A large crowd of young coaches attended Rossmore on last Saturday for a Cul Camp coaching workshop with Martin Coleman (Cork GDA) and James McCarthy (Cork U15 & Castlehaven). The theme of the day was the use of games and drills for coaching 6-12year olds. Two-hour sessions were run in both hurling and football and numerous valuable tips were provided for the coaches in attendance who will now provide their expertise at 24 Vhi Cul camps in West Cork this year.
The following points were considered essential for all coaches;
1. Communication: Language, Rapport, Praise, Use of names
2. Organised Fun
3. Hurling grip: Hurley hand and Helping hand = C-swing
4. Focus on Fundamental Movement Skills; Agility, Balance, Coordination etc
5. Small groups for drills and games
6. Progression; Challenging Achievable Tasks
7. Competition through Games
8. Keep active – 45 minutes
9. Fun AND Focus on skill
10. Vary the type of equipment used... sponge balls, ropes, hoops, beanbags etc
11. Think on your feet – adjust degree of difficulty depending on success
12. Design games to make players think
13. Emphasis on movement skills, speed and decision making
14. No ‘Strong and Weak’ in football.....just Left and Right!
On Saturday, July 2nd next, there will be a one-day Foundation Level coaching course held in Rossmore in both football and hurling. This will provide a final chance for Cul Camp coaches to receive this mandatory qualification for all coaches attending camps. To book places, email kevin.odonovan.gda.cork@gaa.ie
West Cork Squads:
On Wednesday night, a West Cork selection travelled to CIT for an U14 football fixture versus a Duhallow / Avondhu combination. This group had assembled in Rossmore with on the previous Friday for a coaching session with Paudie Kissane (Cork GDA) and Paul Holland (Cork U14) as part of the Cork School of Excellence programme. The main part of this programme has seen 22 other players from West Cork travel to six consecutive sessions on Sunday nights in both CIT and Rossmore.
Wednesday night’s game saw the Carbery and Beara lads in control for most of the hour with a number of players staking a strong claim for accession to the School of Excellence squad. Those who played on the night were as follows: John O'Sullivan, Gearoid O'Donovan, Sean Buttimer Ahan Gaels; Eoin Lawton, Eoin Holland Argideen Rangers; Owen O'Flynn, Shane Keevers Bantry Blues; Jack Cahalane Barryroe; Aidan Pearce, David Whelton, Ian Casey Castlehaven; Zach Harrington, Clonakilty; Declan Dunne, James Kelly Castletownbere; Eoin McElhinny, Tadgh McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Glengarriff; Barry Kirby, Oige Scannell , Shane Scannell Kilmeen; Timothy O'Sullivan, Sean O'Donovan Newcestown; Luke Murray, Daniel O'Brien, Colin Crowley Pedlars Cross; Joseph O'Mahony St. Brogans; Sean McCarthy Tadhg MacCarthaigh.
A few weeks previously, many of the same players lined out for the Carbery U14 hurlers for an inter-divisional blitz, playing both Muskerry and Seandun at Riverstick. While the match against Seandun provided an eye-opener for all involved, the game versus Muskerry proved a tighter affair with the West Cork lads eventually going under on a 2-9 to 0-8 scoreline. A further blitz will be played later in the year, with groupings based on the results of the first day out.
With regional championships and the All Ireland Feile na nGael tournament taking place over the next few weeks, there will little room for action on the U14 divisional squad front, however, activities will resume in mid-July in both football and hurling.
Meanwhile, a large portion of the West Cork U15 football panel is currently involved with the Cork U15 football squad and they will soon resume activities with the Junior Cert coming to an end. With Cork fielding a number of teams at this level, a training base has been formed at Rossmore for players from the Carbery, Muskerry and Beara divisions. A panel of over forty players has trained over the last few months under Charlie Wilson, Billy Twomey, Kevin O’Driscoll and James McCarthy. Sessions resume for this group on this Saturday, June 18th in Rossmore, in preparation for the inter-county tournament to be held in July.
