you say...'had the game been in a neutral venue the result would have been different', therefore, you ARE blaming the journey on the defeat.

Also, with it being the only Ulster game a down team was involved in that i missed the last two years, I dod not see the game. But was told two views from two sources. Annaclone battled well but never looked like leveling the game never mind winning it. I myself have travelled long distances for games..... some longer than the one in question. Leaving at the right time, having the right 'me time' for all players then warm up etc is all part of it. In fairness, more times than not you will see a team that must travel a long distance more focused than the home team.

I have no disrespect to what Annaclone achieved last season; my point is that Ulster football is a bridge to far for Down teams currently and im hoping this will change....We just dont have the quality of players there is in Monaghon and Donegal..... god forbid if we travelled to Cork

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 24/01/2012 19:41:59    1099782

kingdom gael - I accept your point. the travelling certainly did Annaclone no favors. However the main point of my post was that Annaclone were not "hammered" as singer suggested.
9 points is a loss no doubt but not a hammering.
Singer seems so intent on running down ladies football in Down but to my knowledge offers no solutions only countless critisms over the last 3 years.
Maybe singer should manage a team and see how they respond to a 9 point "hammering"

bannside (Down) - Posts: 20 - 24/01/2012 20:20:32    1099818

Intent on running down ladies football in Down - Catch a grip. I say what i see. We are streets behind the other counties already over mentioned in Ulster. Im asking why can we not put something in place at grassroots level to combat these things.
I did suggest that clubs are putting managers in place for their ladies teams and its just to fill the void. The people in charge of ladies teams need to have a knowledge of the game and be able to coach. There are loads of courses at level one, two etc for mens teams - have all coaches at club level got accredited coaching badges. This should be a stipulation. Are there no coaches out there where they could take a coaching day to coach coaches about games, systems of play, drills for skills etc. These are the things that need addressed.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 25/01/2012 10:20:17    1099959

The courses are out there... people just may not be be availing of these. I know in my own club there is at least one qualified coach with every team, however underage ladies is the one that appears to be brushed to the side. I think it should be a rule taht each team in a club must have one coach qualified to level one

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 25/01/2012 10:54:39    1099980

Singer Are you currently taking a team or a course or spending all your time on this forum crying ??

monitor (Down) - Posts: 209 - 25/01/2012 11:03:59    1099983

Monitor - hardly crying - i was asked to recommend ways of getting clubs at grassroot level to better their players and i suggested it. The kindgom gael has agreed with me about the underage coaches in clubs. I would agree that everyone should have at least level one - it dont matter how good of a player you were in the past caus reputation can mean little when coaching. could the county board not pay someone like Jacqui Clarke - a past player of distinction or Michaela Downey to take all ladies coaches from club level or indeed county level for a one off coaching day. I think it would be invaluable. These sort of initiatives could start now and continue throughout the seasons ahead. Noone knows everything about coaching - so all managers should be made to attend especially those at county underage level.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 25/01/2012 12:07:08    1100016

Singer your on here all the time running your mouth but what have you actually done yourself to help bring ladies football forward? why don't you get stuck in at "grassroots" level and shows us all what we're missing? you are thee most fickle person i have ever encountered. Get off peoples backs, get off this message board, get your ass in gear and do something about it yourself instead in crying on all the time and most importantly GET A LIFE!

Arrival (Down) - Posts: 16 - 25/01/2012 13:13:14    1100062

Arrival - crawl back under your stone quickly please. Vent your anger somewhere else - its not needed here.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 25/01/2012 13:18:43    1100067

quite clearly you are the one neither wanted or needed here......

