Following on from the successful pilot with the IRFU at the end of 2009, the second pilot of the new IG Springboard programme took place in Cork last weekend, lead by tutors Aimi Baker and Tim O’Donovan. The 7-hour coaching course was held in Nemo Rangers GAA club in Douglas, with a wide selection of their GAA coaches taking part – 20 in total over the weekend.
The course consisted of some theory sessions, but the majority was based around the practical learning and teaching of basic gymnastic skills, and the application and transference of these skills directly to hurling/camogie and football.
The coaches took a very active role in the course, and all were jumping, rolling and balancing by the end of the weekend. They were very enthusiastic, coming up with many of their own ideas on how to apply the gymnastic skills into their present training plans.
The coaches also had opportunities to teach the skills to groups of young athletes ~ for this course we used gymnasts, kindly supplied by Douglas Gymnastics Club. In future courses, it is hoped that the athletes will be from the sport(s) which are taking part in the course.
Feedback forms were filled out at the end, which were extremely positive. Many of the coaches had not thought of gymnastics in terms of benefiting their sport before the course. All said they would be using many of the skills in their future training plans, and would recommend the course to their colleagues.
The club has expressed an interest in running more Sringboard courses in the club once the coaching course is officially launched. We are now in the final stages of development, design and branding and hope to launch the programme officially by the end of May.
