34 | SPRING 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie
GAELIC4TEENS
PLAYER
RETENTION
n the May Bank Holiday Monday,
the LGFA hosted the final part of its
Gaelic4Teens programme, now in its
third year, at the National GAA Games
Development Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Sixteen
clubs participated on the day where players aged from
13-17 years and coaches were able to learn from some
of the very best past and present players in the game
including Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Cliodhna
O'Connor (Dublin), Fiona McHale (Mayo), Jackie Kinch
(Wicklow), Sinead Delahunty (Tipperary), Orlagh
Farmer (Cork) and Bronagh McGrane (Louth).
The programme spanned over eight weeks and
culminated in an activity and education day in
Abbotstown. During the programme club coaches were
educated on how create the best environment in their
clubs best to deal with the best environment in their
clubs for the retention of teenage players. Gaelic4Teens
is aimed at clubs as much as the players to help
educate clubs and coaches on the need and interests
of teenage girls in sport.
Day 3 of the programme aimed to knit to-
gether all of the aspects of the previous weeks
as players came to the impressive surround-
ings of Abbotstown, focusing on all of the key
demands of our game.
LGFA Gaelic4Teens
Programme tackling teenage retention!
From a psycho/social point of view, Sharon Courtney
and Sinead Delahunty presented to the players on
lifestyle balance off the pitch and gave their top ten tips
(10 commandments) that will help players to become
better players on the field. The players also got the
opportunity to make their own smoothies from simple
O
