Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1302727
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | AUTUMN 2020 | 51 The 'Gaelic4Girls' PhD Study - first of its kind research informed evidence-based - finding new strategies to increase participation in Ladies Gaelic Football Researcher: Orlagh Farmer (PhD), Cork Ladies Football Location: University College Cork, Department of Sport Studies and Physical Education PhD Study Background • Research continually shows that girls are less active than boys throughout childhood and the age-related decline in physical activity (PA) and sport participation, particularly from early adolescence onwards, is steeper for girls when compared to boys. It is not yet fully understood how organised sport in female youth could be optimised to facilitate continued participation and increased PA, specifically in a female community sporting context such as Ladies Gaelic Football. With the recently documented low levels of physical activity and fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency in pre-adolescent girls in Ireland, and the high drop-out rate from sport approaching the adolescent years, research in Ireland is warranted. • Since 2016, I have put the first ever evidence-base behind the 'Gaelic4Girls' programme using research informed practices to improve PA levels, skill execution, and most importantly enhance psychological wellbeing among 8-12-year-old girls. I've collected data on over 600 girls, identified the factors influencing sport participation (motivators and barriers), and assessed basic fundamental skill levels. Based on these initial findings, I designed and evaluated a revised needs-driven research-informed Gaelic4Girls intervention programme, which I rolled out in 2018. Gaelic4Girls comparative study 2018 • In my final study as part of my thesis, I assessed the effectiveness of the revised Gaelic4Girls programme for increasing girl's PA levels, FMS proficiency, and psychological wellbeing, as relative to a second group (the traditionally delivered national programme), and a third control group (no G4G programme and carried out their usual training activities). Participants (players, coaches and parents) in the research-informed intervention group 1 only received the added features as guided by the needs-driven approach and the literature. Such added programme features in the revised G4G programme included: o Player: 10 x 1-hour weekly sessions, FMS and team building stations, skill cards and skill poster/chart, skill-specific feedback from upskilled coaches, a Gaelic4Girls skills dance, co-participation from parents/ guardians and role models as support structures. o Coach: 8 x 1-hour weekly coach education upskilling workshops (session planning, reflective tasks, learning new coaching strategies including provision of correct skill-specific feedback). Electronic coaching skill resources for sessions. o Parent/guardian: interactive educational workshop for parents/guardians on week 4 of the programme (topics such as important role parents play, fundamental movement skills etc.) Findings – in a nutshell Participants who took part in Group 1 (the revised research- informed intervention) significantly improved in; Self-reported physical activity levels Overall skill proficiency (run, skip, jump, kick, catch and balance) and; Several psychological factors (self- efficacy, perceived self-confidence, attitudes towards physical activity, peer and family social support) when compared to the other two groups. Focus group interview findings (post- intervention) from children concerning the G4G intervention's (group 1) acceptability in terms of structure, content/perception INTERVENTION GROUP 1 Revised new G4G programme (n=43) CONTROL GROUP 1 No G4G programme (n=33) INTERVENTION GROUP 2 Existing traditional National G4G programme (n=44)