The programme was delivered by the Irish Football Association and proved to be a huge success with over 40 girl’s teams and 350 girls from all over the province, including, Bangor Ladies, Glentoran Girls, Foyle Belles and Sion Swifts competing against each other at 5, 7 and 9 a-side.
The value of the McDonald’s Small-Sided Games Development Centre is to provide girls from 6-12 with an opportunity to showcase their footballing skills. The small sided games model is an effective method for developing ball skills and game awareness because it increases opportunities for players to have contact with the ball. Competition is a central element in a player’s development. However a competitive environment should not be a result-orientated environment. A competitive environment at this level should encourage decisions from players and coach alike that focus on performance rather than outcome (favouring ball skills and inventiveness).
Irish FA Mc Donald’s National Co-ordinator Ian Stewart said, Thanks to the support from the NIWFA and the Clubs this Mc Donald’s Girls only Small-Sided centre has been a big success and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure we expand this programme to ensure opportunities for girls to play within the Mc Donald’s Small-Sided Games Programme throughout Northern Ireland.
