Donegal and Sligo ATUs have been confirmed as two of the four venues for the ‘I COACH KIDS’ conference series which will be held in the first week of September.
The aim of the initiative is to bring current best practices and specific information to coaches at a local level that will support them when coaching children and teenagers.
Coaches who attend will be provided with specific directed learning on the day of the conference, as well as being signposted to self-directed learning opportunities through Sport Ireland and the ‘I COACH KIDS’ website.
The event is part of the European Week of Sport and will see Sport Ireland Coaching host a series of conferences for coaches of children and teenagers, in partnership with the LSP Network and the Sport Ireland Participation Unit.
‘I COACH KIDS’ is a non-profit global movement whose mission is to help children get the most out of sport. Its online platform gives youth sport coaches the tools to share and learn from another, giving children from any background the best coaching, play, sport, environment, and motivation to stay in the sport longer.
Looking ahead of the series of conferences, Director of Sport Ireland Coaching, Michael McGeehin, said that they are looking forward to having in-person events again.
“Because of the pandemic, there was little or no activity in sport, so there was going to be a drop in volunteerism,” he said.
“Sport is definitely revving up again and things are getting busier for coaches as well.
“These conferences are aimed at anyone who is coaching children and teenagers. These people are on the ground, who are learning through ‘doing’, which is always good.”
Guest speakers at the conference will be Sergio Lara-Bercial and Nicolette Schipper van Veldhoven.
Myles Sweeney, Coordinator with Donegal Sports Partnership, partner of Coaching Ireland for the conference, said: “I am delighted that Letterkenny was selected as a venue to deliver what will be a good quality event.
“Both Dr. Sergio Lara-Bercial, former basketball coach with Team GB, and Dr. Nicolette Schipper van Veldhoven have developed the ‘I COACH KIDS’ philosophies and methods, which have been embraced by many national governing bodies of sport.”
Donegal ATU’s campus in Letterkenny will host the conference on Thursday the 1st of September, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
The cost per coach to attend the conference is €10.
To register for the conference in Letterkenny, follow this link: ICOACHKIDS Regional Conference – Donegal
