In 2005, following research by the ESRI, Sport Ireland launched its "Women in Sport Initiative" to increase participation of women in sport. This report stated 1 in 5 women met the National Physical Activity Guidelines. Results from the Irish Sports Monitor for 2013 show that almost 1 in 3 women met the National Physical Activity Guidelines through sport while just one in eight women were sedentary with 43% of women regularly partaking in sport i.e. at least once a week.In order for women to continue to increase participation in sport, it is also important to increase the amount of female coaches. As a result, Waterford Sports Partnership, in conjunction with the Camogie Association delivered a coach development programme for women with no previous coaching experience
. Waterford Sports Partnership were delighted that twenty one female coaches from nine clubs took part facilitated by Peter Jones and Jason Ryan.
The programme involved coaches attending three sessions in WIT Sport Arena. The first session was Safeguarding 1 Child Welfare course. The following two sessions were practical session where coaches observed course tutors Peter Jones and Jason Ryan coaching and then had the opportunity to coach themselves.
These two sessions focussed on personal communication skills and how to deliver an effective warm up and cool down. This session focussed on giving coaches the opportunity to take part and evaluate coaching sessions as well as gaining feedback on their own coaching performance. Programme participant Ursula O ‘Regan from Portlaw Camogie said ‘‘Worthwhile with real practices and real skills learnt. I feel more confident as a coach’
Course tutor Jason Ryan said ‘This workshop was a pleasure to co-deliver. The participants were open and honest about their coaching and areas that they wanted to develop. The coaches were really enthusiastic, full of bright ideas and the common problem is that they don’t realise just how good they are and can be. Now the challenge for all that attended is to put their observations into practice."
Kathleen Egan, Regional Camogie Development Officer said ‘It’s a very exciting partnership and a new venture for us and we have some great, new novice coaches from nine clubs in Waterford. Hopefully this will be a pathway to coaches attending the foundation level course. The change in some of the coaches from the first night to the third has been huge.’
Over the following months, each club will receive a follow up visit from Regional Development Officer Kathleen Egan to provide continued support to coaches.
A video of the programme is available on the WSP YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/tg9IlnkOE7Q
If you would like further information about this programme please contact: Peter Jones, Sports Development Officer, Waterford Sports Partnership on 076 110 2191 or email pjones@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
