Stephen encouraging mental wellbeing amid Covid-19 crisis
AS footballers and hurlers of all ages remain in their homes due to the spread of Covid-19, Sligo GAA has been one of the country’s market leaders in ensuring their players are kept occupied during this time of uncertainty.
Weekly skills challenges and tips, nutrition and dietary information as well as strength and conditioning work has been distributed to young - and not so young - players during this time to make sure they all stay active, and stay positive.
The importance of regular exercise and fresh air was emphasised in particular by one of the county’s Games Promotion Officer’s, Stephen Henry.
The Tourlestrane midfielder, who has a Masters in Sports Psychology, says that mental health has to be a key consideration for everyone during this unprecedented period in our history.
“It’s critical,” Stephen said of mental health. “This time is so uncertain. A lot of people, supporters and players, young and old, use the GAA as an outsource of activity and now that’s gone they can get stuck in a rut, asking the question how do I get out now?
“But even going for a walk, getting out into a bit of fresh air, research has shown that exercise helps create a positive mood.
“So be active - even cutting the grass, going for walks, going on a trail. It’s about finding something you enjoy and basic little activities that are fun, because times like these can be quite overwhelming.”
Encouraging mental wellbeing at this time is something that Stephen and the other coaches will be encouraging in the coming weeks.
While technology has its benefits - particularly at a time when people have been asked to keep their distance - there are also upsides to leaving down the laptop or phone.
“Phones are great,” Stephen explains.
“We have our apps to send stuff out to players and clubs and coaches, there’s WhatsApp and that. But if we can leave down the phone as well, it’d be just as helpful.
“Starting over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sending out tips to declutter.
“It’s an important strand alongside strength and conditioning and everything else.”
Ironically, the end of March and the month of April would ordinarily be the busiest months for club players of all ages as the leagues at various age groups right up to adult level get underway.
However, the case in 2020 could not be more different and though there is no definitive date yet as to when football and hurling will return, Stephen argues this time away from the playing fields can be put to as much use by honing the skills of the game at home.
“From a coaching point of view and from a players’ point of view, it’s a great opportunity to improve on all sides.
“Even with different things, Emma has sent out recipes to our development squads and that will help them to learn how to cook.
“Getting players to do some basic movements - Louise has sent out some great stuff on that and the players are encouraged to explore their own way of doing things too. For us as coaches, we can take the opportunity to upskill as well.”
The use of social media has provided a major asset to coaches across the county in keeping in touch and communicating with their players.
“Most effectively, the various GPOs within the county continue to distribute skills challenges to players at various age groups to keep their skill level up and improve on all areas of their game.
The efforts, in particular, of Pat Kilcoyne - who Stephen says has now gone ‘global’ following his coaching videos on social media sites - have garnered much attention, but there is also a practical aspect to it all.
“It has been pretty good so far. Obviously, with U-10s, U-8s and U-6s there has been a really good response as parents often like to get them outside. Sometimes the older age groups might not be as receptive, but so far everyone has been great.
“It has mostly been skills challenges so far, and different ways of doing skills through drills at home. We also try to find ways to get brothers and sisters and parents involved too.”
The time away from schools and training pitches also offers the coaches themselves a rare opportunity to spend an extended period planning and working on future initiatives.
“We have projects to do in-house with development squad programmes for example, and it’s just about nailing down stuff too that we have been doing. We’ve got the time now to do all that sort of stuff.”
For more on Sligo GAA’s coaching challenges and tips, keep an eye on the Sligo GAA social media platforms.