Psychological Focus GAA Award 1 1

Award 1 Psychological Focus Outcomes By the end of the session participants will be able to Identify the motivators for participation for Children Outline the reasons that Children dropout Identify methods of ensuring that sessions and games are enjoyable and challenging

Why do children play sport? Question Why do children play sport? To Have Fun To improve their skills To be with friends To do something they're good at For the excitement of competition To become physically fit To be part of a team For the challenge of competition To learn new skills To succeed or win http://www.youthfirst.info/main_articles_why_kids_play_a.php Tutor Notes: Focus on the rights of the child. In groups or in pairs discuss the issue and outline what needs the child has in the coaching environment. 3

Why do children drop out of sport? Rank in order of importance: Overemphasis on winning Lost Interest Not having fun Time consuming Coach was a poor teacher Too much pressure Tired of playing Need more study time Coaches play favorites The Sport was boring http://www.youthfirst.info/main_articles_why_kids_play_a.php Tutor Notes: Tutor Led Discussion or Flip Chart Sheet activity. What must the coach do to make sure that players stay involved. 4

Participation Vs Drop Out Drop out can take place because of factors that are internal to the game and factors that are external to the game. In dealing with internal factors there are two constant determining factors in relation to Participation and Drop Out from sport: Enjoyment Challenging Tutor Notes: Research has shown that the most important aspects of sport that keeps youth players involved is that the activity is enjoyable and challenging.

What can be done to ensure training remains enjoyable and challenging? Varying Exercise and Training Routines Vary Training Sequence Vary Location Different Mentors Maintains Motivation Stimulates Interest Ensures that the Player does not Go Stale/ Become Bored/ Adapt too to One Routine in an overly negative manner Tutor Notes: Tutor Led Discussion or Flip Chart Sheet activity. What must the coach do to make sure that training stays enjoyable and challenging.

Challenging? Understand Individual Needs within the Team Set appropriate Activities and Contexts to promote enjoyment and challenge Set SMARTER Goals MAGIC principles -motivation -age appropriate -growth (progression) -individual -child centred Tutor Notes: Some suggestions for keeping activities challenging. The key here is setting the appropriate challenge, whether that be through goal setting.

GAA Award 1 – Playing Facts Outcomes By the end of this Module participants will : Be able to define Playing Facts Be able to identify playing facts (related to the ideal player) to be identified Be able to use a skills challenge to monitor player development 8 Presentation title in footer 8

Question Why do we need the Playing Facts? Playing Facts Increases Motivation Protects Players from the World of Opinion Helps Players set realistic goals Helps Players stay in reality Depersonalises Issues Gives Players the right type of attention Playing Facts Playing Facts – Tutor to ask why we need Playing Facts. Can be a Tutor Led Discussion or a Group Flip Chart Task. Tutor Further Information: The analysis of our games is being used to create a bank of information that we can use to develop the games – you need to know the game to set out a coaching programme for it! Research by Damien Young, Hugh Gilmore, Niall Moyna has all helped in the improvement in our Games Other reasons?

Question The OTú Model – Playing Facts What do we mean by Playing Facts? The ability identify strengths and areas where improvement is required and to understand/accept why changes may be required if the team is to achieve its full potential. Feedback on performance Evidence Key Events Tutor Notes: Tutor to ask what we mean by Playing Facts? Use Definition – ‘The ability identify strengths and areas where improvement is required and to understand/accept why changes may be required if the team is to achieve its full potential..’ The Playing Facts can be used to inform coaching prior to, during and after performance. Outline that we will get into Playing Facts more in Playing Facts Section of the Course Tutor Further Information: The analysis of our games is being used to create a bank of information that we can use to develop the games – you need to know the game to set out a coaching programme for it! Research by Damien Young, Hugh Gilmore, Niall Moyna has all helped in the improvement in our Games 10 Skill Development 10

The U Can Skill Awards A simple skills challenge for players aged 7 – 12 Divided into 5 star levels 1 Star – 5 Star challenges. 1 Star are more simple skills, progressing up to 5 Star more challenging skills 3 Levels within each Star - Gold, Silver and Bronze Coach awards the players with a score based on their ability to perform the Challenge All participants receive a minimum of a Bronze award Can use the U Can Passport to record the child's progress Tutor Note: How do we conduct the analysis? Explanation of each What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of analysis. Tutor Led Discussion or Group Work with Flip Chart

The value of playing facts… "The value of stats here is that it reduces the extent to which a player is prejudiced by a coach. Stats might show that the player who is a 'bottler‘ is actually, say, the best tackler in the team, while the team's hero, who is afforded the privilege of the halo effect, is actually contributing very little beyond, say, scoring from frees.“ Kieran Shannon, Sunday Tribune, October 2007 12 Presentation title in footer 12

The U Can Skill Awards Tutor Note: How do we conduct the analysis? Explanation of each What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of analysis. Tutor Led Discussion or Group Work with Flip Chart

Playing Facts Outcomes Review Are you now able to: Identify the motivators for participation for Children Outline the reasons that Children dropout Identify methods of ensuring that sessions and games are enjoyable and challenging Define Playing Facts Identify the benefits to the accumulation and analysis of the playing facts Identify playing facts to be identified Transfer the knowledge gained from analysis of the Playing Facts and implement in a coaching session Explain the U Can awards 14 Presentation title in footer 14

Thank you 15

What is your version of the Ideal Player? Committed Two Sided Eagar Good Decision Maker Works well with Team mates Can Move off the left and right feet Confident Tutor Note: When were looking at Playing Facts, we match the players that we have against the Ideal Player? Tutor Led Discussion or Flip Chart Sheets in Groups. Participants to identify the Ideal Player, their characteristics. Focus on the skill and movement ability of players. Tutor to emphasise the need to ensure that players are two sided, able to move and control their body etc. Perform all of the Skills 16