Press Release - GAA and McDonald's announce Skills Challenge
 
25 March 2003
 
 McDonald's and the GAA are today delighted to announce details of
Catch & Kick, a new Gaelic football coaching programme aimed at boys
and girls in fifth and sixth class in primary schools all over Ireland,
north and south.
 
 The coaching programme which was developed by the GAA in partnership with
McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland with the help of Cumann na mBunscol, will
provide schools and clubs with the necessary equipment and materials to
develop catching and kicking techniques. Over 3000 schools and clubs have
been provided with free footballs, pumps, bibs, cones and kit bags as well
as coaching manuals, score charts and assessment guides.
 
 'Catch and Kick' encompasses 8 weeks of training and a challenge
competition.  The GAA's full time Games Promotion Officers will work in
conjunction with the schools to implement the coaching programme and
challenge. Skills apart, 'Catch and Kick'  also aims to assist in the
physical and social development of children by maximising the level of
enjoyment and fun experienced by each participant while taking part in
Gaelic games.
 
 GAA President Sean McCague welcomed the initiative and outlined the
necessity of establishing coaching structures at primary school level, while
emphasising the importance of youth involvement for the continued
development of Gaelic games. He also paid tribute to the work of Cumann na
mBunscol in ensuring that Gaelic games continued to flourish at schools
level.
 
 Speaking at the launch the GAA's head of games, Pat Daly said, " our basic
philosophy is that the greater the sense of achievement, fun and fair play
that young people experience when playing Gaelic Games, the more they will
enjoy participating and maintain a lifelong involvement. We are delighted to
work in partnership with McDonald's on this programme."
 
 Lucy Murray, Director of Marketing at McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland
said "it is a privilege for McDonald's to be involved with the GAA in the
development and implementation of this programme. As well as our financial
commitment to the programme our national network of 67 restaurants will be
lending their support to the schools and clubs on the ground."
 
 Children will have the chance to demonstrate what they have learned at a
series of Skills Challenges throughout the summer. The Challenges will see
children compete in pairs at different skill tasks, with the two most
skilled or most improved players representing their school at divisional and
then regional levels. The winners at regional level will advance to the
County Competition where play-offs will decide who participates in the
McDonald's Skills Challenge exhibitions in Croke Park this September.
 
 The Programme encompasses three key elements:
 
 1. The organisation of Coaching inputs based on lessons set out in the
Catch and Kick Coaching Handbook. Primary Schools will combine with their
local Clubs between now and the end of the year to ensure that each School
is provided with a minimum of 16 quality Coaching sessions. The total number
of Coaching sessions involved will number 50,000 approx as there are 3,000
participating Schools.
 
 2. The organization of Fun Blitzes with a view to maximizing the level
of enjoyment and competitive involvement provided for all participants.
These Blitzes will be organized on a 7-a-side basis and the intention is
that all Players will participate for the full duration of each game. In
other words, there will be no substitutions and no emphasis on the end
result or maintaining League tables etc.
 
 3. The organisation of the national Catch and Kick Challenge for
children in their final two years of Primary School.  The purpose of this is
to challenge children to practise their Catching and Kicking Skills. The
Challenge will see children compete in pairs at different skill tasks, with
the most accomplished pair in each county participating in the Skills
Challenge Exhibitions which will take place in Croke Park, in conjunction
with Senior Inter county games, during the summer.
 
 For further information:
 GAA: Tony Watene
  Cuman Lúthcleas Gael 01 836 3222
 McDonald's: Sarah Heaney
  Park Communications 01 6765297 or 087 2490542