For people with any type of disability
Find out the sports structure and educational structure in your country! Check their websites and find all the information about sportclubs, activities, list of schools and much more!

Sports

Sports Structure

Irish Sports Council’s Mandate comes from the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999. This gives the Council's six key functions as:

• Encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport
• National Coaching and Training Centre at the University of Limerick
• Developing strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport and co-ordinating their implementation by all Irish bodies involved in promoting recreational sport and providing recreational sport facilities
• Facilitating good standards of conduct and fair play in both competitive and recreational sport
• Combating doping in sport
• Initiating and encouraging research concerning competitive or recreational sport
• Facilitating research and disseminating information concerning competitive or recreational sport

The Irish Sports Council has responsibility for funding National Sporting Bodies, many of who are voluntary organisations. A full listing of these sports, as well as links to many aspects and organisations in Irish sport is included on the Irish Sports Council website.The Irish Sports Council reports to the Irish government through the Departments of Arts, Sports and Tourism.

The role of the National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC) in Irish sport is to provide sports science and medical support to Ireland top players/athletes and to oversee the provision of training opportunities for coaches at all levels of Irish sport. NCTC operates within the policies of the Irish Sports Council, whose role is to oversee the development of Irish sport.

In relation to players/athletes with disabilities, NCTC has worked closely with some members of the Irish Special Olympics squad in preparation for the Special Olympic World Games 2003, which was hosted in Ireland . In 2004 NCTC has also worked closely with the Paralympic Council of Ireland in preparation for the Paralympic Games 2004 in Athens .

In relation to the development of coaches, NCTC works in partnership with over 50 National Governing Bodies in sport (NGBs) in implementing Irelands National Coaching Development Programme (NCDP) (see NCTC website, coaching services section). At the core of the NCDP is a 5 level coaching ladder, from beginner coach to international level coach. The NCDP works to an integrated model, where each sport has a sports specific education for coaches at each coaching level and develops the capacity – syllabus/course outline, tutors and materials – to rollout the education of coaches.

In relation to the education of coaches of players/athletes with disabilities, one of the NCDP principles states: “The Programme will seek the greater integration of disabled persons into sport and coaching.” The central NCDP coaching ladder and syllabus includes the topic of inclusion and each NGB is requested to include it on its coach education courses. Currently NCTC, in cooperation with the disability groups/organisations listed below, is finalising materials to support NGBs, tutors and coaches in relation to coaching players/athletes with disabilities.

The disability groups listed below either have in place (or have plans to develop) courses/modules in relation to coaching players/athletes with disabilities.

Contact Source for Further information

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Sport is a national governing body in Ireland for sport for people with physical disability. They promote sport and recreation through clubs, IWA Resource Centres and schools. IWA Sport trains coaches, leaders and volunteers, and works in conjunction with the National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC) in developing coaching modules for people with a disability. It is worth noting that IWA-Sport caters for athletes with all types of physical disabilities, such as ambulant people with CP, amputees, and les autres. Also, there are many members of IWA-Sport who have cerebral palsy, and who may be affiliated to both IWA-Sport and Cerebral Palsy Sports.

The Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland (CPSI) is the recognised National Governing Body for sports for people with cerebral palsy. They are involved in the training of teams for international competitions. Sports training is organised at the Enable Ireland premises in South Dublin and in various venues around the country. Activities included are athletics, swimming and boccia. For more information you can contact Leo Green or Paul Cassin. There is also a section for CPSI in the Paralympic Council of Ireland.

Irish Blind Sports is the national governing body in Ireland for sporting activities for blind and visually impaired people. Funding for Irish Blind Sports comes from the Irish Sports Council.

Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI) was founded in 1987, initially as a Coordination Committee for the Seoul Paralympics in 1988 and later to become the national representative organisation for sanctioned events of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). All administrative components relating to Paralympic Games, various World and European Championships are dealt with through PCI Secretariat.

The Special Olympic Committee provides opportunities for people with a learning disability to participate in year round training programmes and competitive events. There are 18 sports catered for by Special Olympics: these are divided between summer sports, winter sports, motor activities programme, and unified sports. Many people with learning disabilities participate in these programmes in schools or centre which they attend.

Other interesting links

Some sporting organisations in Ireland are 32 county structures and can source supports and funds in Northern Ireland. Useful links here are:

• Sports Council NI
• Sports Institute Northern Ireland

While Irish sport is not funded by United Kingdom organisations, nevertheless there is some east-west links between Ireland and the UK . Some of these websites may be useful.

• UK Sport
• Sport Scotland
• Sports Council Wales
• Sports Coach UK