The Club NurseryJoey Carton

Munster Games Manager

What is a Club Nursery ?What is a Club Nursery ?

A Club NurseryA Club Nursery

Where children are introduced to our games Where children are introduced to our games for the first timefor the first time

May have different names e.g. Academy, May have different names e.g. Academy, Beginners SectionBeginners Section

Often taken for granted (Where is Under 12 Often taken for granted (Where is Under 12 team this year?)team this year?)

Strong clubs put emphasis on this sectionStrong clubs put emphasis on this section

Three Areas of Concern Three Areas of Concern

When is the correct time to start childrenWhen is the correct time to start children

What should we be doing with beginnersWhat should we be doing with beginners

When should we start playing gamesWhen should we start playing games

When is the correct time ?When is the correct time ?BackgroundBackground

Historically Primary Schools made this Historically Primary Schools made this decisiondecision

Now clubs have this responsibilityNow clubs have this responsibility Most clubs have Most clubs have

Nursery/Beginners/Academy SectionsNursery/Beginners/Academy Sections In some cases children of 4 years are In some cases children of 4 years are

accepted (fear of other codes)accepted (fear of other codes) No real planning goes into this areaNo real planning goes into this area

When is the Correct time ?When is the Correct time ?General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines

Six years of age Six years of age (senior infants) is (senior infants) is young enoughyoung enough

Start with friends and Start with friends and classmatesclassmates

Good Good weather/conditions i.e weather/conditions i.e May,Astro or IndoorMay,Astro or Indoor

Ideally group should Ideally group should cater up to 10 yearscater up to 10 years

What should we be doing ?What should we be doing ?

Recruit How? (local Recruit How? (local schools, leaflet, have a schools, leaflet, have a go days)go days)

Registration Day Registration Day (attendance records (attendance records vital)vital)

Correct ratio of Correct ratio of coaches to children 1:5coaches to children 1:5

(use assistants)(use assistants) Co-ordinator and other Co-ordinator and other

helpers requiredhelpers required Start and finish on time Start and finish on time

(1 hour in total)(1 hour in total)

What should we be doing ?What should we be doing ?Have a Proper StructureHave a Proper Structure

What should we be doing?What should we be doing?Managing the Coaches Managing the Coaches

Best coaches in clubBest coaches in club Specialised training Specialised training

provided for allprovided for all Coaches need to meet Coaches need to meet

½ hour beforehand½ hour beforehand Coaches should meet Coaches should meet

during seasonduring season

What should we be doing?What should we be doing?ActivitiesActivities

Introduce Skills in fun Introduce Skills in fun environmentenvironment

ABC’s Have a Ball ABC’s Have a Ball Programmes are vitalProgrammes are vital

Plenty of fun gamesPlenty of fun games Station training Station training

generally worksgenerally works Variety is vitalVariety is vital

What should we be doing ?What should we be doing ?Equipment?Equipment?

Adequate equipmentAdequate equipment Correct size hurleysCorrect size hurleys Large ball, first touch sliotar,footballLarge ball, first touch sliotar,football

Some Issues to ConsiderSome Issues to Consider

All children want to play matchesAll children want to play matches All children want to wear a jerseyAll children want to wear a jersey Show them how to tackle/protect themselves at an Show them how to tackle/protect themselves at an

early ageearly age Small-sided games at all timesSmall-sided games at all times Blitzes provide better opportunities for everyone to Blitzes provide better opportunities for everyone to

playplay Work hard to recruit but can loose them very easyWork hard to recruit but can loose them very easy First Impressions can be lastingFirst Impressions can be lasting

ConclusionConclusion