ABOVE: The 2017 Glenavy Og’s group with sponsor Shane Murphy (Oaktree Nursery), club chairperson Joe O’Boyle and coaches: Joe Mulholland, Marianne Forester, Elaine Rice & Tracey Butler.
This year’s Nursery group for under 4 year olds began on 3/4/17 and ran for 26 weeks and was based entirely at the Sports Hall in Ballymacrickett Primary School. It was a big group with over 50 enrolling on the programme.
We were able to secure sponsorship from Oaktree Nursery for a second year which enabled the nursery group to have their very own training top designed and made. The children took great pride in their tops and this has given the children a great sense of club identity.
There was a clear structure to our training and we covered the following areas:
- Agility
- Balance
- Coordination
- Running
- Jumping
We spent around 4 weeks on each area and on the 5th week the child completed a short assessment gaining a sticker for themselves and one for their end of year certificate. The children really worked hard on these assessment nights and took great pride is achieving each sticker.
We made a special effort to explain to the children that training and exercise was only part of what is needed to be a ‘star’ player – they also need to eat healthy foods i.e. lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
On each assessment night each child got a treat of a bottle of water and a piece of fresh fruit (sponsored by Eurospar Crumlin).
ABOVE: Great friends – Dan Dolan, Noah McGoran & Beauden Morrison Burns enjoying healthy treats.
ABOVE: Starting healthy habits – Aoife Steenson, Maddie Harvey & Cara Price.
On our final presentation night each child received their certificate, a ‘Well Done’ medal and a goody bag of healthy treats (+ bag of Tayto crisps sponsored by Alan& Amanda Crossan ). Terrence Doran from ‘The Chip Factory’ supplied complimentary pizzas & chips which enabled the children to have a little celebration meal after their presentation.
Lead coach Joe Mulholland commented ‘I have really enjoyed working with the children each year and more importantly meeting new parents and making new friends. There is a fantastic community feeling around that hall each week and I have watched it extend across to the side-lines of the pitch year by year.’
The club is currently looking more parents to get involved as volunteer coaches and has planned a great line up of training over the winter months. Anyone interested should speak to any of the current coaches as soon as possible.
Joe Mulholland concluded by saying ‘I enjoy seeing the children progress, knowing all their names and being able to cheer them on from the side-lines years after they have been through Nursery Group – so I’m very lucky and I hope to have more cheering to do in the future !!
ABOVE: Amelia Toal with Patrick Gallagher, St Joseph’s Glenavy and Antrim Player, presenting their medals. (2) Dermot & Laoise Doran enjoy the celebrations
ABOVE: Isla Mullan & Dara Nelson thanking coaches Tracey Butler & Marianne Forester ABOVE: (2) Leah Rice thanks coach Joe Mulholland.
ABOVE: Emma Shepherd with Patrick Gallagher, St Joseph’s Glenavy and Antrim Player, presenting their medals. (2)Aiveen Kavanagh (3) Teresa & Shane Mulholland
Some of the prize winners at Glenavy Ogs Presentation Evening