1. Munster Coaching Conference
“Coaching Children in the GAA”
Presented by Paudie Butler
Mallow, Saturday 10th March 2012

2. Graceful, Balanced and Economical

3. Deformed, Lopsided, Stunted

4. “People know what they do,
they frequently know why they do what they do,
but what they don’t know,
is what they do does”
French Philosopher – Jean Michel Foucault

5. The Rights of the Child in Sport
The Right to participate in sport.
The Right to participate at a level commensurate with each child’s maturity and ability.
The Right to have qualified adult leadership.
The Right to play as a child and not as an adult.
The Right to share in the leadership and decision-making of their sport participation.
The Right to participate in a safe and healthy environment.
The Right to proper preparation for participation in sport.
The right to equal opportunity for success.
The Right to be treated with dignity.
The Right to have fun in sport.

6. “Movement is the Child’s First Language”
Sally Goddard Blythe – The Well Balanced Child

7. Primary School Curriculum
CPKS
Catching Passing
Kicking Striking
Fun
Fun
R.J.T.
Running Jumping Throwing
Games
ABC - Agility Balance Coordination

8. Assisting and Challenging to Achieve their Potential”
What is a Coach?
“A Coach is a Person who
Builds Competencies by
Assisting and Challenging
Players and Self
to Achieve their Potential”

9. Failing to Notice
“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice, and because we fail to notice, that we fail to notice there is little that we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice has shaped out thoughts and deeds” R.D. Laing

10. Trust
Reliability
Competence

11. The End of the Beginning The Beginning of the End?
Success vs. Failure
Assisting
Challenging
The End of the Beginning or
The Beginning of the End?

12. “Your Children are not your Children But Life’s Longing for Itself”
Cahil Gibrain

13. So Why Do Children Play? ...to have fun ...to test themselves
...to feel worthy
...to belong
...to have influence
...to be free
...to survive
...to be like their heroes 31
Coaching Children - Paudie Butler
© GAA

14. The Positivity Ratio +1 : -1 > Depression +3 : -1 > Survival
Positive Negative Outcome
+1 : -1 > Depression
+3 : -1 > Survival
+5 : -1 > Growth
+7 : -1 > Flourishing
Maureen Gaffney - Flourishing

15. What Great Coaches Do Coach Players Values
Focus on Player’s Real Beliefs
Coach Player Habits and Behaviours
Focus on Player’s Resistance (Feelings & Emotions)
Develop Player’s Ability to Think
Nurture Player’s Ambition & Desire
Focus on Player’s Lifestyle
Be aware of Player’s Uniqueness & Attitude
Build Player’s Confidence & Calmness
Enhance Player’s Self-Esteem

16. and CANNOT achieve the results of Coaching
What Coaching is NOT!
When you as a coach are:
Enforcing
Controlling
Manipulating
Bullying
Insulting
Berating
Pressurising…
You are NOT Coaching
and CANNOT achieve the results of Coaching

17. Balance When everyone plays, you have the balance right.
Praise
Correction
Risk
Safety
Instruction
Action
Game Time
Travel
Formal
Informal
Skill mastery
Self expression
Pressure
Non-pressure
Training Time
Game Time
When everyone plays, you have the balance right.
When you have the balance right, everyone stays.

18. When they have enough skill When they have enough games
Balance
When they have enough skill
to enjoy the game.
When they have enough games
to show their skills.

19. 7 to 12 is The Golden Age of Learning
“Education has for its objective
the formation of character”
Herbert Spencer

20. Stages of Development Age 6 - 12 Play to Learn
Age Learn to Compete
Age Compete to Win

21. Acquiring Bilateral Coordination
6-12 Stage 1 : Play to Learn

22. Games Based Coaching Model
Play the Game
Freeze the Game
Fix the Skill
Fuel the Will
Observe
Analyse
Re-Affirm
Generate Feedback
Modify
Change
Demonstrate
Explain
Set Targets
Encourage

23. “Tugann Dúchas Dóchas”