Over the past number of weeks, Monaghan Coaching & Games Development have organised a number of events which have catered for both clubs and schools. It is great to see schools and clubs very active at this time of the year as you would normally consider this the ‘closed season’. However this is the perfect time for coaches to brush up on their coaching skills and learn new games/ activities that they could use later in the year when the playing season kicks into full flow. Also it is a great time for players to continue to practise the main skills of Gaelic games in preparation for the new season.
Primary Schools Fun Fives Blitz
At the start of February, Colin Malone organised two very successful Fun Five blitzes that catered for the boys and girls of first class. All the primary schools in the county were invited to take part in either of the two blitzes. The two venues were the Phoenix Centre in Carrickmacross and the indoor sports hall at the Monaghan Education Campus in Monaghan Town. To illustrate the success of the blitzes they had to be broken down into two time slots, so it could cater for all the schools that wanted to attend. In Carrickmacross, 10 schools took part, with each team getting to play at least five games each. In Monaghan town, 15 schools took part, which each team getting a minimum for 4 games each. Overall, approximately 400 children from first class took part in the blitz. A big thank you goes out to all the schools that took part in the blitz, the teachers who took the children to the blitz and not forgetting both venues as well. There will be another two days for Fun Five blitzes organised for just before the Easter Holidays. More information will be sent out to the schools closer to the date so keep an eye out for this. Please see below for a selection of photos from the schools that competed in the blitz.
Secondary Schools Super Touch Senior Hurling Competition
Last week Monaghan Coaching & Games organised a Super Touch blitz for the Senior students in the counties Secondary Schools. Unfortunately, the blitz clashed with a number of other events around the county so only three schools took part in the blitz (St Macartan’s College, Our Lady’s Castleblayney and Patrician High School Carrickmacross). The blitz ran off in a ‘Round Robin’ format with each school playing each other once with the top two schools qualifying for the final. After the league, St Macartan’s and Patrician qualified for the final and after a close fought game, the Sem came out on top by three points. They now go onto represent Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final against either the Armagh, Cavan and Fermanagh champions. We would just like to thank the two Ulster Regional Hurling Development Officers Padraig Dowdall and Ryan Gaffney who assisted the Monaghan Hurling Promotions Officer Aidan Kelly in the organisation and running of the blitz. The final Super Touch Hurling blitz of the year takes place in May and will cater for 1st – 3rd year. More details of the blitz will be released after the Easter Holidays.
Coach Education: Level One Children
Last weekend Monaghan Coaching & Games organised a Level One Football Children’s course. In total there was 19 coaches from 9 different clubs who completed the award. The course started on Friday evening and continued all day Saturday. The course co
vered a wide range of topics from good communication skills, the OTu Coaching Model, Skill Development, Decision Making, Games, Physical Fitness, Feedback and Psychological focus. All the coaches seemed to enjoy the course and hopefully they all found the course a great benefit for their own personal development as a coach for the coming season. There is a second level one course organised for Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th of February. It will take place in Aughnamullen and will focus on coaching youths (U12 – Minors) as well as adult teams. We would just like to thank Sean McDermotts particularly Conor McElvaney and Cormac Connolly for helping in the organisation and the hosting of the course, the biscuits went down well! Finally we would just like to thank the tutors on the course Macartan McKenna, Marty Corey, Colin Malone and Aidan Kelly for all your hard work over the weekend.
By poconnor Mon 16th Feb
