The GAA Strategic Vision and Action Plan 2009-2015 identified the immediate need to prioritise and support the development of players and coaches as key to the long-term success and health of Gaelic Games.
To create a coaching system which produces and supports the development of coaches and players, the GAA has developed a model of Coach Education and have been reformatted to take account of the different playing capacities that exist between:
and the competencies that a coach is required to display when working with each of the playing populations. These streams have been identified to cater for the diverse needs of children, of youths and of adults.
Quality Coaching – as part of an overall Games Development Plan – promotes fair play, builds social cohesion, self-esteem, and enhances health and well -being as well as supporting social and economic objectives.
Coaches should be committed to creating fun, safe playing environments for all of our players, regardless of age or ability level. To safeguard our players, coaches abide by the GAA Code of Conduct, have completed the GAA/ISC Child Protection in Sport Awareness Workshop and are vetted by An Garda Síochána/ Access NI.
The Coach Education Programme focuses on continuing education, so that coaches can improve by means of a series of specifically designed courses, workshops and conferences incorporating internationally recognised principles of best practice. These opportunities will include a combination of theoretical and practical inputs and allow for t he use of digital and e-learning techniques.
The programme of Applied Lifelong Learning makes provision for coaches to continually develop their skills and to progress at a rate suited to their own development.
To date, courses have been developed at the following stages (The Award 3 programme is currently under development):
Foundation Award
The Foundation Award is the introductory award for coaches of Gaelic Games. The course is aimed at beginner coaches and will enable participants to assist a coach in the organisation of activities t o develop hurling or football.
The course is seven and a half hours in duration an d covers four key modules, as well as introductory and conclusion modules. These four modules are:
- Introduction to Games
- Skill Development
- Movement Skills
- Coaching Children, Youths and Adults
Coaching Competencies to be developed By the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Assist a coach in organising a programme of games and skill development activities appropriate to each participant’s needs and abilities
- Identify the skills of hurling
- Assist a coach in organising progressive activities (drills and fun games) to develop five key skills
- Assist a coach in organising progressive activities to develop movement skills appropriate to Gaelic Games
- Assist a coach in organising and managing players f or an effective practice session
- Build Rapport, Observe, Analyse, Explain, Provide Demonstration and Provide Positive Feedback to Players
Course Philosophy
The GAA is committed to implementing an integrated Coach Education Programme with a view to maximising participation, optimising playing standards and ensuring that players’ needs are catered for in a balanced way. The course is designed to promote the development o f the How to Coach skills through modelling of best practice, as demonstrated by the tutor, experimental learning and through the guided reflection on previous experiences – as a coach, player, official or parent – facilitated by the tutor.
Attending a Course
The Foundation Award courses are organised locally within each County. T o view upcoming courses in your County, click on the following link .
Course Resources
Foundation Award Manual available at the course. Skill Cards available at the course.The Award 1 Coach Education course is the second award on the coaching pathway of Gaelic Games. The course is aimed at coaches that have progressed through the Foundation Award and have experience as a coach.
Award 1
The Award 1 course has been designed to take account of the different playing capacities that exist between children (up to 12 years), youths (age 13 – 18) and Adults (age 19+) and the competencies that a coach is required to display when working with each of the playing populations. Therefore, coaches can specialise in coaching the particular p layers that they are involved with.
The course is 16 hours in duration and covers a number of key modules including:
- Technical Proficiency
- Tactical Prowess
- Team Play
- Physical Fitness
- Playing Facts
- Psychological Focus
- Communication
The focus of the course is the further development of the ‘How to Coach’ skills by placing the participant in situations that they will face as co aches – the organisation of games activities, activities to develop skill and activities to develop the various aspects of physical fitness.
Coaching Competencies to be developed
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Organise a programme of games and skill development activities appropriate to each participant’s needs and abilities
- Organise progressive activities (drills and fun games) to develop five key skills
- Organise progressive activities to develop movement skills appropriate to Gaelic Games
- Organise and manage players for an effective practice session
- Build Rapport, Observe, Analyse, Explain, Provide Demonstration and Provide Positive Feedback to Players
- Understand the course philosophy
The GAA is committed to implementing an integrated Coach Education Programme with a view to maximising participation, optimising playing standards and ensuring that players’ needs are catered for in a balanced way.
The course is designed to promote the development of the How to Coach skills through modelling of best practice, as demonstrated by the tutor, experiential learning and through the guided reflection on previous experiences – as a coach, player, official or parent – facilitated by the tutor.
Attending a Course
Attendance at an Award 1 course is for those people that have already undertaken the Foundation Award programme, and have gained some experience of coaching over a playing season. The Award 1 courses are organised locally within each County. To view upcoming courses in your County, click on the following link.
Course Resources
Award 1 logbook, (available at the course).
Further, specific manuals have been created for the Award 1 Youth programme and the Award 1 Adult programme .The Award 2 Coach Education course is the third award on the coaching pathway of Gaelic Games. T he course is aimed at experienced coaches that have progressed through the Foundation and Award 1 programmes.
In the same manner as the Award 1 course, the Award 2 course has been developed to take account of the different playing capacities that exist between children (up to 12 years), youths (age 13 – 18) and adults (age 19+) and the competencies that a coach is required to display when working with each of the playing populations. T his allows coaches to further their knowledge, experience and capabilities when working with the various playing populations.
Award 2
The Award 2 Coach Education course is the third award on the coaching pathway of Gaelic games. The course is aimed at coaches that have progressed through the Foundation Award and Award 1 programmes and have experience as a Coach.
The Award 2 course has been reformatted to take account of the different playing capacities that exist between Children (up to 12 years), Youth s (age 13 – 18) and Adults (age 19+) and the competencies that a coach is required to display when working with each of the playing populations. Therefore coaches can specialise in coaching the particular players that they are involved in.
The course is 27 hours in duration and covers a numb er of key modules, as well as Introductory and Conclusion modules. These modules are:
- Role of the Coach
- Technical Proficiency
- Tactical Prowess
- Team Play
- Physical Fitness
- Participant Feedback/Playing Facts
- Psychological Focus
- Talent Identification
- Nutrition and Hydration
- Communication
- Lifestyle
- Rules
The focus of the course is the further development o f the coaching skills by placing the participant in situations that they will face as co aches – the organisation of games activities, activities to develop skill and activities to develop the various physical fitness skills.
Coaching Competencies to be Developed
The Award 2 Programme:
- Focuses on the further development of how and what to coach based on the playing group that you are involved with but also to look further at the integration of key areas that contribute to performance.
- Use of the O Tú model to do a personal, player and team analysis.
The Course is divided into a number of modules; some expose coaches to practical situations and others are designed to develop your knowledge base.
Attending a Course
Attendance at an Award 2 course is for those people that have already undertaken the Award 1 programme, and have gained some experience of coaching over a playing season. T he Award 2 courses are organised locally within each Province. T o view upcoming courses in your County, click on the following link.
Course Resources
Award 2 logbook, (available at the course).
To attend a GAA Coach Education Course contact the following people in your County.
