13th September 2022 Colm Crowley, GDA; Seamus O’Connor, Scoil Bhride NS ;Conor Counihan, Cork GA football project co ordinator; Kevin O’Callaghan Cork GAA games manager; Dave Collins, chairman Sciath na Scol; Damine Irwin, principal Glounthaune NS and Sean Lyons, principal St Anthony’s NS at the launch of the Cork GAA primary schools blitz at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture; Eddie O’Hare

Sciath na Scol is teaming up with Rebel Og Coaching GDA’s to offer Primary School children the opportunity to play hurling and football through its GAA Go Games Blitz Series. The Program will see 70 blitz venues host an estimated 5,000 children over the course of the academic year complimenting the existing more competitive offering from Sciath na Scol.

Sciath na Scol Chairperson, Mr Dave Collins who launched the Blitz Series is excited by this initiative and noted, “we would encourage as many schools as possible to get behind the Blitzes and enter at local venues through the year where a great day out is guaranteed for the students. The Blitzes are played at 5, 6 or 7 a side so all students get a chance to try GAA in a relaxed non-competitive environment where no scores are kept”.

Cork GAA Games Manager, Kevin O Callaghan also spoke at the launch and outlined the flexibility of the schedule on offer, “Schools can enter 1 team or multiple teams at a venue and will be assured of a minimum of 2 games over a 2 hour block of activity. Schools should use the Program to give all their class groups an opportunity to play GAA and all standards will be catered for from those playing regularly with clubs to those playing their very first game. He also had a note for teachers, “the games are played in a very calm atmosphere and the main requirement of teachers will be to get the children to the venue and sort them into teams. No deep knowledge of the skills is needed so please sign up in advance of each Blitz and we would love to have your school represented”.

The Program commences in October and runs through to June 2023.

Round 1 of the Blitzes takes place on the 5th of October with Fourth Class Hurling.

Blitzes are open to boys and mixed schools. Where schools have small numbers, they can call on the younger class group to get a team out, eg Third Class students can be brought to the Fourth Class Blitz on the 5th of October. Schools will need to provide their own hurleys and helmets. Blitzes will run from approximately 10am to 12pm and coordinated by our GDA’s

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hrxFrNSvpUKfwz6H4bd_zqinPdf15iFBvL63giW9LmxUN0VGSlJQSjdETDlBSUtQMVo5N1JMR1VRNi4u

Cork GAA are inviting applications for the voluntary post of Regional Athletic Development Intern Coach.

Each intern will be assigned a regional development squad (u15/u16) in either football or hurling for the 2022-2023 season. Contact hours will be Development Squad Sessions (approx. 3hr) primarily held once every weekend.

This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring Athletic Development coaches to gain valuable experience working under the guidance of the Rebel Òg Coaching Team including High Performance Manager Aidan O’Connell.

Educational Output

Successful candidates will receive experience in the following areas:

• Athletic Development Programming and Coaching
• Monitoring, Testing and Profiling of Players
• Recording and Analysing Data
• Implementing Recovery Protocols
• Working within a High Performance Team

All interns will also receive a full induction, gear, ongoing mentoring and have access to the High Performance Unit’s CPD program.

Requirements

Candidates should be working towards or have a qualification in Strength and Conditioning, Sport Science, Physical Education or a Sports related course and have Garda Vetting.

Application

If you wish to apply for this position, can you please forward a one page cover letter and CV to Aidan O’Connell : aidan.oconnell.cork@gaa.ie

Deadline for CV’s is on or before September 30th @ 5pm. Furthermore, if you want to receive any more information on the above opportunity please contact Aidan on the above email address.

The selection process will include an interview and practical demonstration.