WOMEN IN SPORT Minister launches €750,000 Women in Sport Initiative
€750,000 for increasing participation of women in sport
Minister O’Donoughe T.D.: “We in the Government recognise how important it is to increase the number of women participating in sport and we are committed through this Initiative to doing that. We want women of all ages to become involved in these projects and develop a lifelong relationship with sport”.
Mr. John O’Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport, and Tourism officially launched the Irish Sports Council’s €750,000 Women in Sport Initiative, at an event in the National Boxing Stadium today. The Initiative is aimed at promoting increased participation of women of all ages in sport.
Over half a million euro has been directed into fourteen innovative projects devised by various governing bodies, that are aimed at bringing women and young girls into sport or to retain and re-engage former participants. A further €131,000 has also been allocated across all sixteen local sports partnerships for similar locally based projects, aimed at specific target groups. A dedicated women in sport website is also being developed, which will communicate the positive aspects of sports participation, outline the existing projects, profile sportswomen, and provide links to where women can find participation opportunities. The site www.womeninsport.ie will be live by the beginning of November. A national coaching event is also set to take place.
Irish Sports Council Chair, Ossie Kilkenny stated: “This Initiative is aimed at encouraging women; young and old alike into sport as participants, players, officials and administrators. It is recognised that we need to attract more women into all levels of sport and these programmes announced today provide the necessary opportunities for Irish girls and women to access sport in their communities.”
The Irish Amateur Rowing Union has also developed a particularly innovative programme aimed at introducing rowing to second level female students. Currently only three schools in the country offer rowing as part of PE or extra-curricular sport, so the ‘Dry Row’ programme is initially targeting twenty-seven schools, by providing rowing machines and mentoring by local club athletes, for the female participants. The programme also provides software to teachers to allow them to track students’ progress. It will culminate with a ‘wet’ element later in the year when the participants will get a chance to test their skills on water, through the partnership developed with the local club.
Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football also have extensive plans; the camogie project centres on a blitz day to be hosted by third level colleges for schools in their counties. It’s intention is to encourage girls to see camogie as a long-term recreational pastime, and entails a support structure for teachers to assist them prepare for the event, and build on student interest afterwards. Ladies Gaelic Football are addressing Referee and official development with their “Ladies, grab your whistle” programme, and will also run an Underage/Volunteer development programme entitled “Gaelic for Girls”.
The local sports partnerships have devised a number of novel projects to get women in their communities involved in sport. For example, in Laois the partnership has developed bingo aerobics whereby aerobics sessions are offered prior to bingo in community centres to introduce women to physical activity.
Speaking at the launch, ISC Chief Executive John Treacy said: “Attracting more women into sport is a key element of our participation strategy, which is all about breaking down barriers and increasing participation in sport, this is a priority for the Irish Sports Council. These projects, and the development of a dedicated website for women in sport, are the means by which many women can rekindle their relationship with sport, or be introduced to it and experience its life enhancing power.”
There are a number of other excellent programmes under this initiative such as Swim Ireland’s Learn to Swim and Aqua Fit programmes for mature females. Irish Gymnastics is redeveloping the discipline of rhythmic gymnastics in the country by introducing a coaching programme and training up a team of tutors. The Irish Ladies Golf Union is also running a project to support the entry into golf of new adult female members.
Ends
For Further Information:
Sinéad McElroy Irish Sports Council 01-8608804 or 087-6338512
smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie
or
Julianne McKeigue O’Herlihy Communications 01-6602744
jmckeigue@ochpr.ie
Additional Information:
Total Cost Breakdown
NGB projects: €516,150
LSP projects: €134,496.50
Admin costs, development of website, coaching event &
extensive promotional activity € 99,353.50
Total €750,000
NGB Projects
Basketball Ireland €86,000
Comhairle Liathroid Laimhe €5,000
Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael €30,000
Cumann Peil Gael na mBan €40,000
FAI €80,000
IARU €42,200
Irish Gymnastics €31,450
Irish Hockey Association €15,000
ILGU €35,000
IRFU €30,000
Irish Surfing Association €14,000
Special Olympics €54,500
Swim Ireland €30,000
IABA €23,000
Total €516,150
LSP Projects
Clare €11,375
County Cork €7,360
Donegal €2,000
Fingal €16,300
Kerry €14,365
Kildare €2,500
Kilkenny €6,964
Laois €8,200
Limerick City €7,000
Mayo €8,200
Meath & Westmeath €24,450
North Tipp €9,000
Roscommon €3,672.50
Sligo €10,000
Waterford €3,110
Total €134,496.50
The projects funded under both schemes are outlined below:
Basketball Ireland €86,000
1. Primary Schools Initiative to introduce basketball to primary teachers
2. Coach/Official Programme at third level to give students an opportunity to acquire certification in refereeing & officiating
3. Leadership programme to be run during school hours or in the evenings to develop leadership and administration skills in adult females.
