IR24 PSLLC - ENGAGE - ULTIMATE FRISBEE COACHING SESSIONS

The two Italian students attending the Ireland Congress – Monica and Umer - accepted the challenge of becoming sports coaches for one week. They shared their knowledge and skills in the game of Ultimate Frisbee with primary school pupils who were invited to participate in the sports activities during the week of the Congress. The national schools involved are located in the area around Ballyshannon, the town where Coláiste Cholmcille School is situated. In this way, the values of the project were shared and passed on to other schools in the region, as well as to potential future students of the secondary school hosting the Congress.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the two Italian coaches set up a station on a field right in front of the school mail entrance. Here the national school pupils (around 90 pupils, divided into four smaller groups), rotated from 10 AM to 12:15 PM, giving each of them the opportunity to try playing frisbee.

The objective of the sport is for each of the two opposing teams to score goals, and the kids had great fun under the guidance of their coaches, challenging each other on the frisbee field.

The pupils were taught the basics of the sport, focusing on how to throw and catch the flying disc. To make this unfamiliar sport more accessible to the new learners, the Italian coaches created an engaging and playful atmosphere and used fun terms to help the young kids visualize the movements and types of catches (e.g., crocodile catch, hamburger catch, crab claw). The two Italian students coached and supported the kids during their practice sessions and encouraged them to experiment with the different techniques that they would later use during the final event, Friday morning’s Mini Olympics. During this event, the pupils played a simplified version of Ultimate Frisbee.

Planning the frisbee coaching sessions provided the Erasmus+ students with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform in an unusual setting, share their personal and teamworking abilities, and engage younger students in a sport that promotes healthy competition and a sense of accomplishment. Events like this are essential for fostering a positive and supportive school environment, nurturing a strong sports culture, and extending the project's values to younger students in the community. By doing so, they help create a sense of belonging and community. These initiatives allow students to not only develop their own skills but also contribute to building an inclusive and supportive atmosphere and spreading it to a larger community.