www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2023 | 29
experiences as players. Hearing feedback from other
club coaches is also very beneficial. If you choose
to get involved in the programme you will benefit
from getting as many coaches as possible involved
- even those who are coaching younger teams. The
commitment of the hourly webinars is well worth the
investment in time in terms of what individual coaches
and hopefully the whole club will get as a reward.
Any other items you like to highlight that has
not been covered in the above?
Participating in the programme opened
opportunities to reflect on what we do as coaches.
Taking the time to think about why we do things and
the way we do things, to question our own motivations
as coaches and the goals we have for our players was
beneficial. One of the simplest lessons that I learned
from the programme very early on was that I thought
players were there two nights a week to train but it
turns out they are there to "play"! How do we define a
successful club or team - league position, wins, player
retention etc. It's a huge challenge and one all clubs
and coaches will benefit from discussing. Doing the
Gaelic4Teens programme started a conversation in our
club which will continue for some time and will benefit
all involved.
Describe the programme in three words...
Informative, Practical, Interesting.
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMME OPENED
OPPORTUNITIES TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE
DO AS COACHES. TAKING THE TIME TO THINK
ABOUT WHY WE DO THINGS AND THE WAY
WE DO THINGS, TO QUESTION OUR OWN
MOTIVATIONS AS COACHES AND THE GOALS WE
HAVE FOR OUR PLAYERS WAS BENEFICIAL.
GAELIC 4 TEENS
ZUCAR
