Profile of Colm Crowley – Mid Cork GDA

I am the GDA for the Mid Cork* region. Traditionally Mid Cork is Muskerry, but this area is slightly different. Stretching from Crosshaven in the South East, to Barryroe in the South West, to Laochra og in the North West to Grenagh in the North East and all clubs in between. James McCarthy caters for some clubs in the area that are football only whilst Paudie Crowley also assists the Carbery based clubs in the catchment area.
Primary Schools: From January to March, I continued my coaching program in the schools in my region who had registered for the ‘5 Star Centre’ program. The visits focused on Fundamental Movement skill activities for the Junior infants to 2nd class and also providing the teachers with a worksheet with a number of fun games that they can do with the class group when I leave. Each class was supposed to get 5 visits, one each term as part of the program.
Post Primary: Main focus continues on the junior side of the schools with a weekly program of coaching in a number of schools who wish to avail of the coaching for their first years and u14s. Most of work was around Hamilton High School and Kinsale Community School. Provision of TY coaching course is available throughout the year as well as coordination of the U14.5D grade school blitzes in Pairc ui Chaoimh for schools with lower numbers. With the Blitz program in place at U14.5 D level for the past few years, having started with Noel Crowley, we are now at a stage where there are less schools participating as they have progressed into a stage of being able to field 15 a side. This is testament to the hard work of the teachers in the schools in arranging games and facilitating training sessions.
Development Squads: At U14 level, we were in the selection phase for both Hurling and Football. The area i cover caters for 2 Football regional squads and 1 Hurling regional squad. With up to 200 players taking part in the trainings and games, we were in the final stages of selecting panels before the coronavirus shut down the GAA.
Club Development: Throughout January to March, I was visiting with clubs who had signed up as part of the Club Development program. We were working on a new program this year titled “Identifying your clubs values”. In this workshop, we were trying to identify the values of the clubs, identify how success was measured, put in place targets to focus on for the coming months as well as individually specific topics which may of crept up. Clubs found these workshops very beneficial and I hope to roll them out again as soon as the lock down lifts and it is safe to do so.
Lock Down: Since the lockdown, we have had to adapt a huge amount. Time spent before driving, coaching kids, coordinating Monster Blitzes, meeting clubs, teachers and mentors is now sat in front of a computer planning for our role going forward and identifying ways we can adapt our role to assist the clubs, schools and coaches. We have been very proactive in a number of areas in Cork with the Coaching & Games staff. We were the first county to role out weekly Educational Webinars for coaches which are ongoing every Wednesday night, some of which have had over 1,000 views. We also hosted a Virtual Easter camp for 5-8 year olds and 9-12 year olds which at last figures had about 14,000 views between live and follow up viewing. Other GDAs are hosting Foundation courses and Skill videos, so the chances for coaches and kids to upskill is still being provided.

Getting Through COVID-19 Together – May 2020 issue 1

Please find attached copy information and advice regarding the range of supports put in place by Cork Kerry HSE in relation to mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic.

HC Getting through COVID-19 together – May 2020 issue 1

 

 

Nursery Hurling: Values & Guidelines Part 1. Webinar

Registration is now open for o​ur  hurling specific webinar.

Nursery Hurling:  Values & Guidelines.  Part 1.

This workshop will be presented by Damien Coleman, Connacht Hurling Development Manager. It will give to those in attendance an insight into “Best Practice” for coaching and developing our youngest and most vulnerable players.  It will explain the values and guidelines that have been meticulously developed over many years by the GAA’s Coaching & Games Department.

90% of the workshop is highly relevant to coaches of all sports and all ages as it is value based and values transcend all sports and all age grades. Those currently involved with young players will obviously find it beneficial, but it would also be an excellent starting point for those considering getting involved in coaching whether they are current players or people that have never lifted a hurl.

This is a good opportunity to recruit some new coaches for your club so maybe pick up the phone and ask some “potentials” to register. It will set them up nicely for maybe taking their first steps into coaching by signing on for one of the GAA’s excellent Foundation Courses held in every county.

  • When registering please double check the email address you enter (dots & spaces in particular) as if you submit an incorrect address, we have no way to send you the link to the event.
  •  If you have not received the link to join by Monday morning, please inform us by email. It may be that you made a typing error when entering your email address. We will do our best to accommodate late registrations but cannot guarantee.

Register here for:
Nursery Hurling:  Values & Guidelines Part 1.
Monday May 11th. 8.00 p.m.

 

Webinar 3: Monday May 18th.

The Goalie- No. 1 on every Team.

This workshop is a must for all hurling coaches and is highly recommended for current and prospective goalkeepers. It will be presented by Martin Fogarty, National Hurling Development Manager and will look at all aspects of goalkeeping especially the requirements to be a teams No. 1 and the specialized training involved. The workshop will include priceless advice from some of the game’s greatest goalies.

Note:

Each webinar requires a separate and distinct log-in. Attendees need to complete a registration form for each event and subsequently receive a log-in link.

Cork County Executive meeting 06/05/2020

The Cork County Executive met via video call on Wednesday evening to adopt updated GAA policy regarding Covid-19 protocols.

Cork GAA will adhere to all recommendations in relation to same. The national update can be found via the link below.

https://gaacork.ie/2020/05/06/gaa-media-statement-covid-19-update/

The CCC will meet next week to commence discussions regarding possible Club competition formats, pending an official return to action later this year.

In the meantime, we thank all members for your compliance with HSE and GAA recommendations and for the outstanding contribution to your local communities.

Covid-19 GAA Update for Clubs and Counties

A Chairde,

We hope you and your families are well during these unusual and challenging times for the country.

We would like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of so many of our clubs and members in community assistance projects with as many as 90% confirming in our Club Survey that they have been active in one way or another over the last eight weeks in helping those who need it most.

On the games front, the GAA has confirmed that no official on-field activity will resume before July 20 and our facilities will remain closed until that date. We do not expect any inter-county championship games before October 1.

The GAA will issue detailed advice before any return to play, outlining the steps we have to take to facilitate the re-commencement of our training and games, both in terms of physical engagement and around the use of our facilities.

As previously stated, the GAA Player Injury Scheme will remain closed until an official return to activity is confirmed.

In the weeks ahead our County Committees will be devising revised competition schedules for each county for games and activities at all levels and grades and that information will be shared when those arrangements are finalised and we have clarity around the government timelines.

Clubs are reminded that membership and public liability will need to be in place for the return of our activities and are advised to process same in the weeks ahead.

Allowing for the complexities associated with the current situation, the GAA continues to plan for the staging of this year’s Kellogg’s Cúl Camps and will communicate any changes to this approach with our clubs if they arise.

The maintenance of facilities can continue while adhering to the guidelines and as of May 18 construction work on our grounds is also permitted and clubs should liaise with their County Committees on this issue.

The Association has also been asked to urge our club units to promote best practice when it comes to social distancing at funerals while the current restrictions are in place.

In keeping with our approach to date, the Association will continue to liaise with government officials and experts, both north and south, and study their guidelines and advice regarding the resumption of sport.

Finally, our clubs and counties have played an important role in the effort against the pandemic and we thank all of our members for their work in this regard.

We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.

Your role in this process, and that of your members, is as important as ever.

 

Go raibh maith agaibh.

Seán Ó hÓráin                     Tomás Ó Riain

Uachtarán                             Ard Stiúrthóir