Sport Ireland to Host European Children’s Coaching Conference

Sport Ireland to Host European Children’s Coaching Conference

3rd iCoach Kids Conference at University of Limerick most significant Children’s Sport and Coaching event ever to be held in Ireland

Sport Ireland will host the 3rd edition of the iCoachKids (iCK) Conference, an iCK project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission, at the University of Limerick on June 14th & 15th.

The conference, titled ‘Child Centred Coaching’, will look at the the important shift in childrens coaching globally and help shape the future of sport for children, shifting the paradigm to a children-centred approach.

During the two-day event, an international line-up of renowned children and youth sport experts will deliver eight keynote sessions; and combined with Irish presenters will deliver a series of workshops and practical sessions, as well as engage conference attendees in two panel discussions. Keynotes preenters include:

• Prof Dan Gould, Director of Youth Sports Institute, Michigan State University, USA

• Kris van der Haegen, Director of Coach Education, Royal Belgian Soccer Association, Belgium

• Prof Marie Murphy, Professor of Exercise and Health, Dean of Postgraduate Research and Director of the Ulster Doctoral College, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

• Prof Nicolette Schipper – van Veldhoven, Professor of Sport Pedagogy, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

• Prof Catherine Woods, Chair in Physical Activity and Health, University of Limerick, Ireland

• Dr Sergio Lara-Bercial, Leeds Beckett University and the International Council for Coaching Excellence, Leeds becket University, UK

Sport Ireland Chief Executive, John Treacy, said: “Sport Ireland is delighted to host the 3rd iCoach Kids Conference in the University of Limerick. The previous edition of this event attracted a global audience from as far a field as the USA, Australia and South Africa, and we’re looking forward to a large number of delegates to listen to and debate some of the most important issues relating to creating effective children’s coaches. I would also encourage as many Irish coaches as possible to attend what will be an invaluable two days.”

The attending coaches will have an opportunity, including keeping children involved, child centred coaching, session planning, physical literacy, ethics in children’s sport, holistic coaching, the pedagogical and motivational sport climate and the role of parents in sport.

Places at the 3rd iCoachKids Conference in the University of Limerick can be reserved here: https://www.ickinternationalconference.com/