When does sport stop being about activity and just about competition? – Dr Colman Noctor

Nov 02, 21 When does sport stop being about activity and just about competition? – Dr Colman Noctor

Posted by in Irish Grassroots Football

Is Sport about activity or competition? I am a child psychotherapist and I must admit I have an ambivilant relationship with children’s sport. The reason for this is that I have borne witness to stories where sport was a life saver for some children. The structure, the camaraderie and the sense of belonging was achieved...

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Kids just want to have FUN…

Kids just want to have fun and if they’re not having fun, they may not come back. At the end of the day it’s just a game…a kids game and in years to come when you look back at the results they will mean nothing….. Someone asked me the other day what would I say to a coach starting out? I remember reading...

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What is PLAY?

Dec 01, 14 What is PLAY?

Posted by in Irish Grassroots Football

One thing I’ve learnt over the last number of years is that all children learn at different stages. Some children are ready for school and other are not. Some are ready to play in an organised coaching structure and others are not. One thing will never change, – all children develop at different stages and we must not...

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20 ways parents can help their children have a better sports experience

As the seasons go by more and more parents are attending their child sports. Whether it be organised football or sports day in school, you can be sure parents will be there. Parents have a right to watch their children but they should also respect the fact that many people give up their spare time to help children succeed and stay...

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Touches and then, more quality touches!

Jun 11, 14 Touches and then, more quality touches!

Posted by in Irish Grassroots Football

If I want to be come a better writer I must read more books. If I want to be become a better footballer, I must get more touches of the ball. Well, that’s how it use to work. For many years now we have been comparing every promising young footballer to the talents of Roy Keane but we need to go back as far as 1999 Ray Houghton...

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Our Children Have NO Freedom

Our kids can no longer play with the freedom we played with. In fact, I believe our kids will never have the freedom we had as kids. Milk Run When I was 6/7, I use to help the milk man. I’d leave my house at 6.45am and head off with a man unknown to my parents, – well they knew him as the milk man, his first name and...

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