Coaching and Games Seminar

In preparation for the season ahead, Mullingar Shamrocks have organised a Coaching and Games Seminar on Saturday morning next starting at 10.00 am in Springfield. All coaches involved in the club are expected to attend. Three of the leading thinkers on coaching young players, Stephen Behan, Shane Caulfield and Steven Poacher will deliver sessions. Stephen Behan will deliver the first session on the importance of physical literacy and fundamental movement skills for all ages and this will be followed by a session led by Shane Caulfield covering games and drills for fundamental movement for Under-6, Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 coaches. Steven Poacher's session will focus on a games based approach for Under-14, Under-16,Under-18 and adult coaches. The day will conclude with a question and answer forum chaired by Niall Williams (1.00-1.30).

The importance of these sessions can hardly be underestimated. A recent Dublin City University (DCU) study found that 89% of adolescents in Ireland have not mastered fundamental movement skills they should have mastered by the age of six – such as running, skipping and kicking a ball. Dr Johann Issartel of Dublin City University’s School of Health and Human Performance said the results were 'an unprecedented low' and the results represent 'a potential catastrophe for public health because the inability to perform fundamental Movement Skills leads to an aversion to sports and exercise later in life'. The significance of this statement was validated last week when the results of another DCU study were released by Professor Niall Moyna. This found that the fitness levels of secondary school students were declining significantly from the age of 15 onwards, especially among girls. This revealed that the cardiovascular health of some 15-year-olds was comparable to that of 55 to 60-year olds.