The FAI has teamed up with the leading youth mental health charity Jigsaw in a new partnership to help coaches and players nationwide through a One Good Coach campaign.
As part of the partnership, wellbeing courses will be delivered nationally in person and online with over 100 coaches a month taking part in the course with Jigsaw through the FAI Coach Education Learning Platform. The workshops will look at helping coaches with an understanding of the mental wellbeing of young players.
At a time when players of all ages and levels are returning to the training ground, FAI Head of Coach Education Niall O’Regan believes the programme is flexible enough to suit everyone.
“As we hopefully return from lockdown restrictions for the last time, and see our players of all ages return to contact training, it coincides perfectly with our collaboration with Jigsaw,” he said.
“This workshop will be provided through a blended approach, in-person where possible in the future as well as online through our Avenir Sports Learning Platform.”
“This online version will provide parents, volunteers and coaches with an e-learning workshop that is self-paced where people can participate in their own time when it is convenient for them.”
“The One Good Coach Workshop will provide our parents, volunteers and coaches with the knowledge, skills and attributes required to understand the needs of our players and will become a valuable resource for players mental health.”
“Jigsaw’s One Good Coach training is our response to what sports clubs, parents, and young people have been telling us they need,” said Jigsaw CEO Dr Joseph Duffy.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the FAI to make this online training available to coaches in football clubs across the country.”
“We know that sports clubs are a vital part of Ireland’s local communities. And that they play a huge role in supporting and encouraging young people with both their physical and mental health.”
“We hope that One Good Coach will grow to become an indispensable resource for coaches, one that will help them to feel more confident, and better equipped in how they respond to and support young people with their mental health.”
Jigsaw’s One Good Coach programme has previously been rolled out through Local Sports partnerships while the One Good Club initiative has been a partnership with the Ladies garlic Football Association.
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