Comhairle Liathroid Laimhe €5000
The main focus is to increase the number of trained female coaches in handball to support the growing number of young women taking up the sport.
Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael €30,000
This project centres on a blitz day to be hosted by third level colleges for schools in their counties.Schools from the county will be invited to send 10 students to participate in 7 a side fun games and to learn camogie skills. The aim is to encourage girls to see camogie as a recreational pastime and one that can be continued at third level even if you are not playing at performance level. A support structure will be put in place for teachers to allow them prepare for the blitz and to follow up on interest afterwards.
Cumann Peil Gael na mBan €40,000
1. Female Referee/Officials Development Programme “Ladies, grab your Whistle”
2. Underage/Volunteer Development Programme – “Gaelic 4 Girls”
FAI €80,000
The FAI have developed a programme for Women’s Soccer and the Initiative will fund a number of supporting elements including coach education, underage participation and tutor training specifically targeted at female participants.
IARU €42,200
Dry Row Programme – detailed above
Irish Gymnastics €31,450
It is proposed to develop a full coach education programme and qualify tutors through NCTC to deliver rhythmic gymnastics to existing clubs to develop the discipline – detailed above.
Irish Hockey Association €15,000
Programme to introduce and develop mini-hockey festivals throughout the provinces to encourage more young girls to take up the sport at primary level. The programme is based around clubs and the 6 a side mini-hockey game. IHA are providing matching funding to support the project.
ILGU €35,000
The main focus is to encourage beginners by providing an e-club facility and coaching to those not currently members of golf clubs. Additionally, handicaps will be supplied to these women and opportunities for entry to special competitions – detailed above.
IRFU €30,000
Programme to develop schools rugby for girls in Leinster by providing a small-sided soft contact rugby fun league for secondary schools. Last season, Leinster piloted this initiative with great success in 25 schools.
Irish Surfing Association €14,000
Surfing are expanding their very successful Women’s Surfing Weekend programme to regional events and also to produce a guide to surfing for women interested in taking up the sport.
Special Olympics €54,500
Two programmes concentrating on the expansion of women’s football and the development of U15 Women’s Basketball. It is hoped to establish a women’s football programme in the five regions with the view of securing a quota to participate in 2007 World Games. Also to introduce 3v3 basketball for younger female athletes to cope with differing ability levels.
Swim Ireland €30,000
Learn to Swim& Aqua Fit – detailed above
IABA €23,000
The Irish Amateur Boxing Association has a comprehensive programme for women planned which will include coaching and educational elements. They are also promoting the sport at schools level using high profile female boxers to encourage young girls to join clubs. Since 2001 when the IABA opened to female members, over 150 women are now registered as full members.
LSP Projects
Clare LSP €11,375
Workshop on physical activity for mother and child, and seminar for transition year students to identify interests in order to develop targeted after schools programme.
Co. Cork LSP €7,360
‘Young Mums Get Active’ and ‘Active 8’ programme for teenage girls.
Donegal LSP €2,000
To build on the successful pilot “Come & Try” days with the female travelling community by running taster programmes of popular activities
Fingal LSP €16,300
Provide sporting opportunities to women in a disadvantaged area of Dublin 15.
Kerry LSP €14,365
1. Expansion of Active 8 – teenage girls activity project
2. Female mountain leaders project
3. Tackling teenage dropouts from physical activity by offering dance programme.
Kildare LSP €2,500
Walking with ICA guilds
Kilkenny LSP €6,964
To increase activity levels of older women through training and support linking in with Go for Life training.
Laois LSP €8,200
1. School Dance – supporting teachers at post primary level to undertake dance training courses to offer a wider range of activities in PE class
2. Bingo Aerobics – aerobics sessions are offered prior to bingo in community centres in towns to introduce women to physical activity.
Limerick City LSP €7,000
1. Street Steppin’ – to extend the Women’s mini-marathon training programme to develop a sustainable structure for participation
2. Research on girls activity levels in conjunction with UL PE PAYS project
Mayo LSP €8,200
1. Dance project - post primary school
2. Walking for Women – to increase participation by providing training
Meath & Westmeath LSPs €24,450
Joint project to provide opportunities to young women to train and develop skills as coaches/leaders and bring these skills back to their own communities to increase physical activity levels.
North Tipperary LSP €9,000
Pysical activity programme for traveller women and provide training opportunities to bring back skills/activities to their own communities.
Roscommon LSP €3,672.50
The project is to increase the number of women involved in leading and coaching in various sports and will provide them with an opportunity to develop their skills through training and placement with clubs.
Sligo LSP €10,000
Project is aimed at getting more adult sedentary women involved in activity and participating on a regular basis. There are three elements: conference, road show and exercise programme.