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28 | SUMMER 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Club Focus JANE HALL RANELAGH GAELS, DUBLIN COACH U13 GIRLS, COACH G4M&O, COACH RANELAGH ROCKETS NAME CLUB ROLE What was it about the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Programme that encouraged your club to apply for the programme? We were motivated to elevate the girls' teams and bring attention specifically to the ladies' game and how it differs from the mens. I was involved in the equality and diversity committee for a while and certainly shared a feeling among fellow coaches that special attention needed to be given to support the coaches and players involved in our teenage teams. The programme looked very practical and there was an appetite from the other coaches to get involved and start putting in place structures and standards. Without a formal club coaching policy document currently lots of coaches are doing "their own thing". It was felt that this programme would help us be more cohesive in our approach. Retaining our teenage players was particularly important as we had suffered several losses from previous years when teams were struggling to keep going. What do you like about the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme? The material in the programme has been very practical - i.e., drills and challenges that can be used straight away in training sessions. The sessions are just short enough not to put people off attending and the presenters get right to the point. The festival day was considered a huge success among all our coaches and players - even the sceptics! The festival day programme was varied and moved along swiftly, and the social aspect of the day created great excitement among the girls and coaches. What impact has been involved in the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Programme had in your club? The programme has certainly elevated the girls/ladies' side of the club. We were also invited to Croke Park to act as mini officials for the ladies' Lidl LGFA League Final and this too created a great buzz around the club. I have been asked to distil the programme down to the very essential elements and present at the end of the summer to whomever wishes to attend. Being involved in the Gaelic4Teens programme reiterates to players and coaches that we are part of a larger fraternity - not just part of a club - but the fraternity of Gaelic football players. Whether we are in Dublin or Dubai there is a Gaelic Games club that will welcome you with open arms as part of that fraternity. The programme certainly felt like we were all part of a bigger family and so far, there has been positive reception to the peer coach support initiative. What advice would you give clubs who may be thinking about applying for the Gaelic4Teens Programme in the future? Everyone involved in coaching or training young people will benefit from doing this programme, whether you have 10 days or 10 years' experience in coaching. We should all be upskilling ourselves on an ongoing basis and seeking out best practise in the game. There is no one better qualified to impart best practise than the LGFA ambassadors who have played at the highest level but who are also prepared to share their own personal GAELIC 4 TEENS ZUCAR