Coaching news
Coach education
The first phase of the new GAA coach education system has now come on stream and will be known as Foundation award. This section of the new system is compulsory for any person intending to coach at any age level and will be the minimum requirement for all coaches from now on.
Later on in the spring the second phase will be launched and will be titled Award 1. It is at this stage that coaches will be able to concentrate on specific areas i.e. child, youth or adult.
The first of the new foundation award courses was completed last weekend in Ballinamore with 52 coaches attending both male and female. Congrats and well done to all who attended. The second of our foundation award courses will take place this weekend in Drumkeerin, and we would appeal to all clubs to get their coaches out to this course. Coaches who have attained the old foundation award are not obliged to complete the new course but may do so if they want to. Course duration is 7 hours and will commence on Friday evening and conclude on Saturday morning. Clubs who normally train on a Friday night should ensure that any player wishing to complete the course is excused from training on the night.
Courses will run from 7.30pm to 10.00pm on Friday evenings and from 10.00am to 2.30pm approx. on Saturday.
Course details.
13 & 14/02/2009 – Lough Allen college, Drumkeerin
Coaching booklets.
Coaches of all teams are always looking for new ideas and ways to coach skills, game set ups etc, so with thanks to John Morrison we have two publications, "Head, Hands & Feet" and "Games for better Team play" which coaches can purchase at a very modest cost of €15 each. All coaches should obtain copies of both publications as they are excellent reference books.
Some Fun do packs are still available at €50 per pack, and we would urge all coaches working with children up to under 12 to obtain a copy.
Both the booklets and the Fun do packs can be got by contacting Thomas Keenan on 087-6591049 or email thomas.keenan@leitrim.gaa.ie.
Vhi Cul camps 2009.
It may seem like a long time away but we just want to advise parents and children of the dates for our 2009 Vhi GAA Cul camps. Vhi GAA cul camps in Leitrim continue to grow in popularity so much so that we had the highest percentage turnout of children between the ages of 7 – 13 yrs in the Country at our camps last year. Congrats and well done to everyone who attended. A complete new kit has been designed for all those attending this year camps and the good news for parents is that camp registration fees for 1st & 2nd family members will remain the same as last year with a reduction of €10 for the third family member. More information on registration etc. will be published shortly. This years camps will commence on Monday 6th July and will follow the same format as last year.
06/07/09 – Aughawillan, Manorhamilton, Ck-on-Shannon.
13/07/09 – Kinlough, Drumshanbo, Mohill.
20/07/09 – Aughavas, Dromahair, Gortletteragh.
27/07/07 – Drumkeerin, Fenagh, Leitrim.
Connacht GAA & Connacht Ladies Provincial Coaching Conference.
This year s Connacht GAA provincial coaching conference will be held on Saturday March 7th, in St. Brigids GAA centre Kiltoom, Co. Roscommon and will, for the first time host a section specially, for Ladies football. All delegates attending will receive a conference pack, light refreshments and lunch on the day. A special rate of €20 per delegate or €100 for six coaches from the one club will apply for all who pre book. Cost per delegate on the day will be €25.
Following the official opening of the conference by Paddy Naughton, chairman Connacht Council, this years Key note speaker will be prof. Niall Moyna who will present on the topic "Training v Playing" – are we getting the balance right? Ryan Cushnahan, from Gaastats will give a presentation entitled Match Analysis: A new model.
The conference will then switch to a range of practical workshops to cover various aspects of coaching.
Roger Keenan (sports institute Northern Ireland) will conduct an outdoor circuit training session designed to develop strength, power and speed.
Brian Talty (PE teacher & former Galway star) will present a practical workshop entitled "Practices to improve technical proficiency"
Donie Butler (former Clare Manager & current trainer with Limerick senior footballers) will present " modified games for tactical team work"
George O Connor ( former Wexford hurling star) will conduct a session for all hurling coaches entitled "a games based approach to hurling – taking a skill into a game"
Eilish Gormley (PE teacher & double all star player with Tyrone Ladies) will present a practical workshop for all lady coaches attending entitled "creative games for skill development"
10-Feb-09 by Thomas Keenan
