Conference to focus on underage players

THE GAA will tackle the various issues surrounding the underage player in their eighth annual National Games Development Conference, which takes place in Croke Park next month.

The theme of the conference – Coaching Children: Building a Platform for Lifelong Involvement in Gaelic Games – breaks away from the more competitive end of the sport, in theory at least, and aims instead to address issues related to the underage player, now recognised as of most concern and interest to members of the GAA community.

Some of the top names in Gaelic Games will be involved in the conference, which will take place on Saturday, December 4th.

It will also offer the 450 delegates attending an opportunity to hear talks relating to key coaching issues in Hurling/Camogie, Gaelic Football/Ladies Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders.

Among the speakers lined up are Mickey Whelan of Dublin, who will be joined by Prof Niall Moyna, of Dublin City University; DJ Carey; and Paudie Butler, the national hurling development coordinator.

Des Ryan, the IRFU fitness education manager, and Jim White, author and journalist, will provide a unique perspective on coaching issues affecting Gaelic Games.

Caitríona Cosgrave, head of physical education at Marino Institute of Education, will address issues relating to the development of Gaelic Games through the primary school physical education curriculum.

Bruce Wadrop of the Waterford Institute of Technology will address “Fuelling Our Play”, and a host of diverse topics will be addressed by a range of other speakers, including Liam O’Neill, the chair of the national games development committee; Edward Coughlan, of Liverpool John Moores University, and Cavan senior footballer Nicholas Walsh.

“The central theme of this year’s conference will emphasise the importance of the child player within the family of Gaelic Games,” said GAA director general Páraic Duffy.

“Ensuring that all players in our clubs and primary schools, regardless of their level of ability, are provided with the opportunities to develop is a key component of what the GAA is all about and I’m looking forward to hearing from a number of the expert speakers on how this can be achieved.

“We are committed to developing this area in conjunction with our sister associations, Camogie, Handball, Ladies Gaelic Football and Rounders, each of which contributes to the overall development of our players.”

Reflecting the partnership approach of this year’s conference, the heads of the other codes will also be in attendance: Sinéad O’Connor (Camogie), Tony Hannon (Handball), Pat Quill (Ladies Gaelic Football Association), Joe O’Donoghue (Rounders Association) and Margaret Cunningham (Cumann na mBunscol Náisiúnta).

In addition to a comprehensive programme of speakers, delegates will also be given the opportunity to view practical demonstrations of each of the games, delivered by expert coaches, including Damien Coleman (Connacht hurling development manger), Caroline Murray (Galway senior camogie team), William Harmon (women’s Gaelic football regional development officer), John Dillon (Kerry junior football manager), Owen Mooney and Teresa McGirr (both Fermanagh).

Further information on registering to attend the conference can be obtained by phone at 01-8658625, or email gamesdevelopment@gaa.ie or visit www.gaa.ie.