Results of landmark survey salutes efforts of Gaelic games coaches

The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association have joined forces to conduct the largest ever coach development survey undertaken in Irish sport, to help inform coach development policy, implementation, and management at national, provincial, county, school and club levels.

The findings of ‘Coaching and Coach Education in Gaelic games: a benchmark report’, published on Tuesday, is a detailed report that was supported with assistance from UCC, Mary Immaculate College, DCU, UCD, Ulster University, IT Sligo and University of Georgia.

Based on the responses from more than 10,400 participants, a clear picture of the volume of work being undertaken by our volunteer coaches has been established. The aim of this research was to collect population data about the coaching workforce across all levels of Gaelic games participation to inform coach development policy, implementation and management across all levels.

The Gaelic Games Coach Workforce is made up of a complex mix of individuals who have equally complex coaching experiences unique to their code, their location and personal situation.

‘VERY ACTIVE’ COACHES

The coaches that participated in this survey were predominantly male (79%), aged between 25–54 (85.7%), and experienced, with 89.8% having more than 5 years coaching experience.

Coaches in Gaelic games reported being very active: 39.8% coach two or more Gaelic games codes. A significant majority of coaches engage in coaching on multiple days each week (78.3%).

In terms of time spent, coaches are spending on average seven and a half hours a week on their commitment to coaching – which can rise to on average an additional nine hours on match weeks.

Almost two thirds of coaches (63.1%) intend to continue coaching for the foreseeable future (more than two years), with just 2.5% of coaches declaring that they do not intend to continue coaching.

Those coaches who intend on continuing to coach identified several issues which may impact on their coaching futures. The most prominent issue was ‘ Balancing Coaching with Other Demands’ (73.8%), while approximately one third of respondents mentioned either Poor Games Opportunities/Structures (28.3%) or Scheduling of Competitions (35.4%) as challenges facing coaching. It should be noted these responses were made before the GAA’s move towards a defined split season between inter-county and club activity.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents consider future learning to be important to their coaching (94.6%), with 71.2% of respondents ‘Quite Likely’ or ‘ Extremely Likely’ to undertake some form of coach education in the next 12 months.

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Welcoming the report, Shane Flanagan, GAA Director of Games Development stated: “This survey has painted an important picture not only of the impressive scale of the work being done by volunteer coaches supported by our Coach Developers - but also in showing the calibre of people we are fortunate to have dedicating their time and effort for the promotion of Gaelic games at all levels.

“Their passion for coaching and education and their thirst for knowledge and best practice presents us with a challenge to ensure that our volunteer coaches feel they are supported, valued and we serve their needs.

“Working in conjunction with the Gaelic Games Player Pathway, this report will allow the GAA, the LGFA and the Camogie Association to develop and deliver for our coaches a new Coach Development Framework that focuses on enhancing coaching skills to support the development of our players. I want to join with our sister organisations in thanking all of those who assisted us in conducting this research, and also our third-level partners for their invaluable support and analysis.”

The full report can be found at www.gaa. ie/news/gaelic-games-to-benefit-from-lessons-ofcoaching-survey/