.
Shane Fitzgibbon.
A TRALEE native, currently based in Galway, has been shortlisted for a world-renowned coaching accolade…but he needs your votes soon to win.
Shane Fitzgibbon is the only finalist outside of North America to reach the top ten for the ‘Coach of the Year’ accolade awarded by the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA).
The Association is the premier international authority in Youth Fitness and Youth Sports Performance Training, with member coaches in over 22 countries.
Shane has been coaching children in sport for over twenty years and is concerned by the decline in children’s fitness and health.
“Activity levels have plummeted in recent years. Where once, most children walked or cycled to school, many are now driven,” said Shane.
“Running around in playgrounds, at school, now seems to be a thing of the past. Instead of climbing trees, jumping, and developing their fundamental movement skills, many children are now indoors watching TV or playing an Xbox. This has brought us to the situation that many children are either inactive, or joining sports, ill-equipped to deal with the rigours of sport, and so end up getting injured,” he continued.
Shane feels so passionately about this that he is devoting time, pro bono, to improving the physical fitness of many children at a Galway National School.
“My mission is to enhance the health and fitness of as many children as possible,” he said.
This dedication got noticed by the IYCA, and he was selected as International Coach of Distinction in February.
Now, with a chance to become Coach of the Year, he hopes to raise Ireland’s profile in the international coaching community. Shane is also a regular presenter at the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) annual conference.
He also carries pre-season work with teams of various sports and one-to-one training with athletes who require more individual attention.
The IYCA Accolade is awarded through a voting system and Shane needs the whole of Ireland to get behind him and vote online between 23rd-25th September.
To vote for Shane, click here
