Ulster GAA Coaching and Games Development Conference 2009

Common Goals, Different Roles

Are Adults Destroying Children’s Play

Paudie ButlerNational Hurling Coordinator

Cubs

at Play

Kids at Play

Wains

Children

Are they human?Are they fully human?Are they equal?

Have they rights?Who will defend those rights?

Adults Protecting the Young

From Danger

The Rights of the Child in Sport• The right to participate in sport

• The right to participate at a level comensurate with age and ability

• Right to qualified adult leadership

• The right to play as a child and not as an adult

• The right to share in decision making

• The right to a safe and healthy environment

• The right to proper preparation

• The right to equal opportunity

• The right to be treated with dignity

• The right to have fun in sport

Human Needs

The Role of the Coach:

Peaceful Warrior

Fighting for freedom

From: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger

For: respect, friendship, integrity, confidence

Markings-Seamus Heaney

We marked the pitch: four jackets for four goalposts, That was all…And then we picked the teams…Youngsters shouting their heads off in a field As the light died and they kept on playing Because by then they were playing in their heads… It was quick and constant, a game that never need Be played out…There was fleetness, furtherence, untiredness In time that was extra, unforeseen and free.

“Parenting is

Child’s Play” -David Coleman, Psychologist

The golden age of learning(7-11 years of age)

All living things including humans have an actualising tendency and given the opportunity and the right environment will proceed to become all that is built into them. They will achieve their potential

- Carl Rogers, Psychologist

How can we create the right environment?

Children learn to Read so they can Read to learn

Children learn to Play so they can Play to learn

Child’s Needs• Stimulation• Competition• Instruction• Boundaries• Attention• Safety• Security

• Competent• Confident• Calm• Assertive• Kind• Aware• Independent

Adult Adult

Trust

Competence Reliability Good teams become great teams when the

members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we

Coachmediator

Child Team

Game

preparation

enjoyment

com

mitm

ent

satis

facti

on

participation attendance

The Coach is the Mediator who ensures everything is adapted to child’s age, maturity and experience.

Knowledge of the Game

Coaching Skills

Personal Qualities

SkillsTactics

Traditions

Model

Motivator

Teacher

TrainerMinder

Organiser

CourageReliable

Committed

AssertiveCreative

Kind

ConfidentHumble

Calm Fair Honest

Trustworthy

RespectfulCompetentEnthusiastic

Coaching Model

Knowledge of the Game

Coaching Skills

Personal Qualities

SkillsTactics

Traditions

Model

Motivator

Teacher

Trainer Minder

Organiser

CourageReliable

Committed

AssertiveCreative

Kind

ConfidentHumble

CalmFair Honest

Trustworthy

RespectfulCompetentEnthusiastic

1960

1990s

2009

National Initiatives to make Children’s Sport fit for Children

Nursery Programmes:

GoGames

School’s CoachingPlay and Stay in May

ABC’s

New Coach Education Programmes:

Tutor

Training Coaching Officer

For every club

Child Protection

U-Can Awards

Blitzes

Passion and Compassion

My philosophy of Coaching – Phil Jackson, Sacred Hoops

Passion gives us the energy toPrepare, Research, Develop new Ideas and Tactics

Compassion givesEmpathy, Warmth, Calmness, Humanity, Friendship

Passion without Compassion is

Dangerous

Compassion without passion is

Aimless

• Children not getting a game• Game postponed• Tone too harsh• Training too long• Training without the ball• Equipment not suitable• Win at all costs

• Skills not taught

• Children not developing

• Not enough challenge

• Not enough incentive

• Club Spirit not enhanced

Adults who behave destructively should not

be given the task of coaching Children just

because they want to.

All Adults have a capacity

to build or destroy,

to make or to break.

Destructive Behaviour • Criticism • Impatience• High-Anxiety • Negative Attitude• Lack of Integrity• Sarcasm • Bad Language• Unprepared• Bullying• Poor Communication Skills• Lack of Empathy• Win at all Costs

The club must recruit and train competentcaring people so that we can provide the right

environment where children can fulfil theirpotential.

Golden Rule for Coaches

Start on Time

Finish on Time

Say what You’ll Do

Do what You Say

Say “Please” and “Thanks”

Unless you become like little Children you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Are Adults Destroying Children’s Sport?

125 years Growing

From Hayes’ Hotel to here