Coaching and Games Development 2010 review
April 30, 2011Juvenile Clubs:
CLUSTER COACHING: This has been a key initiative for Coaching and Games over the last two years. The concept is that full time coaching personnel visit clubs over a four week period with clubs clustered into groupings of four. Sessions run for two hours with the first hour spent taking a session with a team from within the host club and the second half of the session spent with mentors only - as ideas are shared and all develop their coaching capabilities In 2010 seventeen clubs have been visited in the following clusters:- 1. Athlone, Garrycastle, Tubberclair, Castledaly and Maryland/Tang. 2. Shandonagh, St. Malachy's/Ballinagore, Loughnavalley and Mullingar Shamrocks. 3. Delvin, Bunbrosna, Kilucan and St. Pauls. 4. Southern Gaels, Fr. Daltons, Castletown Geoghegan, St. Oliver Plunkett's and Raharney. The final grouping was then covered in March this year with St. Mary's Rochfortbridge, Tyrrellspass, Milltownpass, Coralstown/Kinnegad and The Downs involved. All sessions have been well attended and clubs have used these sessions to develop new coaching personnel within their club while at the same time giving additional ideas to existing personnel.
U8 PLAY AND STAY GAMES: In April, May and June blitzes were organised in both hurling and football with all clubs having the opportunity to play in four blitzes - this culminated with all clubs having the opportunity to play a game in Cusack Park on the week coinciding with the County Council driven 'Destination Sport Mullingar' initiative in mid June. An added attraction for these games in Cusack was that all teams had the opportunity to have their photo taken in the presentation area with The Delaney Cup - the Leinster Senior Football Trophy or the Liam McCarthy Cup. As a follow on from these blitzes earlier in the year two further blitz days were organised for October. The 'Respect Initiative' from Croke Park was promoted through this initiative with Mentors and Players alike asked to promote BEST PRACTICE at all time.
Early July will also be a day to remember for many young players as thirteen clubs from Westmeath had the opportunity to play a game in Croke Park. St. Oliver Plunkett's, St. Loman's Mullingar, Cullion, St. Paul's, Killucan, Shandonagh, Ballynacargy, Coralstown/Kinnegad, Maryland/Tang, The Downs, Lough Lene Gaels, Bunbrosna and Turin were the lucky ones this year with new clubs to be involved next year.
U10 GAMES: For this age group games were organised also - for football South and North leagues were
organised while in hurling a league ran throughout the summer finishing on September 14th. As a follow on from the south football league ran earlier there are three additional dates in the autumn. These games as organised at U8 and U10 level complimented the many tournaments and blitzes as organised by clubs
MIDLAND TRI COUNTY U16 LEAGUES: Laois, Offaly and Westmeath organized a Midland u16 Tri County Leagues in football and hurling which was ran early 2010. Laois and Offaly had run cross border games in u14 hurling for the past two years as hosts to the National Feile na nGael. Offaly and Westmeath had also been running cross border games and it was proposed to merge the three counties to have a Tri County League at u16 level. A committee representing the Juvenile Committees and Coaching and Games Committees of each county was formed under the Chairmanship of Tom Jones from Laois.
The general idea of the venture was to create more games at this level against teams from the other two counties which clubs wouldn't normally play. It was to get teams out of their own environment and to meet and build relationships with clubs from other counties such as happens in the national Feile competitions. Round Towers, [Kildare] and Eire Og [Carlow] also joined the football league. All clubs received commemorative pennants.
It was a good start for the first year of the venture with 48 football and 33 hurling games played. Clubs got games that wouldn't be on their normal calendar and have made contacts for the future.
The following football teams from Westmeath participated - Coralstown/Kinnegad, St. Michael's, St. Loman's Mullingar, The Downs, Caulry, Mullingar Shamrocks, Athlone, Ballynacargy, Moate All-Whites, Castledaly, St. Mary's Rochfortbridge, Tyrrellspass, Maryland/Tang, Tubberclair and Garrycastle
While in hurling the following clubs participated - Castletown-Geoghegan, Raharney, Clonkill, Cullion, Ringtown, St. Oliver Plunkett's, Brownstown and Southern Gaels/Fr. Dalton's
CUL CAMPS / EASTER CAMPS: These were well attended again this year with these weekly activity programmes giving a great opportunity for younger players to develop their skills.
REGIONAL COACHING: This initiative ran again this year targeting U.13 Footballers and U.15 Hurlers. Four sessions were ran in November for each with the County divided into four for the football and two for the hurling. The final session for each was a games focus and no doubt next year's U.14 County Football Team and U.16 County Hurling Team will benefit from the work as will clubs with all players going back to them having developed.
Primary Schools:
With Primary School competitions run very efficiently by Cumann na mBunscol, schools get the opportunity to compete and play at their own level on a regular basis. From a Coaching and Games perspective this programme is complimented by blitz activity throughout the year with this activity run in conjunction with Primary School Coaching Personnel. Indoor Hurling has also proved popular over the last number years and the games as organised in Streete and Athlone I.T. each year provide very meaningful games at a time of year when weather conditions can be less than favourable.
Post Primary Schools
While all schools enter competitions as organised by Leinster Council, this is complimented by additional initiatives coordinated on a local basis.
