Latest news with #YouthDevelopment
BreakingNews.ie
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Chrissy McKaigue optimistic for future of Derry football
Chrissy McKaigue says he is optimistic for the future of Derry football despite a difficult season following relegation from Division One, which saw them without a win in the seven games. Defeat to Donegal in the Ulster championship was followed by another loss against Armagh in the All-Ireland group stages, before rescuing a draw against Galway last weekend. Advertisement In what has been a difficult 18 months for the county, McKaigue is confident they can get back on track, and praised the work clubs in the county have been doing over the years. "Derry has always had a spread of good underage teams across minor, Under-21s, U20s as it is now, and schools. "That's not a guarantee, don't get me wrong, but I've never seen as many clubs in Derry have their house in order. That rivalry and wanting to compete with each other has made each other better, a rising tide and all that. "Schools are doing phenomenal work and that should give Derry county teams a really good chance, you would imagine." Advertisement "Derry are working hard in the background to put structures in place for that because they've had a consistent spread of teams and players coming all at the one time. "It's exciting for Derry but be under no illusion the hardest thing is to try and get them players from being really good juvenile players to being really good servants at senior level for Derry." McKaigue also put into perspective the number of injuries to key players Derry have had this season, while also pointed out the age profile of the team. "Derry have to claim that they want to be in contention for Sam Maguire in the next ten years. Advertisement "They have to be. What's the point then in doing all the work they've done? There's no guarantee, I know that, but the bottom line is you've got to have your ambitions, you have to dream big. "Derry should have, theoretically, a chance in the next number of years to do big things. You have a very good senior side at the minute, albeit this year has not been great. "You look at the age profile of a lot of those Derry players. Conor McCluskey has been out, still a relatively young man; Ethan Doherty is a relatively young man, you have Lachlann Murray and Paul Cassidy. "A lot of players there with a lot more to give, and a lot more on the conveyor belt of talent coming through." Advertisement A two-time Ulster winner with Derry, McKaigue made the decision to step away from inter-county football after 15 seasons in the Derry jersey. The 35-year-old still has GAA as part of his life, but discussed the mental toll inter-county football can have. "It was fairly demanding. If I was playing against Dublin (Saturday week in Newry), I'd be starting to think about Dublin the minute the Galway game ended. You don't have that anymore and that is a welcome addition. "It wasn't a kneejerk reaction for me to retire. I'm happy to admit the transition has been relatively smooth. I know in my gut that I'm happy enough because I can imagine for a lot of people it is more difficult. "But for me I'm content and was ready to move on to the next chapter."
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'If he's good enough, then play him... don't loan him out'
Following the news that Brighton have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos, we asked for your views on the move for the teenage are some of your comments:Paul: I'm concerned his decision making on the ball seems really poor. He seems to base a lot of his play around take-ons and dummies he won't be able to get away with in the Premier League. I do ultimately trust the club on this, New signing looks like one for the future - but if he is good enough, then play him. Don't spend that much money and send him out on loan. Ideally, we need an experienced striker, one who can get at least 15 goals a season. Same with young Watson. Don't keep signing youngsters for the future - play them now if they are good Kostoulas' arrival at Brighton will either hasten the exit of Evan Ferguson or motivate the young Irishman to drill down and regain the form he has already proved himself capable of. Kostoulas has yet to prove himself in the Premier League He's coming to the best finishing school in If recent strategy is anything to go by, he'll be off on loan somewhere, and it will be interesting to see how he develops.
