The coaching community within the GAA is recognised this week as our Sport for Business Weekend Winners having enjoyed a successful Annual Coaching Conference at Croke Park.
Over 800 delegates gathered from around the country to hear tips on how to up their game as coaches and wisdom from those across the sporting spectrum from those who have done just that at the highest level.
This was the first year of Sky coming on board as main partners of the event and it was notable that there was also a step up in terms of the international and cross sporting nature of those who addressed the main body of the audience.
Former England Rugby coach and currently one of the key figures in Leinster, Stuart Lancaster had to delay his address to make sure the Captains Run for his Leinster charges went OK ahead of their emphatic European Champions’ Cup victory but it was worth the wait as he guided the room through a number of the principles that he has held close to throughout his career.
Join us on Thursday morning at the Marker Hotel for Breakfast with sporting and business leaders as we look ahead to the Sporting Year with Paraic Duffy of the GAA, Pat Keogh of Leopardstown Racecourse, Sue Ronan of the FAI, Diarmaid Murphy of the GAA and with Kelli O’Keefe of Teneo PSG delivering insight on the relationship between sport and the Irish public. Reserve your place here.
His original calling as a teacher shone through in some of the references he made to the ways in which he deals with individual players and being aware of the things you don’t know and learning all the time.
Lancaster is a deeply impressive individual to meet in person and everyone in the room will have been impressed by what he had to say.
The closing keynote address came from a more familiar face within GAA circles, that of Paul McGinley.
We had the pleasure to speak with him in front of a European Tour gathering at the Dean Hotel on Thursday night and the warmth he spoke of that night about his relationship with the GAA and Ballyboden St Enda’s also shone through in Croke Park.
None of those present in the Hogan and Cusack Stands across the weekend will have the opportunity to lead out teams in Rugby World Cups or Ryder Cups, their every tiny decision analysed and criticised by watching millions, but everyone can learn from those who have.
I was once told by a smart business leader that if they learnt one thing to take away from a major conference it was worth their while being there if they learnt more than it was one they would go back to again. This was one of the latter and a great reflection on the coaching and development team under the leadership of Pat Daly.
There were plenty of familiar faces from within the GAA on stage as well with Brendan Cummins, Noelle Healy and Peter Canavan all taking turns to impress with the dedication and understanding that goes into the games.
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