Coaching and Games Development Newsletter

London GAA Coaching & Games Development Newsletter 

Month: August/ September ‘Autumn is Calling, A September to Remember’ 

As the activity took a break this August in line with the Summer Holidays, the Action returned with a bang in September with Youth Activity. The London U15 and U17 Championships kicked off, the All Britain Competition took place while our Coaches upskilled on a Dual Foundation Course and some of our clubs ran their annual Club days.

London GAA 125 Celebration Games 

As part of the 125 Year celebrations the first round of the U15 Championship took over McGovern Park on Saturday 4th September. There were two games on show as Tara and Parnell’s opened the day with a highly anticipated match up of Tir Chonail Gaels and North London Shamrocks closed out the activities. In the first game the men from Cayton Road started as they meant to go on scoring early points to take an early lead. The Parnell’s too their credit never gave up but in the end the Tara ran out comfortable winners. 

If we were running nominations for game of the year, the second game on the day would be right up there. The saying ‘Goals win Games’ was completely thrown out the window with this result as TCG and NLS starred in an outstanding draw. North London Shamrocks had to dust themselves down from conceding 6 goals and fight back to earn a draw. For anyone in Ruislip on the day were certainly entertained as they watched the performances from the Future Gaels and Shamrocks players. 

The Coaching and Games would like to wish all our teams the very best of luck as they began their Championship Campaigns, the talent on show in our youth ranks is exceptional and the future looks very bright. 

All Britain Competition Returns in September 

After a Year break due to the ongoing pandemic of covid-19 the ABC was unfortunately cancelled for 2020. Thankfully in 2021 the ABC returned and London brought it’s a game to the event. In total London brought 115 teams from our youth clubs. That number is up from 98 teams in 2019, the work that our clubs are doing is not going unnoticed and our players are developing each year due to more games and better quality coaching.

 The highlight of the weekend is seeing the Go Games Hurlers and Footballers falling in love with our games. London had 59 Go Games teams in total spread across 12 clubs at hurling and football. These players alongside our friends in Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Gloucestershire Yorkshire and Scotland contributed to 216 teams and 2183 players. 

The Coaching and Games would like to congratulate the ABC Committee for a successful tournament and to all the London Teams who were successful in the Competition. London were successful in the Following competitions: 

U13 Football Cup: St Kiernan’s 

U15 Football Shield: St Kiernan’s 

U16 LGFA Cup: Tir Chonail Gaels 

U16 LGFA Shield: Tara 

U17 Football Cup: Tara 

U17 Football Shield: Tir Chonail Gaels 

U17 Football Plate 2: North London Shamrocks 

U18 LGFA Shield: Tir Chonail Gaels 

U14 Hurling Shield: Granuaile 

U17 Hurling Cup: Thomas McCurtain’s 

The ABC is a great competition for our clubs, our clubs get the chance to represent their clubs in a provincial competition and play against teams that they don’t normally play against. 

Coach Education Course 

In September London GAA ran a Dual Foundation Coach Education Course. There were 23 participants from our clubs with a good mix of coaches who coach from U5 players to Senior hurlers. The open and learning space was beneficial to all coaches as they shared their experiences to the group and feedback and tips were provided by both those on the course and the tutors leading the discussions. The Foundation Course is targeted at coaches who starting out on the GAA coach education ladder and coaches who are starting their journey as coaches in the GAA. 

The Key elements of the Course are the Fundamentals of Movement skills, The How to Coach skills, the different Types of Games and there are discussions on how to change game scenarios. A reminder that the GAA provides our Coaches with activities on its website and all activities are completely free of Charge, Activities can be found at the link: https://learning.gaa.ie/planner/ London GAA also provides our coaches with activities and they can be found at the link: https://www.londongaa.org/content_page/10031692/ 

Strategic Plan 2021- 2024 

In early 2021 London GAA launched our Strategic Plan for 2021- 2024. The plan outlines clear and achievable objectives for the London GAA community for the next 3 years. 

The key areas for the Coaching and Games are: 

 Player Participation & Player Retention 

 Development Squads 

 Schools Coaching 

 Hurling Participation 

 Player Pathway 

 Coach Education 

Coaching Corner 

A new segment to the newsletter this year is the Coaching Corner. This segment will include tips, games, quotes and more from all things coaching. 

