The Girls Squad is Back for 2024!
Cork Sports Partnership is delighted to support Athletics Ireland in announcing the return of The Girls Squad for the remainder of the academic year! Athletics has a number of benefits in everyday life, sport and socialisation. It is hoped that The Girls Squad will equip young girls to lead healthier lives and value the importance of regular physical activity in their own lives and wider community.
Athletics Ireland is now accepting expression of interests from Cork schools to participate, by registering your details you will be in with the chance to participate in the programme for FREE and gain access to ample resources to support you the programme.
Contact Women in Sport Lead Anna Grealish for details of how to register: annagrealish@athleticsireland.ie
It is important to note that for this call out we are mainly supporting schools who are located in an area of below average deprivation. Those accepted will be contacted directly by Women in Sport Lead Anna Grealish regarding next steps.
Athletics Ireland and Titan Experience have developed an easily accessed portal to support teachers and students with the programme and monitor and track their progress as they complete the programme.
Speaking about the impact of the programme, teacher Dara McDermott, from Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School in Goatstown :
“The Girls Squad programme is an excellent initiative, and our students thoroughly enjoyed it during 2021 and engaged fully throughout the duration of the programme! There are lots of easy-to-follow videos to accompany the programme and clear guidelines accompanying the programme which would allow any teacher to conduct it. It is most certainly a very well worth programme and we spent longer than six weeks on it with our TY’s as it had so many resources accompanying it!”
Speaking at the launch of The Girls Squad, Sarah Lavin had this to say
“It is so invigorating to see so many young girls interested in Athletics through The Girls Squad. I was fortunate to have a super experience of Athletics when I was in school with Castletory College, but programmes like these are so important to get more girls involved who just want to participate and reap the rewards of being physically active with girls their own age!”
What is The Girl Squad?
The Girls Squad is a six-eight week programme aimed at young girls in Transition Year in school. The aim of the programme is to promote athletics in their school and community through an athletics project. This project has both a physical and educational element to it. We at Athletics Ireland hope to improve and support, both the physical and psychological wellbeing of young girls across the nation.
Programme Aims
The aim of this programme is to introduce young girls to the sport of athletics and to a general fitness regime through a physical and educational athletics programme. This programme will explore elements of track and field such as throwing, running and jumping in a fun and sociable environment. The students will also further explore heathy lifestyle habits through healthy eating and positive health and wellbeing activities. Students will document their involvement in this programme through the ‘Girl Squad Report Card’ .
Programme Benefits
- Encourages physical activity in a non-competitive or intimidating environment.
- Create a newfound appreciation of all things athletics.
- Promotes personal and social development.
- Learning new life skills.
- Be rewarded for participation.
- Highlights the importance of teamwork.
- Opportunity to develop athletics recreationally
What does the programme involve?
The project must be supported and encouraged by a teacher.
Teachers will be asked to measure physical activity levels of your students pre, post and 3 months after the programme. This will be submitted to AAI upon completion of the 6 week project.
Project must be designed, developed and completed by the TY students.
The girls have the opportunity to create a unique athletics project of their choice.
The project should have both physical and written elements to it, which should be visually displayed.
The project should include a video or social media campaign designed and including the girls themselves for use on HER Moves and Athletics Ireland social media platforms.
For example, the project could include healthy lifestyle choices, importance of athletics in everyday life, run an event of your choice or design an athletics programme to promote athletics within your school/area.
Available support for schools and students
- Large poster(s)- Girl Squad Report Card
- The Girl Squad Student Handbook for every student & teacher
- Access to video resources including demonstrations and instructions
- Sample track & field sessions
- Strength & Conditioning Manual for Teacher
- Free Access to AAi Coach- Relays & Hurdles
- Exclusive Girls Squad Beanie Hats upon completion
If this programme may be if interest to your school and transition year girls, we would be delighted to help and assist you in anyway that we can. We have a number of resources that can assist this programme. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact myself annagrealish@athleticsireland.ie
Expression of Interest will close on the 12th April for this academic year.
