Ulster Masters’ Open

Friday, February 17, 2017 to Saturday, February 18, 2017Tournament days

• FRI17FEB
• SAT18FEB

Youth Enrichment Coordinator

Part-time contract (up to 10 hours per week): €10,000 per annum

Education: Bachelors degree

Location: Ringsend, Dublin 4

About us

Squash Link, flagship programme of the Irish Squash & Education Association (ISEA), was founded in 2015 and operates out of SPORTSCO in Ringsend, Dublin 4. ISEA has made significant progress in establishing Ireland’s first urban squash programme – an after-school youth enrichment model combining the sport of squash with academic support, mentoring, extracurricular activities, engagement with the community and further education placement for local school students.

Dublin’s squash community is thriving and has united behind its new urban squash programme. With over twenty facilities, Dublin boasts a rich pool of players and coaches at all levels of the game. Squash Link aims to help each child realize their academic and personal potential through high expectations and strong support. We are committed to building deep relationships with our participants and to giving each volunteer staff member meaningful responsibilities in a supportive and cooperative working environment.

ISEA now seeks to recruit a part-time Youth Enrichment Coordinator to help us drive our Squash Link programme. This position will be critical in helping us fulfill our mission and realize our vision.

Learn more about Squash Link at www.squashlink.org.

About the Position

A highly motivated, innovative youth enrichment leader passionate about supporting young people and helping them on the path to achieving their full potential. ISEA believes in providing opportunities for professional growth and will encourage the successful candidate to develop skills in a wide range of areas. As a fledgling organization ISEA is intent on maximizing the availability of our services in communities most in need. We therefore seek a passionate individual who shares this vision and is committed to growing with our organization.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate after-school squash and fitness sessions managing volunteers and coaching individuals/groups.
• Work closely with ISEA’s Founder and Members of the Board/Advisory Board to meet the needs of our participants which will include planning team trips, cultural outings, organizing community engagement activities, facilitating guest speaker workshops, relationship and team-building activities.
• Work closely with volunteers to plan and facilitate practices, coordinate matches, tournaments, equipment and clothing maintenance, fitness tests, mid-term/summer squash opportunities and other squash-related activities.
• Network with other organizations, squash clubs and services providing opportunities for our participants.
• Collaborate on programme-wide initiatives and projects.
• Support participants in their athletic, academic and personal growth.
• Build effective relationships with teachers and staff at partner schools through weekly school visits, phone calls and meetings.
• Alongside our tutors, build caring, supportive and meaningful relationships with participants and their families.

Qualifications

• Experience of playing and coaching squash, creating and maintaining a structured, disciplined and fun learning environment for participants.
• Energetic and passionate about Squash Link’s mission and vision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Research, IT and social media skills.
• Project management, interpersonal, organizational and networking skills.
• Experience of working with children in an academic capacity, ideally with a teaching or youth development qualification (or in the process of obtaining one).
• A commitment to youth enrichment.
• A strong sense of humour and experience of working with adolescents.
• Availability to work occasional Saturdays.

The ideal candidate will be a high-energy, creative, hard-working, self-starter with strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Most importantly, candidates must have a passion for working with youth in the city of Dublin, and a belief that all children can learn and grow if given the proper guidance and support. All at ISEA believe that the key to significant learning is significant relationships.

How to apply

Please email your cover letter and CV to Mark Kelly, Founder, ISEA at [email protected] or post to ISEA, SPORTSCO, South Lotts Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4. Informal enquiries also to these addresses or to speak with Mark call 0831001314.

Applications Deadline: Friday 10th March

Download full details: Youth Enrichment Coordinator

The ESDC Senior National Championships 2017 – Fitzwilliam LTC February 10th – 12th

THE FULL DRAW IS AVAILABLE HERE

IRISH SQUASH TV – LIVE STREAMING FROM COURT 1 ALL WEEKEND HERE

Our Sponsor is the European Safer Driver’s Course (http://www.esdc.eu/)

To Watch recent matches from the IRISH SQUASH Tour events go to the IRISH SQUASH You Tube channel

Mount Pleasant Open 2017

Leinster Senior Open 2016

Munster Senior Open 2016

Belfast PSA Open 2016

Irish Junior Open 2016

Leinster Masters’ Open 2016

Irish Squash Junior National Championships

Tournament days

Friday, February 24, 2017 to Sunday, February 26, 2017

• FRI24FEB
• SAT25FEB
• SUN26FEB

Munster Senior Closed

Tournament days

Friday, March 3, 2017 to Sunday, March 5, 2017

SPORTS CAPITAL GRANT OPEN IN JANUARY

See the announcement from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, and the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD regarding the 2017 Sports Capital Programme, which are now open for applications from the 23rd January. All Squash clubs needing some refurbishment should apply for funds which will really improve your facilities and help in attracting new members and driving participation. See below the story of Thurles Squash Club and how they used a Sports Capital Grant to transform their club this year.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, and the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, are pleased to announce that the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be open for applications on 23 January next. Applications are being sought from sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities.  Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs. Applications can be made from 9am on Monday 23 January onwww.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. Closing dates: THE CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION IS 5PM FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2017. GIVEN THAT YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED YOU WILL ONLY NEED TO REGISTER AGAIN IF YOU WISH TO DO SO FOR A DIFFERENT ORGANISATION. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REGISTER YOUR CURRENT ORGANISATION AGAIN. THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS IS 5PM ON FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

Information

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in partnership with Local Sports Partnerships is organising a series of workshops on How to make an application under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme.  For information on the seminars and to make a booking click on the links in the table below.

