Connacht Rugby & GMIT Learn To Perform Series Returns With Tackle Your Feelings Webinar

By John O'Sullivan

 

Connacht Rugby’s Learn To Perform webinar series, in association with Official Partner GMIT, will return next Monday, January 25th, with a Tackle Your Feelings webinar at 7 PM. 

 

In line with the current governmental COVID restrictions, Connacht Rugby is bringing the presentations to participants' homes, via a series of online webinars. Previously,  groups would have been brought to the Sportsground for the Learn to Perform talks, but — adapting to the ongoing restrictions — the informational sessions have and will now take place online.

 

Presented by Hannah McCormack from Rugby Players Ireland with guest appearances from Jack Carty and Edel McMahon -- players from the men's and women's senior teams, respectively -- the webinar will focus on 13 to 17-year-old rugby players and showing them the positive sides of mental health and teaching the youngsters techniques such as positive self-talk. The parents of participants are encouraged to join in the talk.

 

The following Monday, February 1st, another Tackle Your Feelings webinar will take place at 7 PM and will be aimed towards adult rugby players, from 18 years old upwards.

 

Tackle Your Feelings is a mental health and well-being campaign run by Rugby Players Ireland, which supports individuals proactively looking after their mental well-being, with a focus on covering happiness, optimism, and resilience. The campaign features some of Ireland’s Rugby Players leading from the front, breaking down stigma and encouraging people to become more proactive about looking after their mental well-being on a daily basis.

 

 

Tackle Your Feelings is the third installment of the Connacht Rugby and GMIT Learn To Perform series after webinars focusing on rugby specific nutrition  -- lead by Connacht's lead performance nutritionist Gavin Rackard -- and online strength and conditioning courses for female rugby players -- presented by Ann Caffrey, an athletic development coach with experience in elite level sports -- took place at the end of last year.

 

Over 200 participants have taken part in the Learn to Perform series to date and Ross Mannion, Rugby Participation Officer (RPO) with Connacht Rugby, the organiser of the series, was delighted with the response and the number of interested parties logging on. The feedback received from both participants and parents, some of whom who have immediately taken on board the advice received during the webinar, was also positive

 

“We had over 200 players, parents, and coaches log in to Monday’s webinar and the interaction from the kids and parents on the nights was fantastic, plenty of questions and a desire to learn was clear to see,” the Sligo native said.

 

Interested parties can sign up via the following link

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ZNxTyFKRcqJdPFAIAfeVQ