ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Festival Day
ABBOTSTOWN hosted the 2022 National ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Festival day on Saturday, April 30.
Clubs from 16 counties visited the GAA’s National Games Development Centre to share their experiences and pick up key tips from ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors.
The participants took part in 7-a-side games, while also absorbing key messages from the ambassadors on topics including nutrition, hydration and lifestyle management.
The programme has benefited hugely this year from the presence of new sponsors ZuCar, who are also the LGFA’s Official Performance Partner.
Following a hugely successful pilot in 2017, Gaelic4Teens has grown considerably to over double in size, and this programme will help clubs to retain their current playing bases while also recruiting players in the 13-17 age bracket, which has been identified as a group with a high drop-out rate.
The ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme worked closely with coaches, influencing the content of their coaching sessions as well as establishing the best ways for coaches to communicate and engage with their players.
In addition, the programme examined the coaching environments required to ensure that the long-term development of players is being facilitated in the clubs.
As well as tailoring training sessions, there was a focus on education that saw well-known current and past players Cliodhna O’Connor (Dublin), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Orlagh Farmer (Cork), Jackie Kinch (Wicklow), Sinéad Delahunty (Tipperary), Bronagh McGrane (Louth), Fiona McHale (Mayo), Máire O Shaughnessy (Meath), Laura Fleming (Roscommon), Emily Martin (Down), Cassandra Buckley (Kerry), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary) and Cathy Carey (Antrim) provided expertise and advice to participants for the duration of the programme. Representatives from the 30 participating clubs attended six sessions delivered by the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors, while also engaging with self-led modules.
The clubs will also receive a visit from a ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassador or a county player to conduct a coaching session, and witness theory in action. The research that prompted the development of the Gaelic4Teens programme revealed that players play for enjoyment, to improve and get better, 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 began on Monday, January 24, and this spectacular festival day at Abbotstown has showcased the key messaging for both players and coaches.
The 30 clubs who took part this year are as follows:
Munster (6): Bishopstown (Cork), Rockbán (Cork), Grenagh (Cork), Laune Rangers (Kerry), Oola (Limerick), Tramore (Waterford),
Leinster (11): Balyna (Kildare), Kilcock (Kildare), Maynooth (Kildare), St. Loman’s (Westmeath), Na Dúnta (Westmeath), Oldcastle (Meath), St. Colmcilles (Meath), Moylagh (Meath), St. Patrick’s (Wexford), St. Peregrine’s (Dublin) and Valleymount (Wicklow),
Ulster (6): Clann Éireann (Armagh), Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh), St. Tiarnach’s, (Monaghan), Tír na nÓg (Antrim), Clan na nGael (Tyrone), Naomh Colmcille (Donegal)
Connacht (7): Caherlistrane (Galway), Claregalway (Galway), Kilmovee Shamrocks (Mayo), Kiltane (Mayo), Melvin Gaels (Leitrim), Menlough/Skehana (Galway), Moycullen (Galway)