This year the Ulster GAA Coaching & Games Development Conference is targeting coaches who work in the nursery and juvenile sections of our clubs. This is a very important area within our clubs. It is at this stage of the young player’s development that the right building blocks are set down for their future progress and development.

The Conference explores how all stakeholders have a common goal, the physical literacy and health of our young people and the development of better technical and tactically aware children and youth who feed into our Gaelic Games.

As we move forward the “what” we coach becomes increasingly important. Of equal importance is the “how” we coach - as the coach / player interaction often influences the young persons’ future involvement in our games. We are joined by some of Irelands leading coaches and educationalists who will share their expertise, knowledge, ideas and concerns as we “strive to meet the needs of the future generation of GAA players in Ulster”.

Keynote speakers:

Key Issues for Children’s Sport, Physical Education, Physical Activity and Coaching
Walter Bleakley - Senior Lecturer, University of Ulster

Coaching Pathways and Strategic Targets
Jimmy Darcy - Head of Games, Croke Park

Doing the right things at the right time!
“Overreaching, overtraining, burnout, injury and non retention” - Professor Niall Moyna Dublin City University

Common Goals, Different Roles – The way forward
Dr. Eugene Young - Director of Coaching & Games Development

Workshops include:

• Developing and Sustaining Nursery Programmes (U6)
Ger O’Connor - Dublin Games Manager
Joey Carton- Munster Hurling Development Manager

• Breaking and Building Hurling Skills
John Crossey - Down Hurling Development Officer
Jimmy Darragh - Ulster Hurling Development Manager

• FunDAMENTALS (U8) and Schools linking with Clubs
Ben McGuckin - Primary Schools Coach
Lisa McCrickard - Primary Schools Coach

• Learning to Train (8 – 12yrs)
Terence McWilliams - Provincial Games Manager
Tony Scullion - Football Development Officer

• FUN Fitness Activities for Children
Steven Beattie - Primary Schools Coach
Ryan Daly - Primary Schools Coach

• FUN and Games for the Underage (6-12yrs)
Pat O’Shea - Munster Games Manager

• Breaking and Building Football Skills (12 – 16yrs)
John Morrison - Master Tutor Ulster GAA

• Physical Fitness for Developing Players (12 – 16 yrs)
Diarmaid Marsden - Regional Development Officer

• Adults are Destroying Children’s Play (6-12yrs)
Paudi Butler - National Hurling Director

• Benchmarking performance – children and youth
Fiona – Marie Kearney - Physical Education Teacher
Roger Keenan - High Performance Manager SINI