FOUNDATION SUCCESS IN LOCRONAN -BRITTANY
On Sunday 2nd July, Kerne Gaelic Football club hosted a GAA Foundation Award in the beautiful town of Locronan. The course was organized by the Breton Gaelic Football League and was attended by 24 participations of which 13 were P.E teachers and the other 11 were coaches from around Brittany. The aim of the course is to introduction beginner coaches to the ‘How to Coach’ skills demonstrate key fundamental movement skills, and an introduction to games. The course is divided in 5 modules and provides coaches with practical experiences of the skills of the game.
The course was delivered by three recently trained G.A.A tutors from Brittany who had completed four weekends training in Maynooth along with other tutors from all over Leinster. In attendance to support these tutor were Sean O’Toole and Gerard O Connor from the Leinster Tutor group. This was the first time that a G.A.A coach education programme was delivered outside of Ireland by native tutors (French) This presents a new dimensions in the development of the Gaelic Games overseas.
The newly trained tutors Olivier Kowarski (Liffré), Tangi The Hostis (Brest) and Anna-Marie O'Rourke (Rennes) presented the course and demonstrated their capacity to deliver and facilitate the learning process .offer feedback to all the participations. The tutors provided a learning environment that was very friendly and gave the coaches the opportunity to practice their new knowledge and skills.
The training course was advertised to teachers and coaches in Brittany and within one week the course was full, unfortunately the organisers had to turn away twelve participants as there was no room on the course.
This highlights the hugh interest and strong passion for Gaelic football that exists in Brittany.
Participants at the introductory session of the foundation coaching award fully engaged and challenged over the long day course. There was a lot of experience in the room which the tutors utilised in their discussions on the role of the coach and the ‘how to coach skills’.
Coaches then quickly moved to the pitch were the local club called ‘Kerne’ play and train. Under the watchful eye of master tutors Ger O'Connor and Sean O’Toole.
On completion of the course a debriefing session was held to gather feedback on the day’s events. The tutors were pleased the comments which were expressed by all.
Planning and organisation for this programme was meticulous. Both the tutors, Fabien Réginer and Florian Lannuzel must be thanked for their efforts in providing accommodation, classroom facilities, sports facilities, catering, maps of the location. This planning and organisation made the course run very smoothly.
Finally the coaches thanked the tutor who will now return to Dublin on the 8th July when they will graduate as G.A.A tutors before the leinster hurling in Croke park.
Gerard O Connor
Leinster Coach Education