Ulster GAA Coaching and Games Development Conference 2009 Common Goals, Different Roles Are Adults Destroying Children’s Play Paudie Butler National 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

Trust Competence Reliability Good teams become great teams when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we

Coach mediator Child Team Game preparation enjoyment commitment satisfaction 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 Skills Tactics Traditions Model Motivator Teacher Trainer Minder Organiser Courage Reliable Committed Assertive Creative Kind Confident Humble Calm Fair Honest Trustworthy Respectful Competent Enthusiastic Coaching Model

Knowledge of the Game Coaching Skills Personal Qualities Skills Tactics Traditions Model Motivator Teacher Trainer Minder Organiser Courage Reliable Committed Assertive Creative Kind Confident Humble Calm Fair Honest Trustworthy Respectful Competent Enthusiastic s 2009

National Initiatives to make Children’s Sport fit for Children Nursery Programmes: GoGames School’s Coaching Play 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 to Prepare, Research, Develop new Ideas and Tactics Compassion gives Empathy, 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 competent caring people so that we can provide the right environment where children can fulfil their potential.

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