Ladies Gaelic Football

I n a year of unforeseen circumstances, many clubs took the opportunity to take a step back and to reflect on where their club could grow and how they could turn the stop-start nature of 2020 into a positive for 2021. Playing time might have decreased but there was great expansion in thinking and creativity around the country to ensure that participation numbers remained high. In 2021, Gaelic4Girls is entering its 13th year in existence and excellence and it has never been as important to clubs who wish to engage their whole community in an effort to enable growth and sustainability of their club, and to open their gates to girls who may have no knowledge of, or never played Ladies Gaelic Football before. As the pause button was pressed on the 2020 version after just one day of active on-pitch sessions, it was difficult to predict if and when the play button could be pressed again. Unfortunately, as the national situation deteriorated, it became clear that the programme would have to be postponed indefinitely. Thankfully, the LGFA is now delighted to be in a position to resume the programme in 2021. It is a very real and lasting testament to the strength and outcomes of the programme that 95% of all clubs who were due to take part in 2020 have now availed of the option of taking part in the new and improved 2021 version. Added to the already in situ clubs, the LGFA was inundated with new applicants to fill any vacant spots. Applications came in from all four provinces and this year the LGFA is delighted to welcome clubs from LGFA Britain back on to the programme, ensuring that the reach of Gaelic4Girls stretches not only from coast to coast but to our diaspora across the Irish sea. In 2021Gaelic4Girls will have a new format to maximise its delivery. The programme will also incorporate the implementation of succesful interventions contained in the informative study on the LGFA Gaelic4Girls programme carried out by Dr Orlagh Farmer. The successful clubs who will be pressing the play button in 2021 are as follows: NEWS T he Ladies Gaelic Football Association has confirmed the 30 clubs who have been selected to take part in the Gaelic4Teens programme over the coming months. Following a hugely-successful pilot in 2017, Gaelic4Teens has since doubled in size, with the number of participating clubs increasing every year. The programme will help clubs identify key ingredients to assist with retaining their current playing base in the 13-17 age bracket, which has been identified as a group with a high drop-out rate. Due to the pandemic experienced this year, the 2020 programme was not completed. As a result, all the clubs involved were given another opportunity to participate in the programme which meant spaces available were at a premium. The 30 clubs taking part this New Format; More Clubs; Gaelic4Girls 2021 Gaelic4Teens 2021 Naomh Seamus Antrim Pontzpass Armagh St Michaels Armagh Shane O'Neills Armagh Coatbridge Davitts Britain Glaschu Gaels Britain Holloway Gaels Britain Roger Casements Britain Sean McDermotts Britain Crusheen Clare Whitescross Cork Naomh Mhuire Donegal Aghaderg Down Belcoo Fermanagh Loughrea Galway Caltra Galway Dr Crokes Kerry Croom Limerick Askeaton Ballysteen Limerick St Nicholas Louth Kilmeena Mayo Mayo Gaels Mayo Claremorris Mayo Ballyhaunis Mayo Schrule Mayo Wolfe Tones Meath Drumbaragh Meath Ballybay Monaghan Castlederg Tyrone Athlone Westmeath Caulry Westmeath Clonard Volunteers Wexford St Nicholas Wicklow Newtownmountkennedy Wicklow 50 | WINTER 2020 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie year are as follows: Munster: Daingean Uí Chúis (Kerry), Kerins O Rahilly's (Kerry), Ballyporeen (Tipperary), Nemo Rangers (Cork), St. Colums (Cork), Adare (Limerick) Leinster: Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), St. Kevin's/Killians (Dublin), Shankill (Dublin), Na Fianna (Kildare), Kilcoole (Wicklow), Sallins (Kildare), Summerhill (Meath), Glen Emmets (Louth), St. Margarets (Dublin), St. Conleths (Laois), Dunslaughlin (Meath), Clane (Kildare), Tochar (Wicklow) Ulster: Naomh Naille (Donegal), Monaghan Harps (Monaghan), Corduff (Monaghan), Sean McDermotts (Monaghan), Fintona (Tyrone), Aodh Ruadh (Tyrone), Tir na nOg (Armagh) Connacht: MacHale Rovers (Mayo), St. James (Galway), Neale (Mayo), Kiltimagh (Mayo) The programme will work 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 will examine the coaching environment required to ensure long term development of players is being facilitated in the club. The programme will be focused on the retention of players. As well as tailoring training sessions, there will be a focus on education that will see well-known players Cliodhna O'Connor (Dublin), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Orlagh Farmer (Cork), Jackie Kinch (Wicklow), Sinead Delahunty (Tipperary), Bronagh McGrane (Louth), Fiona McHale (Mayo), Maire O Shaughnessy (Meath), Laura Fleming (Roscommon), Emily Martin (Down) and Cassandra Buckley (Kerry) provide expertise and advice to participants for the duration of the programme. 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.

• Cover