Ulster GAA Coaching and Games Development Conference 2009
Common Goals, Different Roles
Are Adults Destroying Children’s Play
Paudie ButlerNational Hurling Coordinator
Children
Are they human?Are they fully human?Are they equal?
Have they rights?Who will defend those rights?
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
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?
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?