Ladies Gaelic Football

36 | SPRING 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie ZUCAR AMBASSADORS Name: Samantha Lambert County: Tipperary Profession: Secondary School Teacher Current involvement with the LGFA: Ardfinnan Ladies Football club, Youth Mentor for the LGFA Lidl Serious Support Schools Programme, ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Ambassador What is it you like about the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Programme that encouraged you to get involved as an ambassador for the programme? The ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme is all about encouraging girls to stay involved in sport– for fun, for social connection, for exercise, for their mental health. The Gaelic4Teens programme instils confidence, strong work ethic and incorporates confidence and leadership, teamwork and cooperation, which are all very important as qualities, which many female athletes demonstrate, and young girls need. I have a huge passion to increase the participation levels of young girls in sport as I realise the benefits of playing sport both on and off the field and through this programme I hope to inspire and encourage young teenagers to be active and stay involved. What do you think you will bring to the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Programme? I believe it is my responsibility to demonstrate to girls that it is socially acceptable to participate in sports; it can give girls the skills and confidence to break down barriers and achieve goals throughout their lives and by taking part in this programme, I think I can connect with young teenagers to encourage participation. I believe young girls need to see confidence, leadership and accomplishment in other women. They also need to be aware of the sacrifices and endurance necessary to excel in both life and sport and I feel I act as a positive role model to demonstrate this. This awareness of these qualities and abilities can lead to the self-realisation that it is indeed possible for them too to become equally successful. What attributes did a coach possess that impacted positively on you as a player? A lot of my coaches have had the same attributes as each other that have contributed positively to my progression as a Ladies Footballer. My coaches were effective communicators and good listeners GET TO KNOW OUR NEW ZUCAR GAELIC4TEENS AMBASSADORS "THE GAELIC4TEENS PROGRAMME INSTILS CONFIDENCE, STRONG WORK ETHICS AND INCORPORATES CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK AND COOPERATION WHICH ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT AS QUALITIES, WHICH MANY FEMALE ATHLETES DEMONSTRATE, AND YOUNG GIRLS NEED."

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