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Coiste na nÓg
We move closer to training and being back in our pitches. We all depend on each other more and we have to have full trust in everyone involved in the club and full trust in parents bringing children to training. Parents and players trust us in the club: that we will have all protocols in place, and we trust you to fill out relevant forms before each training session and not bring sick children to training.
On Friday last, we got a 15-page guideline document from Croke Park that outlines what needs to be done prior to and when we return to training. It covers medical Information and Basic Information for Coaches and Team Personnel.
Parent and Guardians also have responsibilities and the main ones being that membership has to be paid prior to the 26th April for every child attending training sessions. And prior to each training session or game, and until further notice, parents/guardians, on behalf of players must complete the self-administered standard risk assessment health questionnaire and must keep children away from training if they are ill and have any symptoms such as a high temperature, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and change in taste or smell will be identified.
We all want to keep our children playing, out in the fresh air and in a safe environment. We have prayed and looked forward to this day for so long. It is here now, and we have to take on that extra responsibility as a community to ensure we keep everyone safe. In effect it means we all have to go that extra mile to keep everyone safe.
This full document from Croke Park is posted on our web site. It is well worth a read for information/ education purposes and also to see how much work has gone in to covering every aspect of our return to SAFE training.
Important issues for parents to be aware of
There are two very important issues that need to be brought to the attention of parents:
All children have to be members of the club and cannot train without membership paid prior to the 26th April.
Unfortunately, COVID 19 is still with us and as a result we need to implement all relevant regulations. To be fully compliant with these regulations we need more help from parents. We need parents to volunteer to help us around Covid at each training session and matches. No team can train or play without a Covid Officer. If you can help your child’s underage team, please contact Declan O’Connell on +353 (87) 096 4331, Fionnán Fitzgerald on (087) 986 0441 Stephen O’Brien on 086 8376432 or your child’s co-ordinator.
Academy Returns on June 3rd !!
Our eagerly awaited return for our Academy will be Sunday 3rd June at 11am and all are welcome we will have all covid regulations in place and anybody who wants to help out please get in contact with the above numbers.
Monday 26th sees the return of our underage teams and first up on the 26th will be our u15s and u17 teams returning to training after almost 6months away from our pitches.
Membership
We thank everyone who has paid their membership so far this year. The on-line facility to pay membership is on the club force app and the link is also on our web site. Everyone who returns to play, coach, mentor needs to have membership paid. This is vital so that everyone is covered to train and play going forward.
Ladies Notes
Lidl “Level the Playing Field”
On Monday the 12th of April we received the fantastic news that we had collected 60 stamp cards for the Lidl “Level the Playing Field”. This translates into a set of jerseys for one of our girls teams. We would like to thank all the Lidl shoppers who very kindly collected stamps for us each shop. It was a real community effort and highlights how much we can achieve when we work together.
Last Man Standing
Our “Last Man Standing” competition is still going strong. This week’s games are spread throughout the week. The weekend saw 4 participants leave the competition. Only time will tell if all 14 that are still standing will go through to next week. The remaining participants are reminded to have their entries for next weekend in by 3pm on Friday 23rd of April.
Safeguarding requirements
Coaches and mentors are reminded that safeguarding training must be undertaken ahead of the upcoming season. New coaches/potential coaches must undertake a temporary SG1 Course and existing coaches, who have already completed a SG1 course in the last 3-5 years, must undertake SG1 Refresher Course. Please contact our club secretary for further information.
Skill of the week
This week the focus is on “The Overhead Catch”. The Over Head Catch is used to catch a ball that comes at full reach height or over the players head. Check out this video from LGFA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxqVqxyFLhM which gives a step by step explanation. This video along with a fact card can be found on our Facebook page.
Show us your skills and send your videos to proballymacladies@gmail.com. Keep an eye out on our social media pages.
Players of the week
We asked some of our players some questions so that we could get to know them a bit better. This week’s players are Eimear Curran and Kerry Hennessy. Here are some of their responses.
Name: Eimear Curran
Category: U18/ Minor
Occupation: Student
Schools attended: O’Brennan NS, Presentation Secondary School Tralee
When and where did you first start playing ladies football? U6 Ballymac
Biggest influence on your football career: Dad
Achievements with club & county to date: U14 County League, Minor County League and a few North Kerry and Town Leagues
Favourite Ladies Footballer: Aisling Desmond
Toughest player to mark in training? Una Kerins
What do you think is the most important skill in ladies football? Punt kicking
Inspirational quote: Play as hard as you train and train as hard as you play
What is the best piece of advice you received as a player and would pass on to a younger player? Teamwork is key.
