Training and Education
In addition to supporting the development of Sports Clubs, Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership is committed to supporting a quality coaching workforce in County Sligo.
We run regular training programmes throughout the year which will be advertised on our website and social media channels. If you would like further information on any of the programmes please contact the SSRP office at 071 9161511 or email info@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Coach and Volunteer Education
Our Coaching Development Programme provides grant assistance to sports clubs and organisations in County Sligo for Club Training Initiatives to support their coaches, volunteers and club administrators.
Volunteer Support Initiative
The volunteer supports initiative is funded by Sport Ireland under Dormant Accounts. The programme aims to successfully identify and assist targeted individuals who are volunteering in disadvantaged communities or with people with disabilities to gain community sport and physical activity leadership skills.
The training programme takes place over a year and the club(s) involved agree an action plan of training and linked programming. A central element of the programme is the need for the relevant National Governing Body of Sport to provide guidance and support.
The goal is to successfully build club capacity by increasing the number of people playing a leadership role in developing sport and physical activity in their clubs and communities. This is achieved through the delivery of training and education courses to support volunteers in their development as community leaders/coaches/ referees/ committee members etc.
To date SSRP has delivered a Volunteer Support Initiative with Sligo Climbing Club coaches and volunteers with support from Mountaineering Ireland, and currently supporting Sligo County Boxing Board and 4 local Boxing Clubs with the support of Connacht Boxing Council IABA and Irish Amateur Boxing Association.
Safeguarding (Child Welfare and Protection) Training Courses
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership facilitates Safeguarding (Child Welfare and Protection in Sport) training for all those involved in sport for young people and vulnerable adults throughout County Sligo.
The courses are for the benefit of everyone involved in children’s sport e.g. coaches, parents/guardians, sports leaders.
By following the principles, policy and practical guidelines contained in the Code, sports leaders are playing their part in providing an enjoyable and safe environment in which children can learn and thrive.
SSRP delivers Sport Ireland’s Safeguarding child protection training which comprise of three workshops as outlined below. All workshops are 3 hours in duration and are certified by Sport Ireland. Certificates of attendance will be issued to all attendees.
Participants must be over 18 years of age to attend training.
Contact Us:
If you are interested in attending our Safeguarding training or would like more information on what is involved please contact us on 0719161511 or email info@sligosportandrecreation.ie
The three stages of Safeguarding Training are outlined as follows:
Safeguarding 1: Basic Awareness Workshop in Child Welfare & Protection
- Essential training for all those involved in Sport for Young People or Vulnerable Adults.
All Coaches, Club Children’s Officers and Designated Liaison Persons must complete the 3 hour Safeguarding 1 Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Course. This course educates participants on the implementation of best practice in protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults involved in sport.
Safeguarding 2: Club Children’s Officer (CCO) Workshop
- Essential training Club Children’s Officers
A Club Children’s Officer should be child centered in focus and have as the primary aim the establishment of a child centered ethos within the club. S/he is the link between the children and the adults in the club. S/he also takes responsibility for monitoring and reporting to the Club Management Committee on how club policy impacts on young people and Sports Leaders.
A person appointed to the Club Children’s Officer position in a club must have completed Safeguarding 1 and should then complete Safeguarding 2, the Club Children’s Officer 3 hour course. This course will help the Club Children’s Officer to carry out the functions of their role in the club and support the implementation of best practice in the club. Participants will also receive a Club Children’s Officer Action Planning document as part of the training.
Safeguarding 3: Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Workshop
- Every club/organisation should designate a person to be responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of children.
The Designated Liaison Person is responsible for reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse to TUSLA Child and Family Agency or Social Services (NI) and/or An Garda Siochána / PSNI. It is recommended that this person is a senior club person. However, if there is difficulty identifying a separate individual to take this role, the Club Children’s Officer can be appointed as Designated Liaison Person once the club/organisation is clear about the responsibilities of each role. The organisation’s child protection policy and procedures should include the name and contact details of the Designated Liaison Person and the responsibilities attached to the role.
A person appointed to the Designated Liaison Person position in a club must have completed Safeguarding 1 and then undertake Safeguarding 3, the Designated Liaison Person 3 hour workshop. A club may appoint the same person to both the CCO and DLP positions however best practice advises that they are kept as separate roles.
Safeguarding 1 Online Refresher Training
Sport Ireland provides online Safeguarding 1 Refresher, a web based education resource aimed at providing further training to those who have previously attended a Safeguarding workshop or equivalent.
The content contains four modules which will provide persons in roles with regular responsibility for children an opportunity to learn about; Best practice procedure; understanding of why safeguarding children and young people in sport is important; recognising the different categories of child abuse and identify the signs of abuse; and the responding, recording and reporting issues of poor practice or abuse.
The refresher course content was developed by Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland in collaboration with welfare officers from a number of National Governing Bodies for Sport.
The web resource was designed in collaboration with Ineqe Group, who specialise in safeguarding and child protection, both in the offline world and in the digital world.
Following completion of the online training you will be issued with a digital cert. Please note this digital cert is only valid in conjunction with your original Safeguarding 1 certificate.
Details of how to undertake the online Refresher training are available at: https://www.sportireland.ie/ethics/safeguarding-1-online-refresher
Safeguarding Resources
Sport Ireland’s Staying Safe online resource
This web based information and guidance tool on internet safety is predominantly aimed at parents/guardians/coaches/young people involved in sport. The resource contains a brief test, which allows users to test their knowledge on what they have learned.
