2011/2012 U8 Academy Development Squad (born 2003)

Welcome to the 2011/2012 U8 Academy Development Squad.

Training has commenced at Kilbogget Park, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm., continuing through the month of September. Tuesday training will move to Loreto College Foxrock in early October where we will have use of both the outdoor astroturf facility in dry weather and the indoor sports hall in wet weather. We will move back to Kilbogget in the spring. Directions to both Kilbogget and Loreto are listed below.

The Mentor Team would like to draw your attention to the following:

Registration

Registration is a must for the year ahead. The Squad will be playing matches this year, and in order to play any match, friendly or competitive, each player must be properly registered, particularly for insurance reasons. Unfortunately we cannot allow a player who is unregistered to play a match. To that end, all Squad members must be registered. We have a list of those currently registered and will be ask those that are not to register as soon as possible. Please do this by filling out a registration form and passing back to one of the mentors at training. Registration forms are available at the Clubhouse, from any mentor, or by using the "Registrations" section of this website where you will find a link to the form. If you have any doubts about whether your daughter is registered or not, please contact one of the mentors.

Weekly Training

Gumshields are mandatory.
Water should be brought by each player.
Subscriptions are 2 euros per week, payable on arrival.
Please ensure that your daughter is signed onto the weekly attendance register.
Please ensure that your daughter is picked up on time.

Match Training

This year we will spend a lot of time focussed on match training, where the Squad will learn more about using individual skills learnt so far in a competitive team environment. Match training will be held on Saturdays from 11.20am to 12.15pm at Kilbogget Park. Match training will not be held every week, but notification will be given to the Squad at the previous midweek training and via text message to parents that week. Match training will not be held on any weekend where a match or blitz has been scheduled.

Match Fixtures

For the season ahead, both friendlies and competitive matches will be organised for the squad, with friendlies this side of Christmas. In the New Year, we intend to compete in the U9 League. Full details of match fixtures and arrangements will be posted to this website and communicated to parents via text and email in due course. Please note again that gumshields are mandatory for matches. We would also strongly encourage football boots for matches, particularly during wetter months. Please again read the note above regarding Registration.

We will be posting match reports and photos to the website, so watch out for these as they happen.

Communication to Parents

Communication will be via this web page, text message from our "Teamer" system, emails, and notes at training. We would please ask that you provide us with your phone number and email address so that we can make sure that you receive all communications we send out. In addition, we would please ask that you provide us with your home address in case of emergency. We will ask for this information at the weekly training sessions where we currently do not have it for your child. We also intend to hold a Parents evening this year so please watch out for this.

Club Gear

Jerseys for matches will be provided by the Club on match day. We would encourage each player however, for the purposes of team presentation at matches, to have both a pair of club shorts and club socks. These are available from the Club at a discounted price and are typically available at the Clubhouse each Saturday morning. Please note also that Foxrock/Cabinteely GAA Training Hoodies were also made available last year and were very popular. We will let you know as to the availability of these in the current year as soon as possible.

Child Protection & Codes of Conduct

The Club has a Child Protection Policy. The Club also operates a Code of Behaviour for Coaches, Mentors and Trainers, as well as Codes for Young Players, Parents & Guardians. These are all available upon request from the Club. For further information, please see the GAA Child Welfare and Protection Codes of Behaviour and Best Practice for further information at the links below.

http://www.gaa.ie/clubzone/child-welfare-and-protection/gaa-code-of-best-practice/

http://www.gaa.ie/clubzone/child-welfare-and-protection/gaa-code-of-behaviour/"

And finally to note.....

We in the Mentor Team are really excited about the year ahead with the Academy Development Squad of 2011/2012. There will be step up in skills training, match practice and teamship, so we hope you will enjoy watching the results. We are however keen to get parents involved to help us with the year ahead, so please let one of us know if you are willing and able to help us out, whether it be with assistance at training or helping welcome visiting teams at home matches. We are also very open to suggestions so please let us know if you have any observations you would like to pass on to us.

Many thanks

The Mentor Team

(Please see contact details below)

Your Mentor and Coaching Team for 2011/2012

Colum Colbert 087-7993032

David Kiely 086-8132812

Ronan Ryan 087-6168510

Linzi Simpson 087-2697857

Margaret Walshe 087-9228177

Directions for Training

Kilbogget Park - Take Johnstown Road opposite Cabinteely Village on the N11. Turn right at the traffic lights, taking Granville Road. At the end of Granville Road, take a right. Kilbogget Park is on your right hand side. Entering the park, Seapoint Rugby Club is at the entrance, with Foxrock Cabinteely GAA club over to the right.

Loreto College - Take the Springfield Park entrance on the N11, which is on the opposite side of the road to Foxrock Church. Take the second entrance to Loreto College as a one way traffic flow is in operation.