Applications from Mayo sought for Lidl #SeriousSupport Players' Programme

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association and its official retail partner, Lidl Ireland, have announced details of the #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme, where club players aged from 13 to 16 have the unique opportunity to avail of mentoring from past and present inter-county stars.

The programme, which will be rolled out in conjunction with Youth Sport Trust, aims to reduce the drop-out rate in sport participation and increase the confidence and resilience among girls aged from 13 to 16 through workshops led by specifically trained athlete mentors.

The athlete mentors will deliver inspirational #SeriousSupport workshops regionally across the country.

Locally, the programme venue is the Castlebar Mitchels An Sportlann complex (F23 X651), with workshops on Monday, April 15, and Monday, May 13, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. each evening.

The stellar list of inter-county players set to deliver the workshops is as follows: Aisling Hanly (Roscommon), Anna Galvin (Kerry), Ann Marie Doran (Wicklow), Carla Rowe (Dublin), Cathy Carey (Antrim), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Eilish Ward (Donegal), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway), Méabh de Búrca (Galway), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), Orlagh Farmer (Cork), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary), Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh) and Therese Scott (Monaghan).

The #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme will specifically target club players in the 13-16 age group, focusing on the four values of respect, responsibility, trust and recognition to increase understanding of the benefits of sport and physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

Building on the success of the existing Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools Programme and #LGFASupport Programme, this new pilot programme will extend the opportunity for players across the country to become directly involved.

Through an inspirational athlete mentor story and two separate workshops, players will get the opportunity to hear directly from athlete mentors on their own positive experiences of Gaelic football.

Additionally, motivational workshops designed to foster trust, recognise goals and targets, and understand the importance of respect and responsibility will support players in their personal development through the programme.

The Lidl #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme involves two elements. Players aged from 13 to 16 years chosen to participate will attend two workshops delivered by one of our athlete mentors. Players are also asked to undertake a personal development plan between workshops, applying the concepts and values discussed during the programme.

Spaces on the programme are limited to 30 per regional programme. In order to ensure that the programme reaches those who will benefit most from the #SeriousSupport workshops, participants must meet certain criteria:

- Girls who are playing ladies Gaelic football at club level but potentially lacking confidence

- Girls who are playing ladies Gaelic football at club level and want to be educated on the physical and mental health benefits of sport and play

- Girls must be aged 13 to 16 years old as of January 1, 2024, and be a current LGFA member

- Girls must not be involved in a Under 14 or Under 16 county panel for the 2024 season; however, they can be involved with the player development programme

- Girls must be available to attend both workshops within their selected region(s)

TARGET AREA

Speaking about the #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme, LGFA president Mícheál Naughton said: “We are acutely aware that key research has told us that there is a drop-out rate in sport participation in girls aged from 13 to 16, and this is a target area for us. Alongside Lidl Ireland and Youth Sport Trust, we have been working incredibly hard to tackle the issue and we are now in a position to introduce this new #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme.

“The athlete mentors chosen to deliver the workshops and engage with these young players are past and current inter-county players who are so keenly admired as role models and pillars of their local communities. These are elite players who have been through so much challenges as players and in their personal lives.

“They now have the potential to deliver their own personal learnings to young players and, in turn, help to keep the flame of sport burning bright within them now and long into the future.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the impact that the #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme can have on our young participants and I wish to acknowledge the superb work of our own development staff in the formulation of this programme, and I thank Lidl Ireland and Youth Sport Trust for their vital role they will play also.”

Emily Reynolds, national programmes director at the Youth Sport Trust, added: “We are delighted to be working with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Lidl Ireland to expand the reach of the #SeriousSupport Players’ Programme beyond schools and into the local community.

“We know from years of experience the huge impact athlete mentors can have on the health and wellbeing of young people, and I have no doubt this programme will have a positive impact on the confidence and resilience of all the girls involved.”

Players or guardians of a player who wishes to be involved in the programme can apply here. The closing date for applications is 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 25. Applications will not be considered if received beyond this deadline. Further information is available in the programme brochure, which can be accessed here.