Keeping the Maroon in Tune

Primary Schools Focus - Boher NS: This week we visit Boher NS - a small two teacher school with 40 pupils whose Principal is Bernadette Flanagan. The school is in the parish of Ballymore with children from the school playing with St. Joseph's, Kilbeggan and Rosemount. The school enjoys Cumann na mBunscol games where they have competed since the 1980's and all were delighted when won their section in 2005. Jim Dalton is the local Schools Coach and all children look forward to Jim's visit each Thursday. Jim is a member of the Milltown Club and has vast experience of Coaching over many years. 'Constant Practice' is Jim's tip for young players and Jim derives great enjoyment from seeing young players - both boys and girls - participating in Gaelic Games Football Games For The Training Pitch Over The Top Game: A 3v3 exercise where 3 attackers line up along the halfway line and 3 defenders face them along the 45m line [defenders may start in press-up position]. The width of the playing area is set at 30m-40m [use multimarkers and one sideline]. One attacker has the ball and lobs it over the line of defenders to force them to turn and retrieve. The attackers close down the defenders who must work it out over the halfway line to earn a point. Should the attackers win the ball back, they must work it over the 20m line to score. Swap roles, repeat, give players the chance to work out moves etc. U.13 Regional Football Coaching This initiative involves six weeks of activity revolving around coaching and games activity for U.13 Footballers in Westmeath. For this project the County is divided into four regions with approximately six clubs in each region (and over 100 players involved -25/28 in each region). For two of the sessions the focus will be on having inter regional games - this will happen in session three and on the final date. For the other four sessions, there will be coaching in the regions with different clubs hosting these sessions each week. This is an exciting new development that will significantly enhance the development of young players in Westmeath as they prepare for underage County Squads and beyond. In advance of the first training sessions, last Wednesday the Coaches had a session with County Manager Brendan Hackett in Rochfortbridge. The purpose of this was to help ensure commonality between all regions and working on the detail of the six week programme Regions & Coaches Region 1: Athlone, Caulry, Castledaly, Moate All Whites, Rosemount and St. Joseph's Kilbeggan. Coordinator: Dermot Fox Coaches: John Keane, TJ Dunning, Rory Byrne and Niall O'Brien Region 2: Garrycastle, Tubberclair, Maryland/Tang, Milmore Gaels, Ballynacargy and Tyrrellspass. Coordinator: John Fagan Coaches: James Duignan, Fergal Wilson, Frank Lynam, Adrian Coughlan, Pat Dunne and Liam O'Reilly. Region 3: Mullingar Shamrocks, St. Malachy's/Ballinagore, Shandonagh, St. Marys Rochfortbridge, Miltownpass, Delvin and Coralstown/Kinnegad. Coordinator: Eugene Coyle Coaches: John Gordon, John Cooney, Gavin Dooley and Thomas McDonnell. Region 4: St. Lomans Mullingar, Kilucan, The Downs, St. Michaels, Bunbrosna, Multyfarnam and St. Pauls. Coordinators: Des Doolin & Ned Flynn Coaches: Gary Glennon, Johnny Murray, Tommy Kelly. DATES/VENUES FIRST SESSIONS:- Region 1 - in Pairc Chiaran on Wednesday November 4th Region 2 - in Garrycastle on Thursday November 5th Region 3 - in Kinnegad on Tuesday November 3rd Region 4 - in St. Lomans Mullingar Thursday November 5th Time (for all sessions): 7.00pm - 8.30pm - with all asked to be at their respective venue at 6.30pm Mullingar Areas Trip To Croke Park On Thursday last 29/10/09 Westmeath Coaching and Games organised a trip to Croke Park for two areas in Mullingar namely Dalton Park and Grange. Both these areas have been very actively involved in Gaelic games over the past 12 months and this was the reward for all the training put in by all the children involved. This was a very enjoyable day and all the children who attended on the day went home with a greater knowledge of our games and the roots of the GAA. Hopefully these children will get to walk out on the hallowed turf of Croke Park in the not to distant future. A big thank you has to go to the Midlands Regional Youth Service staff that helped in the supervision of the children on the day. Also to the Community Gardaí.