Free coaching service for clubs at an end

Clubs in Westmeath are to face a €1,000 per annum charge for school and club coaching from Westmeath, it was confirmed at last week’s County Committee meeting.

The fee is the same as in 2019 prior to the pandemic and schools are to be billed separately for the service. Westmeath County Committee chairman Frank Mescall said schools historically never had an issue with the fee, while some clubs were strongly opposed to it.

In return for the fee, clubs were informed that 28 hours of Gaelic games coaching will be provided in the primary schools.

“There were historical debts built up from clubs, but they have been cleared and there is no issue since,” said Mr Mescall.

“Gaelic games are in a unique position in the schools, where nearly all of them welcome us with open arms,” he said.

Gary Nolan of Lough Lene Gaels said the fee would represent poor value for money if the school coaching is cancelled a number of times during the term due to weather.

“It can be only 12 hours if the weather is wet and that is not good value; 28 hours for €1,000 is fantastic,” he observed.

“Sometimes those 28 hours can whittle down to 12 as it did in 2019. Maybe a per session charge should be used? I don’t think it’s fair to charge €1,000 for 50% of the coaching.”

The chairman agreed, but felt it would be very difficult to operate the scheme as Mr Nolan suggested.

“I have experienced the coaches coming into schools in Westmeath for 25 years and there was never a session cancelled because of snow or rain,” said the chairman.

However, Gary Nolan claimed records for the last four years, taken by schools, indicate that nowhere near 70% of the coaching time has been completed.

Coaching Officer Ronan Farrell explained that in such a scenario, the balance of hours owed could be put back into club coaching during the summer. He felt this system would suit some clubs, especially ones which are home to schools who are well equipped for GAA coaching in terms of the teaching staff. He was aware of one school, for example, which has four teachers who can coach Gaelic games, so the coach can then focus on the club.

“We can highlight that with the staff,” he explained, stressing the need for the clubs to maintain strong links with the coaches.

Declan Leonard (Clonkill) queried the number of hours per week for a particular school and was informed it would be two hours. Brian McCabe (Fr Dalton’s) wondered how the scheme will operate with dual clubs and was informed there will be a link with the relevant clubs to assess their plans and take it from there.

Ronan Farrell confirmed details and outlined a detailed programme for the year ahead with the various members of the Westmeath Coaching and Games staff. Westmeath senior footballer Luke Loughlin has joined the coaching staff and it is hoped to add another coach to the team in the coming months. Emmet Corrigan, Alan Mullen, Paul McManus, Bernie Corroon, Robbie Forde, JP Bracken, and Aran Whelan are all members of staff.

Clubs were encouraged to link in with the relevant coaching staff members to ensure their plans are being catered for when it comes to school coaching. The staff members will be linking in with the clubs to cover club coach education through the Turas programme.

Mr Farrell said coaching staff complain about a lack of engagement from a number of clubs and they often don’t get the information they require.

“We have been providing the service free since 2020; prior to that there was a levy. A free service is not a value service - that’s what some of the coaches are saying to me. When clubs don’t pay, they don’t feel they have to give an input or a guidance on it,” he said.

Coaching staff has changed in the county and they have looked at making things more efficient for the staff in terms of travel: having coaches working in clubs in the south and north of the county meant they were losing time travelling. Secondary schools will have become a key focus of the new approach, with Transition Year students now being educated which will benefit their clubs.

Young whistler programmes for Go-Games referees will be organised, while teachers will be given coaching support and first year blitzes will be run. Games Development Coaches will focus on secondary schools.

Primary Schools, club engagement, coach education, regional workshops and nursery workshops are among the services provided. Staff will be linked to Cúl Camps and other camps, such as Hallowe’en and Easter camps, will be held.

There is also support for after school coaching and for the various talent development squads in the county.

The chairman reiterated that Westmeath is in a better position with coaching than it has been for a number of years. “With our strategic plan, we are short two: athletics performance coach and a hurling coach. Those remain to be filled; I doubt it will happen this year, but they are in our plan,” he said.

All clubs were urged to bring their coaching officers up to date.