How Can I Help?
Parents can help in many ways.
The easiest and simplest way to help is to turn up to matches on Saturdays and support the team, helping the manager, for example, with water bottles, keeping an eye on balls used for pre-match training etc. Managers have a multitude of things to do and be aware of at matches, someome helping with the simple housekeeping can be of great assistance.
Another way parents can be of help is through ther provision of lifts to players, as needed. This may not be needed too often, but there will be occasions when normally regular parents won't be able to make it to games and everyone has to pitch in with lifts. Flexibility in this area can relieve a great deal of pressure from the managers and coaches.
Ultimately, the best way a parent can help is to get fully involved themselves with coaching and managing teams. this is how most of our managers have become involved with the club. Currently, the club has a training and development programme in place which aims to put as many of our managers as are willingt through UEFA coaching. In other words, if parents do volunteer to become fully involved on the coaching side they will not be left without support. The necessary training will be provided. they will also be trained in First Aid and in the Child Protection legislation.
The club also has an advanced supplies process in place which ensures that new coaches are adequately provided with training and match balls, cones, bibs, and all the training equipment needed for a progressive club like Aquinas. in addition, specialised SAQ, i.e. speed, agility and quickness, equipment, such as slalom poles, speed ladders and hurdle bars are available for coaches.
Even if parents don't feel that they are equiped with the relevant knowledge and experience to coach, they can still get involved in arange of backroom roles. It takes a committed team to run the club on a daily and longer term basis. the club has four Executive Office Holders, plus three others who form a seven person Management Committee. This can involve a considerable time commitment, particularly as all the Committee members are also coaches with the club. Parents by getting involved in the administration of the club can relieve the time pressures on the existing coaches who currently perform that role.
Lastly, of course, parents can help the club and have a bit of craic at the same time by coming to the various fund raising events we try to organise each year.
