Galway Ladies Development –

Report from FUNdamental Coaching Courses.

As a follow on from the Ready Steady Coach Coaching Programmes held in 2014, Fundamental Coaching Courses were organised. Overall, 77 coaches took part in the 6 hour course which was held at 3 different venues, namely An Spideal, Claregalway and Glenamaddy on the weekend of 24th /25th January, 2015.

The courses were delivered by LGFA tutors with 2 tutors per Course. The course dealt with the many aspects of Ladies Gaelic Football, e.g. Code of Conduct for both players and mentors, communicating with players, making coaching sessions more inclusive, the rule difference between LGFA and the GAA, and the different scenarios that may arise during coaching sessions, etc. The physical side of the course incorporated fundamental movements, injury prevention, different warm up and skill drills which were delivered by the tutors and in which all participants took part. On foot of this, groups of coaches delivered warm up and skill drills to the rest of the participants under the guidance of the tutors.

The feedback from the coaches was that they found the course beneficial in many ways i.e. from dealing with player issues both off and on the playing pitches to keeping player’s attention and interest during training sessions with a variety of drills and with the fun aspect incorporated at times. In addition, the Fundamental Coaching Course booklet which each participant received would be used as a reference for them in their coaching sessions going forward.

Finally, I would like to thank Colaiste Chroi Mhuire Gan Smal, An Spideal, Colaiste Bhaile an Chlair and Glenamaddy Community School for the use of their excellent facilities. Thank you also to Jimmy Gavin, Claregalway, Patricia Keady Glenamaddy Williamstown, John O’Leary Spideal and Mary Daly Mountbellew Moylough for all their help in finalising the venues and for their assistance throughout on the day. Maura Conneally County Galway Development Officer.