It is available on the Sport Ireland website in the Ethics section and can be accessed via the following link:
https://www.sportireland.ie/ethics/staying-safe-online
Resource Materials for Developing a Club Child Protection Policy:
Please refer to Sport Ireland’s ‘Safeguarding Guidelines for Children and Young People in Sport’ which is available at: https://www.sportireland.ie/ethics/safeguarding-guidance-for-children-and-young-people-in-sport
Coaching Children Workshop Series
Coaching Ireland have developed 4 modules, specifically to provide coaches with a basic understanding of children’s sport and physical activity and best ways to optimise children’s enjoyment, participation and positive outcomes.
The concepts of Physical Literacy and Holistic Development run throughout the series of workshops. Each workshop is 3 hours in duration and is a combination of theory and practical learning, each coach will receive a bank of games covering balance, co-ordination, speed and agility and inclusive and adaptive games.
For further information contact theresa@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Understanding Physical Literacy Workshop
Physical literacy is defined as “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life”.
Physical literacy is the foundation for lifelong involvement in physical activity according to The Lifelong Involvement in Sport & Physical Activity (LISPA) model.
Understanding Physical Literacy Module
The Understanding Physical Literacy Module (Online) has been developed by Sport Ireland Coaching in partnership with Stranmillis University College to provide a personal and professional development opportunity for those interested in developing their own physical literacy and/or helping others develop their physical literacy throughout the life course.
This module is an interactive 2 hour online workshop which will:
- Outline the origins, definition, elements, relationship between the elements and importance of physical literacy.
- Explain whether individuals can be described as ‘physically literate’ and whether physical literacy can be assessed.
- Discuss why physical activity is so important to children and how we can do more to encourage it.
- Explore findings from national and international research that highlights the need to increase children’s levels of physical literacy as part of the long-term approach to increasing wellbeing and reducing levels of preventable disease.
Workshop Outcomes for Participants are:
- Explain the importance of Physical Activity for Children
- Explain what is meant by the physical literacy learning journey. Articulate the rationale behind the physical literacy journey – a ‘road map’ that can be used by anyone who guides children along their physical literacy learning journey.
- Explain how they can contribute to its development in the children and young people with whom they interact at home and in the community.
- Understand how to organise safe, purposeful and meaningful physical activities for all children.
Further information please contact Theresa Kilgannon on theresa@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Coaching Teenage Girls in Sport Workshop
Developed by Sport Ireland Coaching in conjunction with the Federation of Irish Sport, the School of Health & Human Performance Dublin City University and Lifes2Good Foundation, the Coaching Teenage Girls In Sport Workshop was developed to enable coaches to create a positive experience of sport and physical activity for girls in their formative years and provide an environment where girls and young women can develop holistically.
The area ‘s covered in the workshop include:
- Retention rates
- Psycho-social needs of teenage girls
- Communication & Relationships (coach to player & player to player)
- Puberty/maturation/body image & Sport
- Coaching environments
The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity study, undertaken by Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland and Healthy Ireland in 2018 highlights the dropout rate from sport for girls is higher than for their male counterparts. It is vital that we understand the coaching practices that support girls to start, and to stay in sport.
Central to this are coaches that create a positive environment that encourages safety, fun, and healthy competition. In addition, it is essential to employ supportive coaching practices that reward effort for trying a new skill over winning, encourage learning from mistakes while staying positive, and promote integrity and honesty. The workshop supports the 8 Key Principles of Success outlined in the Adolescent Girls Get Active Report.
A strong emphasis is placed throughout the workshop on supporting coaches to identify and engage in effective coaching practice reflecting the importance of the coach-athlete relationship, and specifically the role of the coach in a young girl’s development. This involves employing a positive and athlete-centred coaching framework, to support the development of the autonomy, capabilities, and sense of belonging that underpin lifelong engagement in sport and physical activity.
Further Information Contact:
Theresa Kilgannon 0860716829 / 0719161511
Email: theresa@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Disability Inclusion Training
This is a six hour introductory workshop designed to give participants ideas and inspiration to adapt their sports and physical activity or Physical Education sessions to make them more accessible for children and adults with disabilities.
The interactive workshop involves both theory and practical elements. It is aimed at sports coaches, sports leaders, teachers, special needs assistants, parents, volunteers and anyone who has an interest in making their sports or physical activity session more accessible and inclusive.
Workshop Outcomes for Participants include:
- Identify and describe disability/impairment groups.
- Be confident in the use of appropriate language and communication.
- Understand how to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities.
- Apply the practice strategies of inclusion in a practical setting.
To find out more about the DIT training you can contact Shane Hayes on 071 9161511 or shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Autism in Sport Workshop
This three-hour workshop provides participants with an understanding of Autism, with a focus on the delivery of sport.
The course content is designed to help participants to recognise and understand key areas of consideration and to look at practical strategies, which will help to include people with autism in sport. The workshop is suitable for sports leaders, coaches, teachers, volunteers, parents or anyone who has an interest in making their sport inclusive for people with Autism.
To find out more about the AIS workshop you can contact Shane Hayes on 071 9161511 or shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Sports Inclusion and Disability Awareness Workshop
This workshop is designed to build awareness around people with disabilities participating in community sport and physical activity.
They will gain an understanding of disability and distinguish between the different disability/impairment groups and reflect on their own practices of inclusion through sport and physical activity.
To find out more contact Shane Hayes on 071 9161511 or shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Coaching Resources
This page is available to coaches on SSRP database and those who have completed the Coaching Children Workshop Series
