Guidelines for Coaches:
Coaches Should:
- Act as a role model and promote the positive aspects of Gaelic Football and maintain the highest standards of personal conduct.
- Coaches should respect the rights, dignity and worth of every player and treat each player equally, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or ability
- Encourage the development of respect for opponents, officials, selectors and other coaches and avoid criticism of mentors and officials
- Avoid working alone at all times. Ensure there is adequate supervision for all activities.
- Be generous with praise and never ridicule or shout at players for making mistakes or for losing a game
- Take care not to expose a player intentionally or unintentionally to embarrassment or disparagement by use of sarcastic or flippant remarks about the player or her family
- Never punish a mistake – by verbal means, physical means, or exclusion
- Insist that players in your care respect the rules of the game.
- Insist on fair play and ensure players are aware you will not tolerate cheating or bullying behaviour
Balanced view of Competition:
- Remember that young players play for fun and enjoyment and that skill development and personal satisfaction have priority over highly structured competition.
- Take a balanced view to player development v. team development
- Remember squad development =team development in time
- Try to keep all players participating and playing
- Never make winning the only objective
- Set realistic goals for the players and do not pressurize young players. Play at level appropriate to their ability, while respecting the dignity of each player
- Remember each player deserves equal time and attention, not just the “favourite” player
- Ensure that in so far as possible that players get adequate “game-time” ( may mean organising other matches)
- Never use A team and B team labels ( e.g.’tigers and lions’/ county names for younger teams or ‘development squad’ for older teams)
Health and Safety
- All coaches should keep an attendance record of all training sessions and matches
- All coaches should ensure that parents are aware of training start and finishing times
- All parents should be encouraged to assist with training or to assist in dressing rooms
- All coaches should keep a brief record of injury(s) and action taken both during a training session and during a game. For convenience it is recommended that an injury report form is kept in the first aid bag at all times
- Coaches should communicate and co-operate with medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of their players’ medical or related problems.
- Avoid giving advice of a personal or medical nature if you are not qualified to do so. Any information of a personal or medical nature must be kept strictly confidential unless the welfare of the player requires the passing on of this information
- Keep a brief record of problem/ action/ outcomes if behavioural problems arise