Ladies Gaelic Football

GAELIC4TEENS ACTIVE COMMUNITIES Donegal has an active community and voluntary sector. The Donegal Sports Partnership continues to build relationships with a wide variety of groups as a vehicle for delivering participation initiatives to marginalised and disadvantaged groups. The Active Communities pillar has five goals, including target group programmes such as Women in Sport. The Gaelic4Teens programme focuses on the retention of teenage girls aged 13-17 years of age in Ladies Gaelic Football, by educating club coaches in relation to the needs and interests of teenage girls in sport. In addition, the Gaelic4Teens programme develops athletic and social skills of girls in a safe and nurturing environment. ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS: DSP Active Partnerships refers to both the internal and external partnerships which have been established and are critical to successful DSP operations. These collaborations include programmes planned and delivered in partnership with statutory agencies, schools, sporting organisations, community groups, cross border agencies and representative bodies, especially with those representing people with a disability and older adults. This partnership model has been key to ensuring greater efficiencies in areas such as shared resources and facilities, targeting those most in need, promotion and marketing and in planning for the future. The partnership that was created between the LGFA and DSP in rolling out this programme ensured that resources are shared and the same target groups are supported at local and national level, without cross over. TELL US HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE GAELIC4TEENS PROGRAMME? From a Coach Education perspective, the Gaelic4Teens Programme proved hugely beneficial to all of the clubs: • It provided coaches coaching teenage girls in their club with an opportunity, to upskill and reflect on current coaching practices that exist within their Club. • The content covered on the workshops was varied, which provided a broader perspective to coaching while supporting the concept of holistic and player centred coaching, with a particular focus on coaching teenage girls. • Coaches participating in the programme were given access to online resources via the GAA E- Learning Portal, which meant coaches could visit the site in their own time. • All workshops were delivered by Gaelic4Teens ambassadors, which included past and present Inter County players, which made the sessions more relatable, having been a teenage player themselves. • Workshops focusing on lifestyle balance, nutrition and physical considerations were open to players and parents, which were very informative. From a local sports partnership perspective, this collaboration worked extremely well. Appointing a Gaelic4Teens coordinator within the county to oversee the programme was a significant bonus to the LSP, as the coordinator was responsible for all aspects of the programme in circulating information and engaging selected clubs with programme activities. Each club nominated a coordinator to help drive the programme from within the club and was the main contact for the programme coordinator. Throughout the programme, the LGFA National Development Officer William Harmon provided ongoing support through regular collaboration and guidance. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHER LSPS TO EXPLORE A SIMILAR COLLABORATION AND WHY? The Donegal Sports Partnership would highly recommend this initiative and collaboration with LGFA. The support and guidance received was fantastic throughout. Each element was clearly identified, the necessary actions outlined and the programme was delivered seamlessly. The Gaelic4Teens Programme aims and objectives were aligned simultaneously to those of our strategic plan, which meant that both organisations were targeting the same population group and delivering a quality coach education programme. ANY OTHER COMMENT? We wish to thank Lyn Savage, LGFA National Development Manager, William Harmon, LGFA National Development Officer, for this opportunity for the support they have provided and the participating clubs in County Donegal. A special word of thanks to John Gibbons, Donegal Development officer and Gaelic4Teens Programme Coordinator for all his work and dedication in getting this programme up and running and seeing it through to the end, your time and effort is much appreciated. I would also like to thank Seamus Herron, Donegal LGFA County Board Chairperson, and his committee for all their support in facilitating the rollout of this programme in Donegal. Lastly, I would like to thank the 9 clubs that participated in the programme, for your commitment and desire to improve standards, while exploring new coaching practicing to engage and retain girls in your respective clubs. Participating clubs were Carndonagh, Four Masters, Kilcar, Sean McCumhaills, Moville, Naomh Columba, Naomh Mhuire, Red Hughs and Urris. 50 | SUMMER 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie

• Cover