Pictured Above:
U8 footballers v Lucan. Our U8 footballers shake hands with their counterparts from the Lucan Sarsfield club after their match.
This is the time of year, as the weather improves, when our youngest of players find it easiest to get involved in the Club’s activities.
They are seen in large numbers every Saturday morning; in particular in Sean Moore Park as they go through their paces in ‘the Cage’ or out on the playing pitches as part of our Academy.
When they reach the age of eight they get their first opportunity to don the Clanns jersey to play matches with their counterparts from other clubs. This is still essentially about having fun and the competitive side of games doesn’t come until they get a bit older – although the fun element always remains.
While it’s most important that the youngsters have fun through participation in Gaelic football, hurling or camogie, it’s also important that they have the opportunity to learn and develop the basic skills through appropriate coaching and mentoring.
In this regard the most recent series of ‘Le Chéile’ workshops were very useful in helping to further equip team mentors – and indeed interested parents – to do just that. Organised by the club’s Games Development Officers (Rachael Byrne and Claire Ryan), these workshops drew on the knowledge and experience of guest presenters to cover Strength and Conditioning, Sports Psychology and Hurling Skills.
Together with Foundation, Level 1 and various other levels of coaching courses, these workshops are proving to be a very useful additional resource.
Pictured: Clanns U9 girls football team before their match with Cuala.
This is also the time of year when the programme of competitive fixtures is in full swing, involving football, hurling and camogie teams for girls and boys right across the age spectrum from U8 through to U16; as well as at minor (U18) and intermediate level. Each of these teams continues to wear the Clanns jersey with pride and respect – and with no small amount of success!
There’s also plenty happening away from the field of play. For instance, such has been the success of the recent series of Irish language classes for beginners that a new series is being planned. The social scene is well catered for through Table Quizzes and other functions in the hall and the bar.
Pictured: U11 hurlers coaching.
One of the next big events in the calendar is the Club Summer Social, which takes place on Saturday May 14th. For anyone looking for good music in the form of the Merry Ploughboys, food and refreshments and general good fun for all, this is a must. There’s lots more information to be found at www.clannagaelfontenoy.ie. Of course, much of this on and off-field activity would not be possible without the ongoing support of our main sponsors – Dublin Port Company and Meaghers Pharmacy.
The latest in the Club’s ‘Le Chéile’ series of workshops for team mentors and interested parents saw Dublin County Board Games Promotion Officer, Niall Williams, take a session with our U11 hurlers to demonstrate good coaching principles and techniques. All attending got plenty of ideas to bring back to their teams to use for training sessions
By Felix O’Regan
