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Kieran Considine

Emerging football talent squad plan

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YOUNG footballers in Clare, who are overage for minor in 2015, are to be invited into what is called an Emerging Talent Squad. Liscannor footballer, Kieran Considine, will co-ordinate the programme.
Parents and players will be invited to a meeting on Monday night next at the West County Hotel, where a full overview of the plan will be outlined.
Clare senior football manager, Colm Collins, believes if the senior team is to develop in the years ahead, players need to be tutored properly.
“The problem has been that players have come out of minor and have been left to their own devices. We feel that something needs to be done about this, so under the auspices of the Clare senior football team and in conjunction with the county board, with a view to bringing forward players to play for Clare, we have formed what we call an Emerging Talent Squad,” he explained.
“It will be made up of players who played minor this year. At the moment, a lot of these players are doing the Leaving Cert. Some of the players that aren’t doing exams have been invited in to train with the Clare footballers,” Collins added, before outlining some further details.
“The players will meet every four weeks and they will be assessed. They will be given coaching sessions in the skills and in all aspects of preparation, including nutritional and lifestyle coaching. Also, each player will teamed up with a player from the senior team, who will act as a mentor, support and help them in any way,” Collins said.
“They will help the young lads with what they are going to do after their Leaving Cert. If any of them want to do a certain course and if there’s a senior player who has or is doing that course, we can team them up.
“We also hope to set up a jobs club to get some sport-friendly part-time employment while they are in college. As well as that, we will encourage them to play football at third level, including Freshers and Sigerson Cup football,” Collins stated.
Currently, six players are on the programme but that will rise after the June exams. It is ultimately envisaged that the Emerging Talent Squad will incorporate 15 to 20 players.
“The players who are doing the Leaving will start after the exams. All players will be taken to UL for a day and fitness-tested across the board. They will be functionally screened and will be put on a programme for anatomical adaptation. After that, they will be put on a strength and conditioning programme. That’s to make sure that nobody will be put on a weights programme without any thought. They will be spoken to on all aspects of excellence in sport and their skill level will be tested,” Collins concluded.

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