Westmeath development squads to receive ongoing assistance

A new Westmeath Development Squad Committee is to be set up to assist with the coaching and management of county teams. Coaching Officer Billy Foley outlined the idea behind the committee at last week’s County Board meeting.Mr Foley said the committee would assist the Minor Board and County Committee to improve the standard of the various development squads.The terms of reference for the committee are as follows:1. Draw up guidelines for mentors (and players) involved with the squads - and monitor ongoing work throughout the season.2. Help each squad to be well serviced in terms of - equipment/sliotars etc., game/training facilities, meals/refreshments, travel arrangements etc - each team co-ordinator to also be an integral part of ensuring all these areas run as planned.3. To help that value for money in terms of the various spend areas allow for consistency of approach in terms of gear for example. Spend areas to be planned on the basis of a guideline budget.4. Suggest appointments/managements for the various squads for ratification by Minor Board and County Committee - this is to be worked on upon completion of the season with the expectation that all personnel could be in place by end of November.5. Allow for training of team managements as appropriate - this is to help consistency of approach across the various squads and ensure quality inputs for all teams/players.6. Support mentors as required throughout the year.7. Assist squad mentors plan/deliver specialist coaching inputs as appropriate for players.8. Help ensure all top quality players commit to playing for Westmeath at the various age groups.9. Meet with squad managers as appropriate.10. Reps from Committee to meet County Management at least three times per year.11. Meet with Minor Board and Coaching & Games Committee as appropriate.12. Committee itself to meet as appropriate to evaluate progress with the various squads - this to also form the basis for “sharing ideas” and to help develop standards across the squads.Disappointment over Minor resultsMr Foley said it is “very difficult” for three or four people to do all the work in relation to preparing a team, and he added that Westmeath’s results at minor level in recent years have been disappointing.Tony Robinson (Ballinagore) contended that one of the “big problems” Westmeath have faced at minor level is the way the draw operates in the Leinster MFC. The teams who have lost in the first round have came through the losers’ group and benefited from the extra games, he said. Describing it as a “crazy system”, he said Westmeath have been “punished” for winning their opening round games for a number of years.“It’s very difficult to tell a minor manager not to win the first round game so we can go into the losers’ group,” stated Mr Robinson.Hurling Wall BallIn relation to the hurling wall ball initiative, Mr Foley said there are a lot of hurling walls in Westmeath but he suggested that the county was not getting the best value out of them.He revealed that National Hurling Coordinator, Paudie Butler is returning to Cullion next week and he asked for all hurling clubs to send coaches. “The idea of this us that this group will become experts in wall ball,” he said.Mr Foley told the meeting that 42 of the county’s 46 GAA clubs had taken part in cluster coaching, and the remaining four clubs would be involved in the new year.“The four clubs in question want it to be left to the new year and we’re open to suggestions as to how to follow it up,” said Mr Foley.