Players can’t wait to get back on the field says Athenry coach

SPORT plays a huge role in the development of young people, no more so than in the lives of  post-primary school students. This week, Tribune reporter Stephen Glennon spoke with teachers from four different  second-level colleges – and from different sporting backgrounds – about the impact the pandemic and a succession of lockdowns is having on their students.

ALTHOUGH school sports are sidelined like everything else at present, staff at Presentation College Athenry continue to emphasise the importance of physical exercise to their students working remotely.

Pres. Athenry camogie coach and PE teacher Fiona Paige says that the power of exercise should not be underestimated, highlighting that, quite often, “the best students are those who continue on with their sport throughout Leaving Cert”.

She adds: “They do very well in their Leaving Cert. because they are able to put out a study plan and get their homework done, although they might be missing classes through sport and through camogie – and we train hard.

“I always say that competing in Junior ‘A’ and Senior ‘A’ is only a step-down from inter-county. That’s what it is. You have all these clubs competing for one team and they train very hard. Yet, they are able to do their study, get their homework done and play camogie.”

Paige says that by juggling their commitments, it teaches the students an invaluable life lesson. “When they leave school, they are able to cope, because they have coped throughout the year. They have managed their time so well. These are also the girls who do really well when they go onto college because they are able to manage the time.”

For Pres. Athenry’s part, they have encouraged their students to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine, Paige stating that it’s so important in terms of well-being, especially in these stressful times.

“It is very difficult for everyone, but we are trying to encourage the students to get out and, at the moment, we are trying to put on short online classes for them to do exercises. We are trying to get them to realise that it is equally as important to get away from the books, get away from the screens, because they’ll get a lot more energy if they exercise.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.