Club Days: St. Kiernan’s James O Brien Day & St. Clarets Fun Day 

James O Brien Day 

St Kiernan’s ran their annual James O Brien day recently, the consisted of an U11 blitz with the teams playing for a Cup and Shield. There were 5 clubs present on the day with St Kiernan’s having two teams, Parnell’s, Tir Chonail Gaels, North London Shamrocks and near Neighbours St. Colmcille’s from Hertfordshire were also invited. As the day progressed Parnell’s, St. Kiernan’s White, St. Colmcille’s and NLS progressed through the group stages to the Cup Semi- Finals while TCG and St. Kiernan’s Black played out the Shield Final with TCG coming out on top. The Parnell’s and St. Colmcille’s progressed through to the Cup Final with the boys from the Parnell’s coming out victorious. 

St Clarets Fun Day 

In September St. Clarets held their 6th annual fun day, the day in Kingshill caters for all, the Go Games players take the lead with activities which open the day. After the Go Games the adults take centre stage with a Lads vs Dad’s and Mum’s vs Girl’s games. The Mum’s Vs Girl’s play for the Chloe Buckley cup and the Lads vs Dad’s play for the Denis McCarthy Cup. The St. Clarets fun day is a good way to remember those in the club who went before. 

Club Championship U15 & U17 

In September our U15 and U17 teams began their Championship campaigns. The Coaching and Games would like to wish the very best of luck to all our teams taking part. Championship is a very exciting time for players and clubs as it marks the end of the season that players and teams have been training for. The Championship Draws are as Follows: U15 Pool A Pool B Gael Londain/ Round Towers North London Shamrocks Parnells St. Clarets St. Kiernan’s Tir Chonail Gaels Tara U17 Pool A Pool B St. Kiernan’s Clarets/McCurtain/ Shamrocks Tara Gael Londain/ Round Towers Tir Chonail Gaels Parnell’s 

London Schools Coaching Returned in September 

The London GAA Schools Coaching Program returned for the new school year, the program overs Primary Curriculum Coaching, Hurling and Football After School Clubs. There is also the chance for Secondary Schools to take part in Year 7 & 8 taster hurling sessions to help increase the knowledge and promote the sport. There will be a Year 9/10 Gaelic Football Development Blitz in October for our schools. 

LONDON GAA YOUTH CLUB DIRECTORY: #

Our Youth Clubs 

Father Murphys (H) - Berkeley Avenue, Greenford Avenue, Middlesex UB6 0NZ- Contact: secretary.frmurphys.london@gaa.ie 

Gael Londain (F) – Hazelwood, Hazelwood Drive, Sunbury- On- Thames TW16 6QU- Contact: secretary.gaellondain.London@gaa.ie 

Granuaile (H) -John Billam Sports Centre, Woodcock Hill, Kenton, HA3 0PQContact: secretary.granuaile.london@gaa.ie 

Kilburn Gaels (H) – Gladstone Park, Anson Road, London NW2 6BHContact: secretary.kilburngaels.london@gaa.ie 

North London Shamrocks (F) – Tottenhall Sportsground, Tottenhall Road N13 6LH- Contact: secretary.northlondonshamrocks.london@gaa.ie 

Parnells (F) – Wood Ln, Stanmore HA7 4LFContact: secretary.parnells.london@gaa.ie 

Round Towers (F) – Mitcham and Carshalton RFC, Peterborough Rd, Sutton SM5 1EE- Contact: secretary.roundtowers.london@gaa.ie 

St. Clarets (F) – Hayes Rugby Club, Kinghill Ave. Hayes, Middlesex UB4 8BZ Contact: secretary.stclarets.london@gaa.ie 

St. Joseph’s (F) - Boston Manor Playing Fields, Boston Gardens, Brentford TW8 9LR Contact: secretary.stjosephs.london@gaa.ie 

St. Kiernans (F) – King George Playing Fields, Barnet Lane EN5 2DW Contact: secretary.stkiernans.london@gaa.ie 

Tara(F) – Northolt Rugby Club, Cayton Rd, Greenford UB6 8BJ Contact: secretary.stkiernans.london@gaa.ie 

Thomas McCurtain’s(F & H) – Goodmayes, Medici Close, Ilford IG3 8FE Contact: secretary.thomasmccurtains.london@gaa.ie 

Tir Chonail Gaels (F) – Berkeley Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0NZ Contact: secretary.tirchonaillgaels.london@gaa.ie 

Contact us: 

Email: cda.london@gaa.ie 

Website: http://londongaa.org/ 

Twitter: @LONDAINGAA 

Facebook: Official London GAA 

Instagram: officiallondongaa