The GAA Games Development Conference, held on January 14th in Croke Park, saw almost 700 delegates from Ireland and overseas attend the most successful event to date. A range of national and international speakers presented on a series of topics related to the development of teenage players. The Conference, kindly sponsored by Lucozade Sport, was held in association with the complete family of Gaelic games - Camogie, Ladies Gaelic football, Handball and Rounders.
Speakers on the day included Jean Coté – internationally renowned sports scientist, legendary AFL Coach David Parkin, Waterford team doctor Dr Mark Rowe as well as practical coaching demonstrations provided by All-Ireland winning Ladies Football coach Eamonn Ryan (Cork) and former Dublin hurler Paudie O’Neill, both of whom are prominent Coach Education Tutors.
All of the presentations made on the day are available for all delegates, and those that were unable to attend, below. Please note that video footage is also available where link is provided.
Opening Address
Christy Cooney, Úachtarán CLG
Conference Presentations
Coaching Youth: Meeting the Challenge, Raising our Games
Jean Côté, Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queens University, Canada
Organising Purposeful Games Based Activities
Brian Cuthbert, Former Manager Cork Minor Football Team
Fuelling our Development: The reality behind hydration and nutrition
Dr. Giles Warrington, Senior Lecturer, Department of Health and Human Performance, DCU
Dessie Dolan, Senior Footballer, Westmeath
Coaching Females: Challenges and Opportunities-A Discussion Forum
Eamonn Ryan, Manager, Cork Ladies Gaelic Football Team
Alan Managan, Coach, Westmeath Ladies Gaelic Football Team
Martina Farrell, Dublin Senior Ladies Gaelic Football Team
A New Understanding on Player Development
Dr Mark Rowe, GP and Doctor to the Waterford Senior Hurling Team
Organising Purposeful Games Based Activities-A Football Demonstration
Eamonn Ryan, Manager, Cork Ladies Gaelic Football Team
Organising Purposeful Games Based Activities-A Hurling Demonstration
Paudie O'Neill, Coach, Ballyboden St Enda's, Dublin
Tools to Support Player Development: Psychological Focus
Gerry Hussey, Psychologist to the Irish Olympic Boxing Team
Developing Coaches: A Lifelong Journey
Dr. Julia Walsh, Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies, UCC
Vinnie Walsh, St Colman's College, Claremorris and Coach, Mayo Minor Football Team
Team Cohesion: Success with Teenage Attitudes
Dr. Gerry Fitzpatrick, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, WIT
Dr. Aoife Lane, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, WIT
Supporting the Physical Fitness Development of Teenage Players
Dr. Cian O'Neill, Lecturer, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Limerick and Coach to Tipperary Senior Hurling Team
Games Development and the Youth Player
Liam O'Neill, Chair National Games Development Committee
Closing Address
Coaching Youth Players: An International Perspective
David Parkin, AFL Premiership Winning Coach of Hawthorn and Carlton