LEE Flag Initiative

• Mar 06,2014

Lee Flag

Definitions

 

 

1. Club Coaching Officer

   Many clubs around the country have identified the requirement to appoint a Club Coaching Officer to support the development of coaching and games at club level. This position is a key support to increasing participation, reducing dropout and improving standards in some of our most successful units. He / she should be familiar with the GAA Games Development Programme, GAA Coach Education Programme and the GAA Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport and Joint Code of Behaviour.

   The key duties of the Club Coaching Officer are to:

• Act as a point of contact in the club for communication of Coaching and Games Development initiatives from County, Provincial and National level.

• Drive & support the organisation of Games Development Initiatives, Cúl Camps & Club School Coaching.

• Co-ordinate the organisation of Coach Education Programmes for Club Members

• Develop and support a Club Coaching Structure

• Ensure all teams/players have access to a qualified Coach

• Communicate between managers & age groups to ensure players get appropriate game to rest ratios

• Develop and promote links between the Club and the local National and Post-Primary Schools

1. Schools Liaison Officer .... steps to Establishing Club-School Links

• Ensure that the club has a dedicated School Liaison Officer (SLO). The SLO should be selected after considering availability to visit the school during school hours and communication skills. (If there is a club member teaching in the school he/she should not be asked to be SLO)

• The SLO and club Chairperson could arrange to meet the principal and teacher with responsibility for sport/games.

• Agree points of contact for club and school.

• Outline the club’s work at underage and the Go Games Programme which promotes participation for all.

• Establish what support the school requires in terms of: (a)Equipment and gear (b)Facilities (c)Coaching assistance in the school setting (d)Support for Cumann na mBunscol activities (e)Assistance with organising Go Games Blitzes (f) Support for after school activities e.g. homework clubs (g)Information about coaching courses (h) Club membership for staff

• Formalise arrangements regarding mutual use of each others’ facilities.

• Establish (and keep up to date) a GAA notice-board in the school with information on Club Blitzes, Ú Can (Skill) Awards, GAA Cúl Camps, Cumann na mBunscol activities etc.

• Provide a calendar of club events e.g. registration days, Go Games Blitzes etc. and keep up to date with school events.

• Liaise with the Games Development Administrator and the school to keep up to date with school initiatives including the GAA Céim ar Aghaidh Education Resource, GAA Fun Do Coaching Pack, Cúl4kidz magazine and the Schools Coaching programme. 

• Circulate a club newsletter to the school children to encourage them to become involved in the club.

• Host schools Go-Games blitz at the club pitch and hold a follow up event on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

• Build on the new partnership; both the club and school could link together on new projects and schemes that will encourage children toPlay and Stay with the GAA.

1. Role of the Youth Liaison Officer

• Completion of Garda Vetting Documentation

• To develop and maintain a youth centred ethos by promoting awareness of the “Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport”.

• To encourage the involvement of parents/guardians in organising activities and to co-operate with parents in ensuring that every young person enjoys his/her involvement.

• To establish a link between the Underage and Adult sections of the Club.

• To establish good links with local schools involved in the promotion of Gaelic games.

• To ensure that the rules regarding eligibility for competitions are adhered to.

To ensure that PLAYERS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS, COACHES, MENTORS, OFFICIALS & SPECTATORS apply FAIR PLAY

1. Annual Club Coach Audit

This criterion involves the returning of the coach audit by email on an annual basis. This will provide details on all coaches in the club and their involvement with teams as well as their coaching qualifications. As the GDA for your area will email the previous year’s version to you, it will simply require some minor updating on an annual basis.

1. Blitz / Activity Tracker (monthly sheet)

As games development funding from Croke Park is largely subject to activity levels and reaching predefined targets, it is essential that all activities concerning players under the age of 18 in Cork are recorded. This criterion therefore, relates to the completion of a simple sheet on a monthly basis recording any blitzes or activities which are not picked up by fixture lists. There is no requirement to record training sessions for example, but if a club organises a challenge match played in the Go Games format, or Super Touch format, it should be included.

1. Club Games Development Plan

Each club should have a coaching plan in palce., Club Coaching Coordinator, Personnel Required, Focus on participation in the club and local schools, Nursery Programme, Qualified Coaches, School Liaison, Code of Conduct, Player Retention

1. Club Nursery Programme

The ABC/Have a Ball Nursery Programmes are a series of fun-based exercises to develop movement skills for children aged 4-8 years old. These skills form the basis for the later development of the specific skills of Hurling and Gaelic Football. The level of competency with which one can perform these skills is referred to as their level of Physical Literacy. Movement and ball manipulation skills should be developed in the early years of physical development to provide the basis for all further development. However, they should be practiced throughout the career development of a player, and are typically utilised as elements of warm-up activities for both developing and elite players. This resource incorporates a number of elements which enable coaches to assist and challenge players to develop their full potential in a fun-filled environment. The GAA Nursery Resource forming part of the Fun Do Learning Resource Pack. These elements are as follows: ABC Programme, Have a Ball Programme, Sample Sessions

The ABC Programme provides a range of activities which can be used to develop movement skills incorporating Agility, Balance, Coordination, Running and Jumping. ABC stands for Acquiring Bilateral Coordination, whereby all of the skills are developed on the left and right sides of the body, using left and right hands and feet. Within the ABC Programme, for each of the 5 skills outlined, there are three levels of exercise - Level 1 being the easiest, Level 2 moderately difficult and Level 3 most difficult. With an average of 8 exercises within each level, there are approximately 120 exercises which can be used to develop movement skills. As the exercises are grouped based on ability level, many exercises can be substituted for each other while keeping the difficulty level of the session consistent. This helps to ensure that sessions are varied, both for the players and the coach.

The Have a Ball Programme provides a range of activities which can be used to develop ball manipulation skills. These skills include Throwing, Catching & Passing, Kicking and Striking. Activities in this section focus on the participants’ ability to play with and manipulate balls of various sizes, shapes and weights. Within the Have a Ball Programme there are activities that can be used to develop each of the ball manipulation skills. As there are also three difficulty levels outlined, with an average of 8 exercises per level, the Have a Ball Programme offers a bank of approximately 100 exercises that can be used interchangeably.

1. VHI Cul Camp

VHI GAA Cúl Camps provide boys and girls – between the ages of 7 and 13 – with an action-packed and fun-filled week of activity during the summer holidays which revolves around maximising enjoyment and sustaining participant involvement in Gaelic Games. Activities are GAME - BASED (a strong emphasis is placed on skill acquisition) and are organised in an age appropriate manner with a view to: optimising learning, enhancing friendships, improving physical & psychological well being and promoting school and club links 

The camps are structured so that a different aspect of the game is worked on each day. The programme involves coaching specific skills of the game and the opportunity for children to put into practice what they have learned through small sided games. On the last day of the camp a "blitz" will be organised to provide each child with an introduction to competitive games. VHI Cúl Camps - are run throughout the summer from Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 2.30pm, throughout Cork. Attendance is open to primary school children aged 7 years to 13 years.

1. Schools coaching programme

            (incl. Heads of Agreement)

In order to meet the criteria under this heading a Club is to run at least 8 sessions (duration 30-45mins) for each pupil in 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th class over the course of the calendar year. No school coaching is to take place until the Heads of Agreement is signed by all parties. This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of the GAA, the school, the club and the coaches