Player and coach development in Ballinderreen is guided by the Gaelic Games Player Pathway. This pathway attempts to provide hurling and camogie players with the right support at the right time, so that they are individually empowered to engage with the many challenges they will face along their player pathway journey. Through coach development, coaches will be supported to become creative and facilitate learning within their own context and the context of their players. Similarly, a shared understanding will be developed amongst other key people such as parents, teachers and administrators.

Currently, our club, through a One Club Coaching Working Group, and the coaching community are working to progress the Club Player and Coach Development plan. This plan was developed in 2015/16 by a group of coaches and leaders in the club and community and provides an outline of the training focus, skill development, tactical and team play targets and mental and physical fitness development goals for each stage of the player pathway.

Our current coach and player development initiatives include;

• Club Nursery: our newly launched Club Nursery, sponsored by Clarke’s pharmacy, is open to all boys and girls aged 4-7. All players train and develop collectively at a stage suited to their development.
• Skills Development Profile: all players in the club will take part in annual skills development profiling to help determine their individual needs. This process will be player-oriented, and coaches will be supported to offer appropriate guidance to the player and their parents. Many young people drop out of the sport due to low technical development. Our goal is to keep as many as possible for as long as possible, playing hurling and camogie in Ballinderreen.

Gaelic Games and other sporting bodies have produced many excellent coaching supports. All coaches should be familiar with the GAA Learning site and the Camogie Coaching page.