Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1302727
52 | AUTUMN 2020 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie FUN & FRIENDS 'I really liked the way it was fun, and we learned new skills' 'It was good to make new friends' 'It was nice to meet girls from other schools there' FEMALE ROLE-MODELS 'I liked when the Cork girls (senior elite athletes) came down, we got to meet them, and they signed our jerseys' 'If they could teach us at a young age, then we might like to be like them when we are older' BARRIERS 'I think some of my friends who don't play football wouldn't play because they don't want to get mucky, get their hair messy or sweaty'. 'Maybe people or friends saying 'you're not good at football and you're not good at stuff'. STATION-BASED APPROACH 'I like the way you moved on to a new coach after every 10 minutes so you wouldn't get bored of the same person'. 'I like the way there was matches and football but also fun games like that would keep you fit'. BARRIERS 'If they can't do it (skills) they might get frustrated because they can't do it' 'When you go to second- ary school, you move up to the U14's, and that's a bit more competitive than U12's but maybe girls don't enjoy it anymore then'. CONFIDENCE IN SKILL EXECUTION 'I couldn't solo the ball at first but when I did the programme, I started to become better' 'When I catch the ball before I was sort of afraid, but now I'm not afraid and the programme helped me' of learning, delivery, potential intervention barriers and changes/future directions of the G4G programme for continued PA participation, are summarised below; Concluding thoughts The findings demonstrate that the 10-week, specifically tailored, research- informed Gaelic4Girls intervention lead to a positive effect on the physical and psychological wellbeing of pre-adolescent Irish girls, relative to the traditionally delivered national Gaelic4Girls comparative programme (existing programme) and control group conditions (no programme). Why are these findings important? 1. Girls just wanna have fun: capitalising on PA enjoyment - The most frequently cited reason among pre-adolescent Irish girls in this PhD research indicates that fun, enjoyment, and social satisfaction are the strong motivators, and lack of fun is a primary reason for sport attrition/drop-out. Physical activities should be varied and fun, meeting the needs of the age-group. 2. Building confidence and competence in preadolescent girls - Gaelic4Girls participants in the research- informed group 1 associated the activities with learning, having felt they increased their perceived confidence levels in skill execution. Provide skill- performance feedback, positive praise and encouragement. - Individual, physical, and psychological characteristics should be accounted for, including specific FMS deliberate practice and outcomes such as self-concept, social behaviours, and self-efficacy. - Allow an element of choice (input from girls) to increase player engagement and motivation. 3. Provision of peer, parents, coach, and positive role-models - Positive outside encouragement/support from family, friends, and coaches act as models of motivation, encouraging PA engagement. - Identify and promote positive role models. - The role of the parent-guardian should be considered. Involving parents/ guardians is a key ingredient for successful implementation. - The importance of coach education should be encouraged.