I recently delivered my latest GAA Coaching workshop entitled RECRUIT AND RETAIN in Piltown GAA Complex and was delighted to have a mixed code attendance. In parallel, a lot of fine healthy and interesting discussions on a One Club model have been going on between representatives of Piltown GAA, Piltown Camogie and Piltown Ladies Gaelic Football. A lot of openness and honesty from all the participants as they imagine a future of unity across the codes. Very honoured to be part of it.
Getting back to the workshop. It was another step on my vision of creating a GAA coaching forum in Piltown. A forum that allows the sharing of information, ideas and visions from a coaching point of view across all codes. A safe platform to discuss all things coaching and games development. A lot of clubs talk about sharing ideas across their coaches. The reality is, even within a single code, the coaches do not meet as a group even once together. Annual General Meetings have become specifically structured and do not offer the opportunity for coaches to discuss games development topics in any kind of depth. Throughout the year committee meetings take place monthly which is mainly on the administrative agenda. There may be a Coaching and Games committee, but they would rarely if ever, pull all the coaches together. So, the opportunities do not exist at club level. This is the same across pretty much all clubs and codes. It is not unique to Piltown. Hopefully over the next few years and in conjunction with one club model, a forum can be created with this in mind. A forum which has as it main agenda to create a coaching culture.
RECRUIT AND RETAIN was not just about the players, but also the coaches, because coaches are the major link between the two. This module had a practical to design and present a coaching session plan. It had input from our own young players which brought an interesting and enlightening view to all the surveys about young people leaving sport and campaigns such as #STOPTHEDROP, because the input was local, close to the bone and it backed up the anecdotal national taglines. The attendance were coaches who wanted to be there not coaches that had to be there, like many who attend the mandatory coaching foundation courses. The input was enthusiastic and genuine as a result.
It also referenced last year’s workshop BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS and that road to happiness and enjoyment which remembers that the GAA is your sport and a hobby. Something you should love and be passionate about. It is aimed primarily for coaches but is suitable for administrators, adult players and parents and is suitable for all codes and grades. Please contact me if you would be interested in it. In the meantime, I will start planning next year’s Coaching workshop taking on board suggestions from this year. Watch this space and please feel free to Share this.
RECRUIT AND RETAIN AGENDA
- REMINDER OF WHAT SUCCESS IS.
- WHAT IS RECRUIT?
- WHAT IS RETAIN?
- WHAT IS THE LINK?
- PRACTICAL – PLAN A COACHING SESSION
- YOUNG PLAYER EXPECTATION
- THE FACTS
BACKGROUND
A valid question is to ask what qualifies me to facilitate such a workshop? I managed/Coached my first team when I was 18 years old. (Read LEADERSHIP SEEDS blog here) So I have been doing this with the best part of 5 decades. I http://i love a bashave experience in all codes across all grades at both club and county level. Below are some of the highlights of coaching and team management participation.
HURLING
- Kilkenny Hurling Under-14 to Under-17
- Windgap Hurling – Under-16 to Minor
- Piltown Hurling – Under-8 to Under-14
GAELIC FOOTBALL
- Kilkenny Gaelic Football Under-14 to Minor
- Windgap Gaelic Football – Minor
- Piltown Gaelic Football – Under-14 & Intermediate to Senior
CAMOGIE
- Piltown Camogie – Junior
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL
- Kilkenny Ladies Gaelic Football – Under-12 to Minor
- Piltown Ladies Gaelic Football – Under-12 to Minor & G4M+O
Use the CONTACT FORM if you are interested in hearing more about RECRUIT AND RETAIN or indeed BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS.