In Focus: ‘Complacency is our biggest weakness’
Article by Dr Eugene Young – Director of Coaching and Games Development, Ulster GAA
Games are at the core of what we do. The Ulster Senior Championship this year has been as competitive as ever and is a true reflection of the great work being done by coaches and volunteers. However, “complacency is our biggest weakness”.
In a tough economic climate the GAA continues to play an important role at the core of our communities. Our target of encouraging more boys and girls and men and women from diverse backgrounds to play games remains a priority. Our core activities are Go Games (U12), Supertouch (U16), Summer Camps, Academy Programmes, U Can Skills Awards, Coaching in Primary and Second Level Schools. At present the opportunities for Coach and Referee education help develop knowledge and competencies, but the formal accreditation of programmes within a qualifications framework is high on our agenda for 2011. The promotion of greater RESPECT and the NFL (No Foul Language) Programme has been well received and games opportunities for hurling (Ulster Hurling Leagues), football (Championship, Leagues and McKenna Cup) and opportunities for our development squads are ongoing.
Participation through clubs, schools, local councils, further and higher education and county boards as well as through the special programmes such as the Regional Blitzes, Game of Three halves (coaching in association with other major sporting codes) and the Cuchullains Project (40 schools – 12 teams from different religious backgrounds who receive coaching and play in an annual tournament) are ongoing. Inclusion also embraces our older members. Working closely with Ladies Football we deliver playing opportunities though the Active Communities programmes and Gaelic 4 Girls and Gaelic 4 Mums and Recreational Games programme is designed for older men. Young people and adults with learning and physical disabilities are central to our inclusion programme; we would like our clubs to embrace this work in their communities moving forward.
Programmes need partners and the strength of the GAA in Ulster is a reflection of the quality of the partnerships that exist. Cumman na mBunscol, Ulster Colleges and Vocational Schools, Ladies Football, Handball, Rounders and Third Level all contribute to coaching and games development.
Other partners such as the Department of Education (NI), District and County Councils have provided assistance to put in place a network of development officers that work in your schools and communities. Continued support from Sport NI, Croke Park, County Boards, as well as ongoing assistance from organisations such as Ulster Cancer Foundation, MENCAP and Positive Futures add to the mix that is allowing grassroots GAA to flourish.
What next? Coaching and Games will work hard to promote our games and underpin this with the role it plays in community development and promoting health. A programme of coaching and games for the integrated schools sector is planned. The health of our “auld ones”, our referees, managers and our club officials is paramount and this provides the focus for some ongoing research.
Effective use of diminishing resources, creating strong club/school links to reinforce development is a priority. The broader the base the more opportunity there is for the quality players to come into our representative teams. The Coaching Conference in January will focus on working with adult teams. Supporting our partners, our sister associations and Scór and the incorporation of music, song and dance into “the games events” is a reflection on how our games provides the platform for inclusion and reflects the diversity of what the GAA in Ulster is about. Working at my club over the Feile weekend in Derry, reinforced with me once again the strength of our Association at community level when it is inclusive. With your support, with your involvement and with your voluntary effort our coaching and games are vibrant “we will not let complacency be our weakness in Ulster”.