Zawya
11-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Youth Charter Joins United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Celebrating International Day of Play: 'Choose Play – Every Day'
The Youth Charter ( proudly marks UNICEF's International Day of Play under the global theme 'Choose Play – Every Day', standing in solidarity with children and young people worldwide to champion the universal right to play. This year's theme serves as a powerful reminder to governments, corporations, educators, families, and communities to make daily choices that protect, promote and prioritise play in the lives of every child and young person. Play is not a luxury – it is essential to physical, mental, emotional and social development. It builds resilience, nurtures creativity, and strengthens inclusion, especially in times of adversity. In alignment with this, the Youth Charter continues to deliver on its Global Call to Action, launched at the UN Summit of the Future, to ensure that sport, art, culture, and digital innovation are recognised as vital tools of development and peace in the lives of children and youth. Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA DL, Youth Charter Founder and Chair, stated: 'Play is a universal language – a bridge that connects young people to opportunity, potential and hope. On this International Day of Play, we reaffirm our mission to create safe, inclusive, and accessible environments where young people everywhere can play, learn, and grow. From our Community Campuses in London to our programmes across Africa and the Caribbean, play is the foundation of our work and a right we will never stop advocating for.' As we move towards 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Youth Charter calls on partners, policymakers and people of influence to embed play into education, urban design, health, and youth policy frameworks – especially in underserved and marginalised communities. Join the Movement The Youth Charter invites individuals and organisations to: Support and share the Global Call to Action at Host local play-based events across Community Campuses and schools Advocate for investment in inclusive, safe spaces for sport and creative expression Listen to and uplift the voices of young people in decisions that affect their lives Let us all ' Choose Play – Every Day ' and commit to a world where every child and young person can live, learn and thrive. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Youth Charter. Media Contact: Youth Charter Communications Team media@ +44 (0)161 998 9555
Al Bawaba
28-05-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
Successful Conclusion for Dubai Sports Council Football Talents Development Program in Dubai Clubs
Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has successfully concluded the Program of the 'Football Talents Development Centers in Dubai Clubs' for the age groups from 12 to 17 years old, which was launched by the Council as part of its endeavors to attract, scout & develop sports talents and according to Dubai Government's policy to support talents in various Program witnessed remarkable participation of 100 promising players, who were nominated out of elite of talents from Dubai clubs. Nominated players were subject to several technical & physical tryouts, held under supervision of football academies' technical supervisors, including coaches, assistant coaches & experts from the Sportify & Talents Academies. The tryouts were also arranged under administrative supervision of academies managers & teams were classified into three training centers as per age categories as follows: players in the age category from 12 to 13 years old were trained at the Talents Development Center of Al-Wasl Club, while players from 14 to 15 years old received trainings at Shabab Al-Ahli Club Center and players from 16 to 17 years old were trained at Al-Nasr Club is worth-mentioning that DSC has launched the Program of the Football Talent Development Centers in Dubai Clubs for basketball, handball & volleyball sports in collaboration with technical bodies of the respective sports federations and in partnership with Dubai Clubs; these are: Shabab Al-Ahli, Al-Nasr, Al-Wasl & Program targets to attract the best talents in different team & individual sports games and to attract them into specialized training centers, which are managed under supervision of technical staff of top competence. Full support, development programs besides opportunities for competitions and gaining of distinctive experiences were all provided at the training program also aims to develop the technical, healthy, nutritional, and academic aspects of the players, and to provide an ideal environment for boosting talents in a modern scientific way, in addition to preparing a profile for each talent & participating in international competitions. Comprehensive technical reports are prepared by the end of each season, as part of strategic policy to promote distinguished players of different age groups, leading to the formation of qualified national teams to attain international achievements. The Program enhances the competences of local coaches & assistant coaches of first teams. Further tryouts are decided to be held during the next sports season to supply centers with the best talents. Gatherings & camps will also be organized including matches, intensive trainings and theoretical & practical awareness lectures, in addition to physical tryouts to be held under supervision of technical coaches of academies and in collaboration with partners from the public & private sectors.
CBC
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Regina to host 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
Regina will host the 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, bringing elite young Indigenous hockey players to the Co-operators Centre from May 2 to 9, 2026. The NAHC, organized by the non-profit Aboriginal Sport Circle and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, features 16 teams — eight male and eight female — made up of bantam and midget-aged Indigenous athletes. The annual event has served as a key platform for Indigenous sport development since 2002, said a Friday news release from the Regina Exhibition Association Limited. The 2026 tournament will mark the first time Saskatchewan has hosted the championships since 2012, REAL's news release said. The tournament is "a tremendous opportunity for our province to showcase our commitment to Indigenous sport," Fabian Head, third vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said in the release. The championships create "a space where Indigenous youth can connect with their culture, build lasting relationships, and develop skills that extend far beyond the rink," he said. The 2026 event will be hosted in partnership with Ochapowace Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan. Chief Shelley Bear says that reflects the community's focus on youth development through sports and recreation, which she called "vital tools for building confidence, leadership and resilience in our young people." "When we provide these opportunities, we're not just developing better athletes — we're developing stronger communities and future leaders who carry their cultural pride with them in everything they do," Bear was quoted as saying in the news release. The NAHC typically delivers more than $1 million in economic impact per category to host communities, according to organizers. Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski welcomed the announcement, calling the tournament a meaningful event for the city and province. The event "strengthens the bonds between communities through the spirit of sport," Bachynski said in the press release. The championship is part of the province's efforts to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action around sports and reconciliation, REAL's news release said. Sandra Jackle, president and CEO of the Regina Hotel Association, which is supporting the championships, said the event is an "outstanding celebration of sport and culture" that "strengthens cultural connections and community pride across Canada." More information on schedules and tickets for the 2026 championships will be released closer to the event.
