Successful 'Gaelic4Teens' Clubs Announced

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association have confirmed the 10 clubs who have been selected to take part in the new and exciting Gaelic4Teens pilot programme over the coming months.

The innovative programme has been developed as a result of extensive research undertaken by the LGFA with clubs who were asked the areas that concern them most and that they wanted help with. The programme aims to help clubs to recruit and retain 15-17 year olds which has been identified as an age group with a very high drop-out rate.

The 10 clubs that will take part in the pilot programme are St. Brigid’s (Roscommon), Éire Óg (Clare), Valley Rovers (Cork), Mungret St. Paul’s (Limerick), Doire Colmcille (Derry), Crosserlough (Cavan), Naomh Muire Iochtar na Rossan (Donegal), Lucan Sarsfields (Dublin), Clonguish (Longford) and St. Patrick’s (Wicklow).

The programme will work closely with coaches, influencing the content of their coaching sessions as well as establishing the best ways for coaches to communicate with their players. The programme will constantly be monitored and evaluated to ensure that it achieves the aim of having a direct impact on the retention of these players.

As well as tailoring training sessions there will be a focus on education sessions that will see star players like Sharon Courtney, Cora Staunton and Cliodhna O’Connor provide their expertise and advice to the participants throughout the duration of the programme.

The research that prompted the development of the Gaelic4Teens programme revealed that players play for enjoyment, to keep fit and healthy, to relieve stress and because their friends also play. The reasons highlighted for giving up the sport are that they don’t get enough playing time, there is no fun at training, that it is too competitive and that they are treated differently.

The programme will begin on Saturday 25^th February and will continue over the next two months with an evaluation taking place on completion of the pilot to analyse the impact on the players and their clubs.

For further information please contact Paula Prunty, LGFA National Development Manager

(paula.prunty@lgfa.ie or 01 8363156)