Watt and McKinnon Munster-bound for one-day coaching course

Schools and youth coaches from around Munster are being invited to learn from two of Ireland’s most renowned coaches as part of next month’s Munster Hockey Coaching Conference. The Sports Institute of Northern Ireland’s (SINI) high performance manager Stephen Watt and the Irish Hockey Association’s (IHA) coaching development officer Mick McKinnon will assist Munster’s Stephen Jackson and John Hobbs at the event, which takes place at Cork Harlequins HC on Saturday September 13. A spokesperson for the Munster Coaching committee said the conference aimed to reward the province’s schools and youth coaches.

“The Munster Coaching committee recognises that there is a need to give something back to the many schools and youth coaches that work tirelessly throughout the province,” said the spokesperson. “The aim of the course is to share and discuss tactical and technical ideas. This will include on-pitch demonstrations of how the presenters implement techniques and tactics into training sessions. The day allows contacts to be made and will recharge the batteries for a new season.” The calibre and pedigree of the coaches involved makes for impressive reading. Watt has coached Ulster at U16, U18, U21 and senior grades, and guided the Ireland U18s to gold (2002) and silver (2003) medals at the European Championships. Named as Northern Ireland’s Youth Coach of the Year in 2003, he is currently at the helm of the Ulster senior ladies, Watt’s session will focus on the technical development of youth players and the importance of breeding good habits early on. Mick McKinnon is in charge of Railway Union’s ladies, who he guided to the semi-finals of last season’s Cluyb Championships, and the Ireland U15 squad. However, he is best-known for the hugely impressive legacy he left behind after seven years with Armagh, achieving five successive promotions and nurturing one of the most talented young women’s squads in the country. McKinnon, who also coached at Royal School Armagh and Banbridge Academy, has coached Ireland’s U18 girls in four European Championships, maintaining A Division status throughout and claiming two fourth-placed finishes. His session will feature an intorduction to tactics. To reserve a place at the conference, which costs €10 payable on the day, email munstercoaching@gmail.com, including your name, club/school and contact details e.g. home and mobile numbers. Meanwhile, McKinnon is also organising a goalkeeping course in UCD this weekend, with the aid of ex-England and Great Britain stopper Simon Mason and Irish national goalkeeping coaches Nigel Henderson and Rudi Wortmann. The two-day course, run by the IHA in conjunction with the Mercian School of Hockey, is aimed at keepers aged 12 and up. The course costs €135, and only a few places remain, but they can be booked by emailing mick.mckinnon@hockey.ie or calling (01) 7163261.