Arrival (Down) - Posts: 16 - 25/01/2012 13:34:46    1100086

Moving on..........

what way is everyones club teams starting out this year? Too early for predictions but there must be some highs and lows in pre-season

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 25/01/2012 17:42:20    1100291

The Ladies you suggest Singer have moved on from Ladies Footbal in Down after making a massive contribution as players. Recently an introductory coaching course was run for clubs in Saval that appears to have been a great success - check out the national site - A new group of coaches are coming through and are ready to take the level 1 course in the near future. It will take a little more time but the new guys if office are starting to develop things.

ladiesman (Down) - Posts: 20 - 25/01/2012 18:43:54    1100344

Ladiesman - im happy to hear that something is being done by the county board with regard to the coaching. I realise these ladies mentioned served with distinction - thats why i think they would be perfect for the job. Its just a suggestion of a once off day where coaches could learn from the best.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 26/01/2012 09:42:21    1100506

Its very fair to say that these girls served the county to the highest degree with commitment over the years.....but i must point out that in my opinion this does not make them the top coaches around. The top coaches in the county will have extensive coaching experience and award 2 and above. A one day coaching session should be led by someone of this calibre with the like of past players being used to assist

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 26/01/2012 10:24:07    1100529

Have you any suggestions as to who this mey be TheKingdongael ?? I agree with your statements - but who are these people and can we get them on board?

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 26/01/2012 11:09:39    1100569

Well obviously the top coaches in Down will be plying their trade at club or county. But for the likes of one off sessions etc to give new coaches and ladies underage - senior coaches the county board could look at one day sessions with Jim McCrory, Steven Poacher etc. Using a club underage team training session as a model, the likes of these men could take a session....with ladies coaches observing. The session could include the best way to coach a session at underage level and just as important (using past players like the Downeys and even current senior players) they coul;d demonstrate how to use other coaches effectively in a training session.

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 26/01/2012 12:49:53    1100672

Poacher and Corry would be ideal and full of enthusiasm - I agree KG top players are not always effective coaches - coaching clinics are available on a regular basis but your right Singer if they were specifically for ladies, our developing coaches might feel more comfortable going along and learning. The coaches that delivered the foundation course were from Down so we do have the know-how - hopefully in time it will start to come together

ladiesman (Down) - Posts: 20 - 26/01/2012 18:06:59    1100962

I wonder how many times our county executive commitee for ladies football have sat down around a table together, said right, why are we not at the standard of other counties....what realisitic ways are can we work on this...on a constant basis and not a one-off (The schools especially should have dedicated ladies football sessions and the boys can be coached seperate also).

Our county board should use Monaghon or Cork and look at their coaching structure for ladies football from all age levels, structure it and implement it to suit our county and work on it.....these things could be a 10 year plan; but if it doesnt get looked at soon, we will still be behind other counties for many years to come and you will not see Down competing for the high honours at senior level

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 26/01/2012 18:47:35    1100988

On thought ive always had.... at a young age group, there are not the extensive lists of high quality coaches at every club. However, you can get at least one good coach per club.

Why, for example, at under 12 or up to 14 cant clubs have coaching and development together. One coach from each club (could even be led by well qualified coach).

For eample; Shamrocks and Bosco (a weekly training session for young girls led by one good coach from each club to develop young players)

Kilcoo, Clonduff and maybe Drumgath

Mayobridge & Saval

Byransford & Castlewellan etc etc

There is nothing wrong with clubs using their resources and working together at this age group in order to develop players. These players will all be at the same schools etc but at a younger age could be better coached if clubs joined their coaching resources together. Clubs would benefit as their own players would be better coached up to a certain age where the club can then take over on their own again. All for the better of ladies football in Down

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 26/01/2012 18:55:49    1100995

Agree with ur statement re the county board - i wonder what exactly have they looked at to develop the programme along with the strong counties. Of course we dont have the same player resources as the likes of Cork, Dublin or Monaghan but we could make a start. The coaches mentioned are first class in their field - but would they give time to do this for the ladies of the county? I also think the group club sessions would be fantastic. the girls would get a range of skills taught to them by different people all the time - sometimes this change of scenery and change of voice would really develop players. the key is that the session is set up and the coaches are motivated to develop the players for that session - its not a session for the coaches to stand craicin on side of the pitch while the girls are left to their own devices - which is seen all to often on our pitches. Its only something worth thinkin about - but the county board need to address it soon as we are falling big time.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 26/01/2012 20:33:00    1101073

Well i hope the county bpard dont look at it like that. If it is the case that we dont have the same player resources as Cork/Monaghan, why not? Our Senior men are the same yet they can compete at the top level, why is it different for ladies?

in geographical terms we are in the top 10 biggest counties in ireland! We just need to have a serious look at why we have fell behind in development and rightify it

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 27/01/2012 11:17:37    1101205