Ready..Steady..Play a big success in Leitrim

This is a quote from one of the 33 new volunteers who participated in Ready..Steady..Play, the new volunteer recruitment programme of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Leitrim was host to the delivery of the first Ready..Steady..Play Programme. Three courses took place over the weekend of the 31st March with 4 clubs represented; Sean O’Heslins (Ballinamore), Cloone, St. Joseph’s and Gortletteragh. Thirty three new volunteers participated in the programme which proved a huge success among both the new volunteers and current mentors within the clubs.

O Heslins and Ballinamore volunteers

The programme was evaluated by the participants
and feedback was excellent. One volunteer described the
course as ‘a great course, very informative. I would recommend
to others.’ Another volunteer acknowledged, ‘I enjoyed the
course and as a parent of 2 underage girls I would like
to get involved.’

A number of courses will take place throughout Leitrim over
the coming weeks, which should prove beneficial to the preparations
of the host of Feile Peil na nÓg 2007. Ready..Steady..Play
is an initiative to increase participation of ‘helpers’
within clubs. The programme, which is specifically designed
to be volunteer-friendly, encourages volunteers to become
involved with their local club and develops their confidence
to cross the sideline and assist with underage teams. ‘Helpers’
can assist their local club in many ways, for example, supervising
in the dressing rooms, putting out or gathering footballs
and cones used in training, score keeping during a game,
distributing water bottles to players and many other activities.

Cloone-Aughavas Volunteers	Putting into practice

The programme is part of the successful Women In Sport Initiative co-ordinated by the Irish Sports Council. Funding has been received to roll out the programme in Letirim, Cavan and Clare. However the programme is available, free of charge, to all clubs across the Country. We encourage all clubs to participate in this beneficial initiative which is delivered by qualified Coaching Tutors. For further information or to book a course in your club please contact Paula Prunty, National Games Development Officer, at (01) 8363156 or email: paula@ladiesgaelic.ie

Gortletteragh Volunteers