FIRST/SECOND YEAR HURLING LEAGUE: Ran last February/March with ten schools participating. The competition was divided into two sections with the initial games on a blitz basis and this served to grade teams for concluding games in the competition. The competition was a great success and provided ideal preparation as schools entered into Leinster Juvenile competitions (U.14_) in March and April.
SENIOR CYCLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (for non exam students): This competition was ran for the first time towards the end of the last school year. Eight schools took part - four in section A and four in section B. The focus was to provide non exam players with games at a time of year they would not normally get - and also gave schools the opportunity 'to see' their players ahead of senior competition for the 2010/2011 year.
FIRST YEAR FOOTBALL LEAGUE: This competition was ran in the first term (and First/Second Year combined for smaller schools). The focus was to provide games for this age group and help students/players make the transition from National Schools across the County to Second Level. Ten schools took part in this competition.
BR. HUBERT CUP: This First Year 'knock out' competition is ran in the last term each and provides a good focus for all players towards the end of the school year.
COUNTY HURLING AMALGAMATION TEAMS: From a hurling perspective these teams are a key area for development. These games are hugely beneficial and exposing local players to quality competition at all levels should develop the players involved. Playing 'A' hurling is important for players to develop. All of the schools locally play in the lower tiers and while these games are excellent, the development of a County Team in this sector has given quality players the outlet to further develop. This will lead to players being better prepared for County Squads and ultimately help as Westmeath strive to play at a higher level - at all levels.
MARIST COLLEGE ATHLONE PILOT COACHING INITIATIVE: Westmeath Coaching and Games are supporting the Marist College in putting a coaching programme in place for their first years. The programme is a mix of pitch based skills activities and strength and conditioning work also. The programme runs for five periods each week with two early morning starts where the students start at 8.00 for conditioning and a lunch time slot where an educational talk is provided for those involved. This is an exciting development which will no doubt help the school greatly as they develop their young footballers
TRANSITION YEAR COACHING COURSES: Here 15/16 year old students are introduced to coaching as part of their Transition Year Programme. The course is a mix of theory and practice and some also are given the opportunity to referee primary school blitzes as organised by Coaching and Games.
COACHING BLOCKS: Castlepollard C.C., St. Finians College, Columba College Kilucan, Mullingar C.C. and Marist College have had coaching sessions delivered by our Development Officers and this will be extended to other schools also
NEW COMMITTEE: The Post Primary Body held their AGM on September 16th with the following officers elected:- Chairman Garrett Farrell (Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan), Secretary James McGrath (Athlone C.C.) and Treasurer Redmond Burke (Castlepollard C.C.) - the Coaching and Games Committee liaise closely with this committee for all initiatives planned for second level sector.
County Squads
Schools of Excellence/Development Squads are the avenue for elite players to develop as they prepare for Minor County Teams and beyond. In conjunction with the Minor Board the Coaching and Games Committee initiated a process to further develop support mechanisms for each set of Mentors and players at the various age groups. This is an ongoing process as Westmeath look to return to the underage success levels of the mid nineties in football and from a hurling perspective to progress from recent championship victories over Offaly and Laois
Other Areas
Urban Focus: With two large urban centers in Athlone and Mullingar, these are seen as key areas for particular attention. The Mullingar Street Leagues was an initiative that ran particularly well as all parties seek to maximize participation levels from this large population area.
PR is very important and for juvenile players to have their name/photo on local newspapers heightens the awareness for whatever project is ongoing. With this in mind this year we continued to develop our regular Coaching Article revolving around schools and Games Development initiatives generally. The weekly slot is well received by the local press with most carrying the article weekly. Earlier this year we were sad to see the Athlone Voice close and we thank all there who helped with our article.
Destination Sport Mullingar: In June this year The Coaching and Games Committee linked in closely with the County Council driven 'DESTINATION SPORT MULLINGAR' initiative. On Monday, June 14th, Kick Fada and Poc Fada competitions were ran on the Belvedere Estate. In football there was an adult and minor section as was the case in hurling. The course took approximately 10 kicks/shots through the grounds in what was a novels evening's entertainment. The winner in the football section was Eoin Carbury from Rosemount with Ringtown's Pat Burke coming out on top in the hurling. The minor competitions were won by Darren Brady (Killucan) and Anthony Price (Clonkill). The finals evenings in the U.8 Play and Stay initiative were ran on Tuesday and Thursday of this week also with the GAA also having a stand in the Sport Zone on Sunday, June 20th. Coaching inputs in Grange were also set up to coincide with the initiative which gave all sports a heightened awareness for the week in question and in general.
Coach Education
For players to reach their full potential in the various sectors, coaching personnel need to do the best job possible with their particular group/team. The Cluster Coaching initiative is part of this process - as is guest coaching inputs from respected and experienced coaches. Guest Tutors throughout the year included John Morrison, Paudie Butler, Martin Fogarty, Caroline Currin, Dinny Cahill and Sean Dempsey and their inputs were very beneficial. In October an Award One Football course was ran and again, when club personnel undertake such courses it is very significant in developing standards across the County.
Summary
Gaelic Games is all about team work and if Schools, Clubs and County Squads can all work well together and receive good support from coordinating committees and personnel this will help all reach their full potential. If this means silverware - great, but all squads cannot win trophies every year so the systems should be in place that when a club or county is talented enough to achieve success that they can reach this goal. Tweet
