THE Camogie Association, in partnership with Sport Ireland, have developed a new initiative called the M.N.A Programme.
The policy on Women in Sport identifies Coaching and Officiating, Active Participation, Leadership and Governance and Visibility as four key target areas. In targeting this area around coaching, the Camogie Association strive to increase the number of women and girls participating in sport and to eliminate the participation gradient between men and women.
Through the M.N.A Programme, they aim to achieve an increase in women’s sustained involvement in camogie, primarily as coaches and mentors at the grassroots of the organisation.
The programme looks at the development of female mentors and coaches within clubs around the country, providing support to female coaches along their development journey whatever level they wish to progress to and encourage involvement in camogie throughout their lifetime.
The M.N.A Programme will act as an important step in assisting clubs to ensure the retention of players away from the playing field and the recruitment of females who will pass on their knowledge and experience to future players through coaching.
The role that women can play in passing on their intrinsic knowledge of the game to young players in particular is a key reason behind this programme and the part which they can play as positive role models for young players.
The programme is seen as a model for clubs of how to develop a pathway to recruit, develop, retain, and support females within the club on their journey as coaches or in other volunteer roles.
ROLE TASKS AND REQUIREMENTS:
– Fully understand the M.N.A Programme its objectives, goals, and structures.
– Be over the age of 18.
– Be a registered member of her club.
– Have an understanding of the Tesco Hurl With Me Initiative and her role in its delivery.
– Be willing to engage and communicate with parents, guardians and members in the promotion and recruitment for the Tesco Hurl With Me and the M.N.A Programme.
– Be aware that this is a two-year commitment. This two-year period time frame allows the club to nominate another female mentor who will receive the same training in year three, to ensure the spreading of knowledge and training and reducing volunteer burnout.
– The M.N.A Mentors will complete between 38-40 hours over the course of one year.
– 16 hours up-skilling – training will be provided to up-skill mentors to achieve/enhance these qualities.
– 16 hours Hurl with Me Programme and Foundation Course (optional).
– Two hours club meetings.
– Six to eight house mentor engagement.
Perhaps you are a parent who would like to learn a little bit more about the skills of camogie so that you can spend time with your daughter playing the game, maybe on the beach in the summer or just in the back garden. If so, this course would be great for you to attend. Your club may have signed up already and have a tutor in place.
If you would like to know more about this programme you can contact the Ulster Camogie Growth and Participation Officer Ryan Gaffney at ryan.gaffney.ulster@camogie.ie.