welcome new arrival in the county Warren O'Meara from Offaly who has been involved with Offaly underage teams during his time in Offaly. This squad started off the under 17 league in fine fashion with a 2-13 to 0-5 win over Kildare a game played in Kiltale on Saturday 13/11/04. This squad train on Thursday nights in Baterstown and they play Wicklow on 20/11/04 in Wicklow and Roscommon on 27/11/04 in Kiltale. Lift and Strike "Giving a lift to Hurling and Camogie" The objective of this programme is to build bridges and consolidate existing links between hurling and camogie and between Primary Schools and Underage Clubs. Fun blitzes for boys and girls, grouped into 7-a-side teams, with no substitutes and modified playing rules were organised. The emphasis being on fun giving positive feedback and maximising the level of enjoyment experienced by this participates. This also involved a skills challenge with the best pair going on to represent their schools. (5) Club Coaching Street Leagues U7, U8 and U9 This project has been running for the past number of years, and caters for children aged between five and ten. It's the Kindergarden for Donaghmore/Ashbourne Juvenile Club, producing and unearthing some unique talent. The programme takes the form of: A) Fun games, participation and basic ball skills. B) Five-a-side games. C) Simple warm up, balancing size 2 ball on hands while walking. D) Indoor games with foam balls. E) Occasional games with other clubs. Children born 1999 / 2000 - Sparrows Children born 1998 - Hanks Children born 1997 - Eagles - next years U-8 team Acorns: The acorns is the name given to the Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA Club Winter Leagues for younger children. The acorns cater for school going children aged between 4 and 7. The philosophy is to introduce children to the skills of Gaelic football. U-10 All County Blitz's The Juvenile Committee organised a number of U-10 Blitz's throughout the county during the year. These were professionally run and completed, with the emphasis placed on participation, fun and enjoyment by the following clubs: A) Drumconrath Juvenile Club B) Summerhill Juvenile Club C) Bective Juvenile Club D) Dunderry Juvenile Club E) North West League F) St Michaels Juvenile Club A total of 1,069 players completed in the blitz's and were visited by well known intercounty stars - Ollie Murphy and Daithi Regan. U-12 Blitz This was organised for weaker clubs by St. Vincents Juvenile Club. Four clubs or seventy players enjoyed the competition Hurling Under 9 Indoor Hurling 16 teams (10 A SIDE) took part in an indoor hurling tournament in Gormanston College on 12/12/04 from 11am to 3pm. This was a promotion of the game organised by Paddy Kelly and juvenile hurling board and each child that took part will get a new hurley stick. Club Coaching Projects Under 12 Every club was asked to send in the best of their 12's for combined coaching organised by John Andrews (Trim), Tommy O'Loughlin (Blackhall Gaels), Brendan Fitzimons (Dunderry) and Conor Ferguson (Kells). This ran for over ten weeks over the summer months and a total of about sixty kids took part with every club from Killyon to Saint Colmcilles benefiting from this coaching The panel played matches against Dublin selections and were brought to the Cork v Wexford match in Croke. Club Coaching Under 13 Similar to the under 12 every club was asked to send in the best of their under 13's for combined coaching organised by Vinny Guy (Boardsmill) and Matt Mullen (Clan na Gael). This ran during the summer months with over forty kids involved and two teams were brought down to Laois to play against the Laois under 13's. Meath won both matches (6) Coach Education Foundation Level Courses The course sets out the basic Principals of Coaching and introduces the participant to the nuances of our games in an orderly, structured and friendly fashion. It equips them with the fundamentals of coaching and games development. The following clubs completed the course: Dunboyne, Boardsmill (H), Kilmanhamwood, Meath Ladies, O'Mahonys, Na Fianna, Syddan, Summerhill, Inney Gaels, St. Martins (H), Simonstown, St. Martins (F), All County - Hurling, Dunsany, Moynalvey, Trim, Boardsmill (F), St. Colmcilles Coaching Seminars Simonstown and Walterstown These separate seminars were very successfully received and were attended by eighty coaches Seven prominent coaches or tutors gave presentations on such topics as, conflict, coaching dual player, team preparation, dynamic warm up and fun / mini games. National Coaching Seminar - DCU Six coaches have been nominated to attend. Level One - Hurling The county level one hurling (first ever) course took place in Blackhall Gaels Club House, over a ten week period. This was attended by thirty five Meath coaches and five Louth coaches. It culminated with a stirring presentation by former Tipperary Manager, Mr Babs Keating. Each coach has to complete a logbook as evidence of his involved with teams. This was a very energised and dedicated group of coaches, with a clear vision for our National games. As the year draws to a close it is important to acknowledge the excellent, efficient and friendly way our two games promotion officers, Mr. Dudley Farrell and Ms. Christine O'Brien deliver our coaching schedules through the county. The excellent work and commitment Mr. Francis Flynn has been a driving force for Cumann Na Mbunscol. Again the County Committee and the coaching and games development committee have been visionary in supporting and implementing the coaching schedules. A huge bonus to hurling is the input of Mr. Paddy Kelly and the support of the hurling committee, also the minor and juvenile football committee. Finally without the support and advice of Mr. Noel Delaney, Coaching Director, and Mr. Jimmy Dunne, Chairman Leinster Coaching and games development committee, our coaching schedules may have only been dreams. Tweet

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