Name: Kerry Hennessy
Category: U16
Schools/Colleges attended: Castleisland community college
When and where did you first start playing ladies football? Since age 6
Biggest influence on your football career: My dad
Favourite Ladies Footballer: Valerie Mulcahy
Toughest player to mark in training? Roisín Rahilly
What do you think is the most important skill in ladies football? Teamwork
To date what is your favourite moment in sport? Captain in North Kerry Final
What sportsperson would you most like to meet? Katie Taylor
Inspirational quote: There’s no time to waste, lift the lid of success.
What is the best piece of advice you received as a player and would pass on to a younger player? Listen to your coaches.
Health & Wellbeing Notice Board for April.
Our Health and Wellbeing Committee share some really valuable information with us every week. All the links are on line and are all posted on our web site www.ballymacgaa.com under the Health & Wellbeing Tab and our social media pages. It is well worth taking a few minutes as you may find one that will be of benefit to you or someone close to you.
THINK ABOUT IT THURSDAY (week two )
Sleep and sleeping difficulties have affected people of all ages during Covid 19. Mental Health is influenced by a number of factors with ‘Sleep’ being a major player….. Are you sleeping well and feeling refreshed on awakening??
Video of Mark Thompson
Check out this video message from our Senior Team Physiotherapist Mark Thompson.
Click on link for more support
After 3-4 sessions we hope to organise an online talk around substance mis-use/mental health etc.
If any parent/guardian would like a specific topic covered we could look into that.
Check out the video message from our Senior Player Vinnie Horan posted last Thursday.
Bowel Cancer Awareness
April is #bowelcancerawarenessmonth. You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer through the food we eat. Additionally taking part in BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme can reduce risk and detect signs of bowel cancer early. Register at;
https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/bowel-screening/register-for-bowel-screening.html
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bowel-cancer-screening
Engaging Men Webinar Series: Why Men’s Health?
You are invited to the first in a series of webinars focused on Engaging Men. The Why Men’s Health? webinar takes place on the 29th April from 12.00 – 13.00 and registration is here. HSE Health and Wellbeing, together with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, the Men’s Development Network and the Men’s Health Research Centre in IT Carlow will host this series of webinars which will bring you expert insights about the work and learning from the delivery to date of the HSE National Men’s Health Action Plan ‘Healthy Ireland Men’.
Support for Grieving
The Irish Hospice Foundation have developed a free bereavement resource pack is for anyone grieving in these very difficult times. It includes advice on coping with grief, funerals in exceptional times and supporting children/young people. It can be downloaded here: https://hospicefoundation.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Support-for-Grieving-in-Exceptional-Times.pdf
Stress Control
As the HSCNI or HSE can’t deliver our Stress Control classes in the community just now, Dr Jim White will, instead, live-stream the classes until June, free-of-charge. All you need to successfully complete this class is to watch each of the six sessions, read the booklets and use the relaxation and mindfulness. You can find the sessions on YouTube. Further details on dates and where to find the videos can be found at the following links;
Grow it Forward Initiative
GIY, in partnership with Healthy Ireland and public libraries will distribute 50,000 free food growing kits as part of a new ‘Grow it Forward’ initiative. You can claim your free seed pack by contacting your local library. Recipients are asked to use the kits to share the experience with ten people, enabling half a million people across Ireland to enjoy the wide range of benefits that come from growing food at home. Each food growing pack includes:
seeds for beetroot, carrots, salad leaves, peas and tomatoes;
a guide to help grow them and
a postcard and gift tags to help share them.
Further details can be found here: https://www.librariesireland.ie/news/grow-it-forward-with-free-seeds-from-your-local-library
Irish Life Health: April Wellbeing Calendar
To support your health & wellbeing this month we have a range of supports around workplace health & our latest MyLife Step It To Stonewall Challenge in our April Wellbeing Schedule. See the full calendar here: http://bit.ly/3sDVfy1
Ballymacelligott GAA Play Ball Lotto
This week’s Ballymacelligott GAA Play Ball Lotto draw took place at The Half Way Shop on Monday 12th April. The Jackpot was €8600.00.
Mike Sweeney Chairman of Ballymacelligott GAA Club drew the Balls on Facebook Live. Also in attendance was Kevin Leen from Ballymacelligott GAA Lotto Committee.
The Numbers drawn were: 9,4,20 and 17. There was no winner of the Jackpot.
The lucky dip winners were:
€30.00 Brendan Falvey Sr.
€20.00 Neil Breen.The three lucky dip winners of Three Random Quick Picks for next weeks draw were: Margaret Horan, Betty Collins, and Betty Keane.
Jackpot is €8700.00 next week’s Lotto
Next weeks draw will take place on Monday 19th April and thereafter every draw will take place on Monday night live on the Ballymacelligott GAA Facebook Page shortly after 6pm.
You can buy your ticket for the €8600 Jackpot next Monday night by logging on to Ballymacgaa.com anyone having difficulty buying tickets please contact your usual seller, Jer Lynch (087) 2025402 or Maureen O’Shea on 087-9795220.We appreciate all the support we get from all our supporters.
