Ulster GAA Coaching Conference “Structures and Systems for Hurling Development” Young/Youth/ Adult

Ulster GAA Coaching Conference Kilkenny GAA Games Manager Coaching Full Time since 1993 in Kilkenny : supporting volunteer’s involved with 6 to 18 year olds

Ulster GAA Coaching Conference Best game in the world ………………… Most skills ………………………..

Ulster GAA Coaching Conference Know the Skills ….. Coach the Skills …….

Reasons for success??

Reasons for success????

Reasons for success ??? What is Success : “Accomplish an aim” “Favourable outcome of an attempt “ Define Your Aim – Achievable goal

Reasons for success ??? Tradition - helps creates an identity Leadership – On and off the field Number one Sport Local Role Models – Past and Present Players in the community Players held in high esteem –

Reasons for Success Feel Good factor Chance of success can be high.. Administrators – Working together Coaches - Everybody feels they are doing their bit…..

Reasons for Success Co-Ordinated efforts Good Communication lines amongst stakeholders – One Fixture!!!!!! PEOPLE Volunteering at so many levels

Reasons for “Success”…… Learning and Willingness to Learn from previous players/ Coaches Managers Eg Coaching the way we were coached It’s a way of life…… However if one area is weak the chain breaksdown Tier Two at Minor Level (Dub and Wex)

Ulster GAA Coaching Conference “For each County Team success there are 36 club teams……….” Club and County

Club and County The Fenians GAA Club Last Senior win in 1977 Still going,competing. Why? Dream lives on …..and It’s a way of life …..

Club and County Dream lives on …..and It’s a way of life….. Success means different things to us all ….Vital we acknowledge the good work

Acknowledge the good work “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found, not in finishing an activity, but in doing it”…..

Where do County Board come in? Provide Leadership and Advice Acknowledge the club’s/school’s work -Meals, Match tickets, Equipment grants They also have a strong working knowledge of what’s happening at every level.. Funding for Blitzes, Leagues etc

Structures in Kilkenny  Primary Schools (4-13 yrs)  Post Primary Schools ( yrs)  Third Level (18- ??? Yrs)  Clubs Bord na Nóg (13 to 18 yrs)  Clubs Adult (18 to ???)  Development Squads (14 yrs to 18 yrs)  Development Camps (U-14)  Cúl Camps (6 to 12 yrs)

Primary Schools (4-13 yrs) 76 Primary Schools Strong Cumann na mbunscoileanna Committee 56 “working” teachers with a GAA ethos Backed up by School/Club Linked Coaches 2 full time staff Go Games Schedule Primary Schools Coaching sessions Number of games

Go Games Aims : - To increase the level of participation & number of games played in the “Go Games” environment - To modify the rules of the “Go Games” specific to Kilkenny & to maintain the ethos of enjoyment. - To ensure all children receive PLAYING TIME not SIDELINE TIME……

Kilkenny Primary Schools “Go Games” Hurling/Camogie 3 rd and 4 th Class “Buddy Blitzes” Format : Each primary school invited to a central venue on a designated date, with every third and fourth class child fully togged out and each player playing in three full “Go Games”. Children Participating : 2,123

Post Primary Schools (12-18 yrs) 12 Post Primary Schools with a strong GAA Ethos Competing at “A” Level in College Hurling (Leinster) “B” Leagues organised by Kilkenny GAA 50 Volunteer Teachers Super Touch Blitzes

Third Level Strong Links forged with IT Carlow GAA Course -10 weeks Work Placements x 5 students -Primary School Coaching Programme -Club Coach Mentoring -Development Camps -Coaching Workshops -First year Coaching -Fitness Testing Second Level Schools -Club Cill Chainnigh Award

Clubs Bord na Nóg (4 to 18 yrs) 36 Clubs 4 Divisions – A, B, C, D 2 Regions – North and South U-8, U-10, U-12 - Go Games U-14, U-16 and Minor – League and Championships (With the result most clubs have achieved some form of success …..)

Go Games Blitzes  Format U-8 U-10 – 4 teams, 2 pitches, Each player plays 3 games.  Format U-12 – 8 Teams, 2 Groups of 4, Each teams Plays each other once. Festivals for all Top V Top, 2 nd v 2 nd 3 rd V3rd, 4 th Vs 4 th.  For clubs with Larger numbers - Mix abilities –Learning from their peers is an optimum way of “Learning”

“Club Cill Chainnigh” Award Promoting Best Practice for our Juvenile Players 15 Criteria as laid down by our own Coaching and Games Committee Three Star Awards / Two Star Awards

Clubs Adult (18 to ???) Junior B Junior A Junior Intermediate Senior

Total Number of GAA Games in Kilkenny = 1,788 Games * * Figure excludes a comprehensive Secondary Schools Games Programme, Go Games (Circa 400), Club organised Blitzes, all Inter-county Activity, Club Challenge games, and all Training sessions taking place in the county during the year.

Grade Games The figures below represents the number of games provided at each grade in hurling in Kilkenny in Grade Games Senior 77 Intermediate 77 Junior 171 Junior A 84 Junior B 145 U21 45 Minor 161 U U Schools 179 Total Scheduled Hurling Games = 1,277 Games

The figures below represents the number of games provided at each grade in Gaelic Football in Kilkenny in Totals for each grade in 2012 Grade GamesGrade Games Senior 43 Intermediate 21 Junior 15 U21 9 Minor 85 U16 86 U Schools 113 Total 511 Gaelic Football Games

Development Squads (14 yrs to 18 yrs) U-14 3 Regional Squads U-15 2 Regional Squads U-16 2 Regional Squads U-17 (Minor “B” Squad)

Biggest Changes Organsied Underage Go Games U-6’s.. Coaching Education Organised Academies Organised Camps

Biggest Challenges Emigration (Particularly at Club Level) Committement – Lifestyle Choices Education is key here Ongoing work, year in year out

Biggest Challenges Junior Club Players making County Minor Teams Will they be blended in with current Structures or will they be lost to the Intercounty game Underage : Players comfortable doing a job ….Marking space

Club Spread of Titles won since 1980 Senior Intermediate Junior U-21 Minor U-16 U14 Teams to be competitive Winning takes care of itself

Why are people attracted to our games? To play the game To be competitive To beat your man to every ball Or is it to Do Drills ???????

Coaching Sessions … Games Based Approach Do we analysis the games ? Do we tailor our sessions from the “ usual ” ? Do we target players performance ? Do our sessions include “ Match day situations ” ? all playersDo we take for granted all players abilities/lack of ability ? Do we have variety in our sessions ?

Drills V’s Games Based oDrills promote acceleration – Games promote acceleration and deceleration oDrills promote standing starts – Games promote standing and moving starts oDrills promote good ball- Games promote good and bad ball

Drills V’s Games Based o Drills are in Straight lines – Games are multidirectional including chaotic speed oDrills promote understanding of the skill – Games Promote understanding, awareness and decision making oDrills promote awareness of Straightline space- Games promote peripheral vision

Drills v’s Games Based oDrills control – Game encourage flair oDrills promote standing and waiting – Games promote match running and movement oDrills promote on the ball – Games promote both on and off the ball

Drills v’s Games based oHowever you must get the correct balance for your team ….. oDrills have a place (For Technical development) but Balance vital……

Take Home Messages  Work Together  Strive to be the best you can be  Enjoy the journey  Align structures to suit your present situation  Every day we have a kid out hurling is a “success”  Be open minded  Encourage Practice Practice Practice

Questions and Answers? You ask and I will try to answer……

Go raibh mile mhaith agaibh