Westmeath GAA Coaching and Games Development

Published: Wed 20 Oct 2010, 4:30 PM

Primary School Third/Fourth Class Football BlitzesWith midterm approaching, Primary Schools blitzes are planned for this week - by way of completing the first coaching block in Primary Schools. These are football blitzes with the target classes being third and fourth.The following gives the details:-Blitz 1 - In Kilbeggan on Tuesday, October 19th (10.00am - 12.00noon)Participating Schools: Kilbeggan, Horseleap, Streamstown and Castletown GeogheganBlitz 2 - In Athlone I.T. on Tuesday, October 19th (11.00am - 1.00pm)Participating Schools: St. Mary’s Athlone, Gaelscoil Athlone and CornamaddyBlitz 3 - In Rochfortbridge on Tuesday, October 19th (12.30pm - 2.30pm)Participating Schools: Rochfortbridge Boys, Rochfortbridge Girls, Dalystown, Rahugh, Ballinagore and MiltownpassBlitz 4 - In Castlepollard on Wednesday, October 20th (10.00am - 12.00noon)Participating Schools: Castlepollard, Castlepollard Mixed, Whitehall, Lismacaffrey, Coole, Finea, Castletown Finea and ForeBlitz 5 - In Athlone I.T. on Wednesday, October 20th (11.00am - 1.00pm)Participating Schools: St. Mary’s Athlone, Gaelscoil Athlone and CornamaddyBlitz 6 - In Ballynacargy on Wednesday, October 20th (12.30pm - 2.30pm)Participating Schools: Ballynacargy, Emper, Rathowen, St. Thomas’ Rathowen, Multyfarnam and MilltownBlitz 7 - In Moate on Thursday, October 21st (9.45am - 11.40am)Participating Schools: Moate Boys, Moate Girls, Ballinahown and Mount TempleBlitz 8 - In Delvin on Thursday, October 21st (10.00am - 12.00noon)Participating Schools: Delvin, St. Tolas, Raharney, Edmonton and CrowenstownBlitz 9 - In Ballymore on Thursday, October 21st (12.40pm - 2.40pm)Participating Schools: Ballymore, Ardnagrath, Drumraney, Moyvore, and LoughnavalleyBlitz 10 - In Kinnegad on Thursday, October 21st (12.30pm - 2.30pm)Participating Schools: Kinnegad, The Downs and RathwireBlitz 11 - In St. Lomans Mullingar on Friday, October 22nd (9.45am - 11.45am)Participating Schools: CBS Mullingar, Curraghmore and St. ColmansBlitz 12 - In Pairc Chiaran Athlone on Friday, October 22nd (10.00am - 12.00noon)Participating Schools: Athlone Mixed, Baylin, Dean Kelly and ClonbonnyBlitz 13 - In St. Lomans Mullingarn on Friday, October 22nd (12.00noon - 2.00pm)Participating Schools: Mullingar ETNS, Kilpatrick, Loughagar and GainstownA feature of these games is that schools will mixed for each blitz with individual teams being made up from 2/3 players from each schoolRegional Coaching (Under 13 Football and Under 15 Hurling)Under 13 FootballAs a follow form last year’s coaching initiative targeting players in their final year at Under 13, the same is planned for this November. For this, players undertake coaching/games sessions in four regions (6/7 clubs per region) - last year saw six sessions pre Christmas but this year the outline plan is to have four sessions in November with two further sessions in late February. This should lead to a close tie in to next year’s Under 14 squads and no doubt will benefit clubs alsoUnder 15 Hurling: As last year, the focus for hurling will be players in their final year at this grade. Two regions will be formed with coaching and games provided.Full details for both the Under 13 Football and Under 15 Hurling will be with juvenile club secretaries this week.Hurling Wall Ball InitiativeNational Hurling Coordinator was in Cullion on Monday evening last and launched a Westmeath Hurling Wall Ball Initiative to run this November. The focus was on upskilling mentors and introducing standard tests that can be introduced to gauge skill levels of players. This was complimented by then introducing a ‘handball hurling game’ that could easily be incorporated in training sessions.Westmeath Post Primary Football CompetitionsFirst Year Football LeagueThis competition has ran well over the last four weeks with three graded finals to be played this week. The ‘Cup Final’ is between Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar and Moate C.S., the ‘Shield Final’ between St. Josephs, Rochfortbridge and Athlone C.C. with St. Finians College Mullingar and Marist College Athlone contesting the ‘Plate Final’First/Second YearFootball LeagueThe pairings for the final of this competition is Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan and Columba College Kilucan with this game schedule for the first week back after mid term. The ‘Shiel Final’ will be between Mullingar C.C. and Castlepollard C.C.Floodlit Tens BlitzThis league, as a follow on to the Spring/Summer Go Games Under 10 league has been running for the last three Monday evenings and finished on Monday last with games under lights in Garrycastle, Athlone and Tubberclair.All games went well with Ballynacargy, Kilbeggan/St. Josephs, Milmore Gaels, St. Malachy’s/Ballinagore, Caulry and Maryland/Tang also involvedAward One FootballCoaching CourseThe Award One Football Course starts next Wednesday, October 27. Courses from Croke Park have been revamped slightly and this equates to the ‘old’ Level One Course.This course is aimed at mentors working at U.13 level and younger and it is planned to offer Award One Adult in the new year, but this course is targeting mentors with younger age groups.To be involved in this Award One Child course, participants must have already completed Foundation Level Certification and in many cases the course would be an ideal follow on to the ‘Cluster Coaching’ sessions as delivered in many clubs throughout the year.The venue for the course is St. Finians College Mullingar (changed from St. Joseph’s Secondary School Rochfortbridge) and the cost per participant is €75.Full details with juvenile Club Secretaries.