News & Fixtures

 

The 18 participants of the inaugural Sports Volunteer Development Programme were presented with their certificates of completion by the Cathaoirleach Cllr. John Bailey and Mr. John Treacy C.E.O. of the Irish Sports Council at a reception in Dún Laoghaire County Hall last night.

The Sports Volunteer Development Programme is an initiative of the UCD Athletic Union Council (AUC), the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership and the UCD Centre for Sports Studies. Based on the experiences of the partner organisations in working with sports clubs within UCD and the local community, the aim of this programme is to equip volunteers with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to the management and development of their sports club. By providing quality training to participants it is hoped that the programme will create a culture of active leadership and will enable the participants to become positive roles models within UCD and community sports clubs.

During the pilot programme participants attended workshops and seminars in October & November in UCD on the following subjects:

• Sports First Aid
• Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children in Sport
• Sports Inclusion
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management
• Structures of Sport in Ireland
• Club Budgets and Grant Applications
• Sports Governance
• Communications & Media
• Event Management

Commenting at the event the Cathaoirleach, Cllr. John Bailey said “sport would not happen without the thousands of volunteers who coach manage, officiate, administer and support participants at all levels. This programme is fantastic in that provides quality training to these volunteers who give of their time to clubs in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown”.

In congratulating the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership and UCD on the programme, John Treacy said that “it was an excellent initiative which demonstrated what the partners could achieve when they come together”. Furthermore he said that the “training provided to volunteers is of vital assistance in helping their clubs to grow and increase participation at all levels”.

 

  

Pictured at the reception for the participants were Derek McArdle (chair, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership), Cllr. John Bailey (Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council), John Treacy (Chief Executive, Irish Sports Council) and Brian Mullins (UCD Director of Sport).

The Participants of the inaugural programme were:

Sarah Boyle (Meteors Basketball Club), Claire Dooley (Notre Dame HC), Nicola Fitzgerald (St. Michaels Rowing Club), Lorraine Gallagher (Ballinteer Community School), John Gerrard (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gavin Heuston (UCD Rugby Club), Shane Holohan (East Coast Surf Club), Samantha Johnston (Muckross Park Gymnastics Club), Ian Lamkin (Power Soccer/ CP Athletics), Claire Leyden (UCD Rifle Club), Aisling Markey (Rising Phoenix Martial Arts), Aisling McGann (UCD Tennis Club), Ray McMenamin (Lakelands FC), Aidan Murray (UCD Aikido Club), Oisin O’Coigligh (UCD Tai Chi Chun Club), Norma O’Mahony (UCD Ladies Boat Club), Ger Ryan (St. Michaels Rowing Club), and Laura Shaughnessy (UCD Athletics Club).

  

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Background on the Partners

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership

The Irish Sports Council established the Local Sports Partnership (LSP) initiative as a forum for sport at a local level, which is charged with improving opportunities to participate in sport for every member of the community. The key aims of the LSPs are to increase participation in sport and to ensure that local resources are used to best effect.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership was set up in April 2008 and works closely with the Local Authority and other key partners to promote participation, inclusion and coordination in sport in the County. Partners include; the County Council, Third level sector, VECs, Health Board, FÁS, commercial interests, sports clubs, schools and voluntary/community organisations. Over the past 3 years a key focus of the work of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership has been in the area of sports coach/volunteer training and education.

 

Centre for Sports Studies (CSS), University College Dublin

The Centre for Sports Studies offers academic and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels in the field of sport and exercise science and management in order to facilitate the attainment of lifespan health, fitness and sport performance within Ireland.

The goals of the Centre for Sports Studies include:

To prepare students to manage sport, exercise and coaching delivery systems by providing relevant and effective Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes.To carry out innovative and demand-driven sport and exercise management research.To provide market-driven services to the Irish sport, exercise and coaching industry in accordance with the Centre's commitment to CPD.

Amongst the programmes on offer through the CSS are

MSc in Sport and Exercise Management (Sport Management, Golf Management, Rugby Management or Exercise Management specialisation). Research MSc and PhD in Sport and Exercise Management.BSc in Sport and Exercise Management.BSc in Health & Performance Science.Diploma in Sports Management.

 

UCD Athletic Union Council

UCD sports clubs are at the nucleus of student sport at the University. The Athletic Union Council (AUC) is the governing body for UCD sports clubs and all UCD sports clubs are affiliated with the AUC. Clubs provide a huge range of opportunities to train, play, and compete in sport, no matter what the students’ interest, ability or level. Although competition is a feature of many of the sports at UCD, clubs also cater for those who may not wish to compete but want to train in a particular sport for the health and fitness benefits. Whether a student wants to try out a new sport or continue training in a sport that they are already familiar with, UCD sports clubs can accommodate their need. With the exception of the major field team sports, UCD sports clubs are student-run and student-led.

As the governing body for sports clubs the AUC functions as a funding, regulatory, arbitration and Colours awarding body.

There are currently fifty-seven clubs, with over 7,500 members, registered with the AUC. These range from “serious” competitive clubs at national level to recreationally based clubs, which although not competing nationally, provide an important service for students. Activities range from team sports, adventure sports, water sports to martial arts. UCD sports clubs are the primary means by which the vast majority of UCD students are engaged in sport at the University.