Target reached!
If we exceed our target we will extend our coaching development programme through Ju...
Ábalta - Gaelic Games Coaching Development
Lisburn, Lisburn and Castlereagh, United Kingdom
Aim
To enhance the coaching structures and coaching skills across our volunteer coaching team and to enhance the skills of our young players.
About Us
St Patrick’s GAC, Lisburn is a voluntary, community sports organisation affiliated to both the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Founded in 1965 the Club is based on the Kirkwoods in Lisburn, County Antrim.
The Club provides sporting opportunities in both football and hurling for ages from Fundamentals/U6 to Senior/Adult and for both males and females. Membership of the club has been growing rapidly having nearly doubled in the last 24 months ( 515: July 2021).
The Club provides a wide range of other community-focused activities through an active Health & Wellbeing committee and has recently initiated a Gaelic for Mothers and Others section..
The Challenge
Like all sporting clubs we have experienced two years of disruption and restrictions on our training and games as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the easing of restrictions we have experienced an upsurge in interest in our games, particularly in the under 6 to under 11 age groups. This has created a demand for many more volunteer coaches and the need to upskill these coaches.
At our youth/juvenile age groups we experience the challenge of retaining participation in our games, particularly in the light of COVID restrictions and shortened playing seasons in 2020 and 2021.
It is vital that our young people have the best experience of our games which is why we are fundraising for our Abálta Coach and Coaching Development Project.
Our Project - "Ábalta" - Ability
Through June 2022 we intend to deliver a coaching and games development programme with the objectives to recruit, train, develop and support our volunteer coaches.
We will:
(1) Support our Saturday morning games development activities with the provision of experienced coaches for girls and boys gaelic football.
(2) Develop our coaches through the provision of Foundation and Level 1 coaching qualification and continuous on-pitch support from code-specific coaches.
(3) Ensure that each playing unit is adequately provisioned with training equipment.
(4) Provide access to all-weather hire facilities for early season training for our young players.
Of our £10k fundraising target we expect the project to require:
- Specialised coaching support for Fundamentals/U6 to U11 £3.5k
- Specialised coaching support for girls and boys youth teams £3.5k
- External Hire Facilities £2k
- Training equipment, balls, bibs , cones across all age groups. £1k
Sport Northern Ireland Project Re-Boot: Activate has provided £5,000 of match funding
The National Emergencies Trust has provided £4,425 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 31st December 2021