Coaches needed for popular Mayo Cúl Camps

MAYO GAA Cúl camps are proving very cool indeed, with the number taking part on the increase according to figures produced by Mayo GAA coaching officer, Declan O’Reilly, at last week’s county board meeting.

However, the success of the camps, which saw 6,500 children take part this summer, could result in the reduction of numbers next year because of the problem with recruiting coaches.

Mr. O’Reilly said the Cúl Camps had been a huge success, and that was a tribute to the coaching manager Billy McNicholas and his team of coaches and other helpers.

Commented Mr. O’Reilly: "Safety of the children is a priority in running these camps for both football and hurling but the numbers may have to be reduced next year as getting coaches is posing a problem."

He added: "My concern is the challenge in recruiting coaches. There is full employment now available for a lot of 18-year-old boys and girls and there are plenty of employment opportunities out there for them, so getting coaches is going to pose difficulties for such large numbers of kids."

With the ration of one coaches to eight kids, Mr. O’Reilly said safety was important to ensure the camps were run properly and in a correct environment.

He added: "We may have to cap the numbers next year as it is either increase the number of coaches or reduce the number of kids. But we will be undertaking a recruitment drive and we will see how that goes."