Forum highlights lack of coaching structures

There is a noticeable lack of a coaching structure within the football clubs of Clare as well as a lack of interaction between clubs and both primary and secondary schools.
That was one of the findings at last week’s forum on underage football in the county, an outcome that is to be forwarded to the clubs of the county, the county board and Bord na nÓg football this Friday.
Shannon Gaels club member, Eamonn Keane, who chaired the forum, told The Clare Champion this week that the organisers were pleased with the response. “About three-quarters of the clubs in the county were represented while there were some apologies.”
The forum was also attended by members of the county committee including chairman, Michael O’Neill; secretary, Pat Fitzgerald; treasurer, Bernard Keane and coaching officer, Eamonn Fennessy.
The forum found that within most clubs in the county there is an absence of any coaching structure and the report will strongly recommend to clubs the importance of developing a proper coaching structure with a panel of coaches in their clubs.
The forum also highlighted a need for the appointment of a ­director of juvenile football in the county, whose duties would ­include an in-depth look at the state of the game at underage level and see how it can be improved.
Last week’s gathering also highlighted “a major lack of interaction between the clubs and both the primary and secondary schools in the county”.
Another recommendation the report is expected to put forward concerns ways of attracting new volunteers to clubs as the forum highlighted that there are not enough people getting involved in this area.
The contrasting problems facing rural and urban clubs was another issue raised and it’s expected this will be referred to in the report.
The raising of the finance required to help bring about the improvements that delegates attending the forum feel are needed is another issue referred to.
It’s expected that clubs, having studied the report, will bring motions forward to the upcoming conventions of both Bord na nÓg and the county committee with a view to bringing about improvements in the areas highlighted.