The three Gaelic Games Associations have today launched a major new initiative aimed at supporting the development and pathway for female coaches across football, Ladies football, hurling and camogie.

The Camogie Association, LGFA and GAA have collaborated to secure the support of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Fund and will run the programme throughout 2023.

The aim of the programme is to increase the participation of female coaches in the upper end of the Gaelic Games Player Pathway in all four codes and will see participants experience an intensive coach development programme that will support them to achieve their coaching ambitions.

As this will be a robust coach development programme aimed at ambitious female coaches, there are three important criteria.

Participants must be:

1) Actively coaching in one of the following areas in the 2023 season T3 – T4 – Intercounty Talent Pathways (18 – 23yrs: Minors, U20/21, 3rd Level) F3 – Adult Club Level E1 – Adult Inter-County

2) Have the time to be engaged with the programme

3) See coaching as something that they want to progress with in the future.

Expressions of interest are being sought from interested candidates during the month of December. In January there will be an online information session to provide interested participants with more detail about the specific content and key dates of the programme. There will be approximately 25 places on the programme for 2023.

Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “I am delighted to see the launch of this initiative which will ensure that the considerable coaching expertise of women in Gaelic Games is developed to the highest standard for the benefit of all players.

“This is another example of the three Gaelic Games Associations successfully collaborating on a project that will support our players, clubs and counties and I encourage those with an interest to sign up for 2023.”

Uachtarán Camogie Hilda Breslin said: “I am delighted to see this initiative come to fruition. The Female Coach Mentorship Programme is designed to increase and upskill female coaches at the upper levels of Gaelic Games coaching, an integral part of the Camogie Association National Development Plan. We hope to see more women coaching at the highest level in Camogie and I encourage all those interested to sign up to this initiative.

"We are delighted that once again the Gaelic Games family are working together to improve coaching standards that will benefit all of our players"

Uachtarán LGFA Mícheál Naughton said: “We are delighted to confirm details of this Female Coach Mentorship Programme, and I encourage as many of our female coaches as possible to complete the expression of interest form as a first step. This programme is yet another strong example of the Gaelic Games family working together for the betterment of our sports – and on another exciting collaborative initiative. We also thank our colleagues in Sport Ireland for the vital funding assistance that will enable the roll-out of this programme.

“Increasing the number of female coaches within our sport is one of our key and ongoing aims, and this female coach mentorship programme will play a huge role in this targeted area. The benefits of the female coach mentorship programme will be wide-ranging for applicants, and we look forward to following their journeys.”

Female coaches are asked to fill out the expression of interest form available from the link below. You don’t have to make up your mind until you hear more in January 2023. Also, members of a county board or those involved in recruiting coaches for the upper end of the pathway or inter-county teams should consider if there is a particular female coach in your county that you would like to support with their coach development. If so contact cliodhna.oconnor@gaa.ie

Across the year coaches will

- Explore their personal motivation and ambition for their coaching career

- Reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses with regards to interpersonal relationships and team dynamics

- Have a number of their own coaching sessions recorded to aid with the reflection process

- Build a relationship with a mentor

- Engage in coaching conversations and peer support through mini communities of practice built with subgroups of participants and mentors

- Have opportunities to present and debate their own coaching ideas

- Have opportunities to develop their own network

- Have in person days together as a group

- Have multiple online and small group ideas exchanges

Expressions of interest will be accepted until Wednesday 21st December 2022 and should be made via the following form: Expression of interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/8HkTSeJKNw

An online information evening will be held on Thursday 19th January 2023.

Interested coaches will get a full outline of the programme and key dates at this time.

Participants will be confirmed by Thursday 26th January 2023.

The first gathering will take place Saturday 25th February 2023.

For information contact: cliodhna.connor@gaa.ie