Foundation Football and Child Protection @ Ballerin GAC

On Friday and Saturday Ballerin GAC had a child protection and foundation football course delivered within their club. Brian Smith and Ruari Convery delivered the course. Ballerin now have twenty two additional coaches with the certification which will hopefully give them the confidence to get involved with teams in the future.

Child Protection and Awareness Course in Derry City

On Monday 22nd of February, Derry GAA ran out a Child Protection and Awareness course for coaches at Steelstown GAC. A large turn out of 35 coaches attended. The course was delivered by Brian Smith and Richard Ferris

Vhí Cul Camps

This was the last week of the Vhí Cul Camps for 2009. I have some photo's of Slaughtmanus's camp. The children were delighted to see James Keilt the County Cul Camp ambassador and Derry senior player.

County Coaching officer and my right hand man Brian Smith deserves huge credit for coordinating the Vhí Cul Camps this year. 22 Vhi camps, with approximately 2500 attending over the two months, that's some amount of jerseys and bags to get sorted. I spoke to him late Wednesday night past and he was trying to talk me into going with him to Ballygawley at 7am on Thursday morning so he could meet some other GAA header to exchange some kits so the waynes in Glenullin, Slaughtmanus and Drumsurn would all have the sizes they wanted. I mind last year he was sending someone down to Cork to pick some up in the middle of the night to have back for him the next day, he's a true Gael! I'm sure every single one of the 2500 that attended this year will be able to tell you who Brian Smith is! On behalf of everyone who was at a camp in Derry this year thanks Brian for all your hard work!! A word of thanks also to all the club coordinators who made our jobs a lot easier with the manner in which you's had all organised and finally to everyone of the 30 or 40 coaches we used over the summer, I'm sure we'll see many of you next year!

Vhí Cul Camps 2009

As July is fast approaching Brian Smith Derry's Vhí Cul Camp coordinator begins to feel the pressure! Last year we had 2200 children through the Cul camps and we're expecting similiar numbers this year despite the economic downturn.

We are holding camps at the following clubs:

30/06/09 - 03/07/09
Castledawson, Glen, Greenlough, Slaughtneil

07/07/09 - 10/07/09
Kilrea, Lissan, Claudy

14/07/09 - 17/07/09

Ballymaguigan, Steelstown

21/07/09 - 24/07/09
Coleraine

28/07/09 - 31/07/09

Ballerin, Swatragh, Newbridge

04/08/09 - 07/08/09
Lavey, Bellaghy, Glen, Loup

11/08/09 - 14/08/09
Magherafelt, Desertmartin

17/08/09 - 20/08/09

Glenullin

18/08/09 - 21/08/09
Slaughtmanus, Drumsurn

The camps are targeted for boys and girls aged between 7 and 13. The cost to attend a camp are £30 for the first child in family, with reductions of £25 and £20 for the second and third respectively. Each child will get a strip, bag and water bottle to take home as well as some top class coaching from our coaches. If your child would like to attend any camp please contact your club coordinator or the County coordinator: Brian Smith, 79 Iniscarn Road, Magherafelt, BT45 5NQ. Tel 07918 703912.