‘Move Smart’ week, an initiative of the Camogie Association and the Nutrition and Health Foundation to promote physical activity and healthy eating is under-way nationwide. Here, two clubs from Galway and Kildare report back on their ‘Move Smart’ week activities to date and how it is going.
‘Move Smart’ week began on Monday July 2nd at St Thomas Camogie Club.
Everyone was in great spirits following a very successful weekend at Minor and Under 14 grades. The Minors won the Summer Super 7s and will now participate in the Munster Summer Super 7s in Mallow on July 22nd, while the U14s beat near neighbours Ardrahan in the under 14B final on a scoreline of 3-4 to 0-3 in Loughrea on Sunday July 1st.
In view of that everyone was very enthusiastic about getting into ‘Move Smart’ week in the club. The U8 and U10 teams came together on Monday for a training session while Mums and Dads tried their skills at ‘Come Hurl with Me’.
The ‘Come Hurl with Me’ initiative was advertised the week previous to all the parents with the emphasis on trying the sport out, learning the basics and having fun while doing so. Both Mums and Dads came to learn the skills on the evening. Hurls were provided and the group were shown how to choose the correct size and weight of hurl for their daughter. They were also shown the grips and swing and they tried out other skills such as striking on the ground and in the air, roll lifting, dribbling and tackling. Most had no background in the sport and so were happy to learn the basics and were very confident that they would now be able to go out with their daughter and play the sport at home.
Tuesday evening was dedicated to the U14 age group and their activity was the Skills challenge. Sarah Healy from the club is to represent Galway at the National Feile U14 Skills competition this weekend in Dublin.
Sarah who is still U12 was joined by her friends at the club and they all completed the Feile skills challenge, helping Sarah get some practice in for the upcoming All Ireland competition.
There are 5 skills to complete in the challenge. Ground strike skill; free taking skill; jab lift and strike skill; lift, solo & goal skill and finally the long puck skill. All the girls really enjoyed the skills challenge and now know what they need to work on, in order to improve for next year.
Tonight’s (Wed July 4th) activities will focus on the U12 Camogie team who will play a mini league game against neighbouring club Craughwell. After completing a number of cluster blitzes earlier in the year, the U12s are now taking part in a number of mini league games. These games are a maximum of 11 a side and aim to improve the skills of the girls, many of whom play at U14 level also.
Meanwhile, at St Laurences Camogie Club, Kildare the club committee had spent the previous week preparing the club house and grounds to host ‘Move Smart Week’ with balloons, bunting, banners and flags the order of the day.
A large crowd of children and parents had gathered for opening night along with special guests including St Laurences Camogie Club President Theresa Doran, Kildare Camogie Board, all officials of St Laurences’s Camogie Club, Leinster Council GAA representatives and local TD Martin Heydon. St Laurence’s Chairperson Liz O’Donhoe welcomed all and proceedings got underway.
Carol Nolan, Camogie Development Co-ordinator Kildare/Dublin gave a detailed account of what the club should hope to achieve in the coming week and the important messages of ‘Move Smart Week’ which were to increase physical activity and promote healthy eating.
Parents and children got the opportunity to experience camogie and put their new found skills to good use, particularly in the Mums & Dads fancy dress mix & match which was played later that evening. Despite the pouring rain, spirits were high and tea, sandwiches and healthy treats were the post-match food of choice.
The final activity of the evening was the presentation of county championship medals to U13, U14, U15 and U16s with over 70 medals presented on the night to the stars of the future. Day one of ‘Move Smart’ had been hugely succesful with all participants looking forward to the days ahead.
Check out www.facebook.com/CamogieAssociation for photographs of the participants in activities in Clooney/Quin GAA Club and also St Thomas and St Laurences Camgoie Club