Once you have made a booking you will receive a booking confirmation email and you should bring this with you to the event.

Background

The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is operated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment.

The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In particular, its stated objectives are to:

• Assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities and Education and Training Boards and schools to develop high quality, accessible, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.
• Prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities.
• Encourage the sharing of local, regional and national sports facilities by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities.  Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.

All applications must be made online at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 24 February

For more information on the Programme including a YouTube guide to application process and a sample application form visit www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie

STORY OF THURLES SC

A Sports Capital Grant can help transform your squash club.  This is the story of Thurles Squash Club’s experience applying for a Sports Capital Grant last year.

Our two courts were originally constructed in 1979.  During the past thirty-five years we’ve carried out standard maintenance such as re-plastering of walls, replacement of fluorescent tubes, sanding of floors etc. However, and in truth, the facility was most definitely showing its age.

• The original floorboards were well past their “sell by” date and displaying all the wear you would expect from thirty-five years of daily use;
• The walls were showing a lot of wear from years of being pounded by squash balls and scraped by rackets.
• The legacy court lighting was just about functional but looked dull and completely uninviting;
• Members had to drive to the club to book courts (which are situated about 2Kms from the town centre);
• The courts were regarded by visiting players as “cold”, with the installed blow heaters creating seriously wet walls any time the temperature dropped outside.

The club committee sat down and put in place an ambitious plan to completely upgrade our club facility. We essentially wanted Thurles to be one of the best two-court facilities in the country and we wanted courts that people would actually want to come out and play on.

To achieve this we needed to remedy all the problems outlined above.

We decided to use the opportunity to take out the solid back wall in court 1 and replace it with a full glass back instead, to give much greater visibility and allow full court viewing.

In February of 2015 we applied to The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for a capital grant under its 2015 Sports Capital Programme to assist with our upgrade. We prepared and submitted a goodapplication with the help of a local energy and building contractor (BCD Energy: http://bcdenergy.ie ) – this was key to ensuring that the application was meeting all the main requirements for the grant and would pass seamlessly through the review process. Please ensure you give accurate information in your grant application.

In January of 2016 we were thrilled to learn we had successfully secured €35,000 in funding for our planned renovations!

We had already managed to raise €15,000 from a variety of club fundraising events which was then added to the €35,000 to give us a substantial €50,000 total (note; it is necessary to have 15% of the sum being sought in your account before making the initial application).

Appropriate funds now at hand, work commenced in August 2016; the project was expertly managed by Thomas Campion of BCD Energy limited.  Thomas is a committed member of Thurles Squash Club and put a huge amount of personal energy into the programme.  The project was completed within just 3 weeks, all within budget and fully on time for the start of the 2016 / 2017 squash season.

We were overwhelmed by the results:

• Brand new Junckers floor in both courts;
• Portions of the walls re-plastered (the existing plaster was good in most of the wall areas) and all walls repainted;
• Brand new LED lighting installed in both courts that literally bring daylight levels of light to the 2 courts without any of the usual resulting glare. When the lights are powered up they activate instantly and are up to full brightness immediately with a real “WOW” factor. They are also considerably more economical to operate than fluorescent lighting (a fraction of the running costs) and will last much longer without the need to replace;
• Online court booking system for 24/7 booking without the need to visit the courts;
• New IR panel heaters installed (just one 4.5kw heater for each court is sufficent) to ensure hot courts and longer rallies with a faster ball;
• The new glass wall behind court 1 is a complete showstopper and we regularly see people stopping to watch the squash game in progress. It has really driven awareness of the sport within the golf club.

No matter what you have planned for your club in 2017, I would strongly urge you to consider making an application for capital grant funding under this scheme. Our upgrade has literally transformed Thurles Squash and makes it a much easier “sell” to prospective new members, who now see a vibrant facility and a thriving club. We are confident it will assist us in growing our numbers into the future and are targeting a base of 200 members by the end of 2018, a major increase on club numbers a couple of years ago.

Tips:

• Get your plans and application in sooner rather than later
• Ensure all required documentation is in place, is up-to-date and signed and dated correctly.
• The grant will cover 85% of the overall cost. Ensure you have the 15% in place from your own resources.

Any club seeking advice on making an application for a Sports Capital Grant contact: [email protected]

Tournament days

Friday, January 27, 2017 to Sunday, January 29, 2017

• FRI27JAN
• SAT28JAN
• SUN29JAN

Junior Intercounties – Leinster beat Sussex 3-2 in the Final. Super result. Congratulations to all the squad.

They beat Yorkshire in the semi final yesterday

Denis Gilevskiy
Dylan Moran
Jack O’Flynn
Sean Murphy
Elliot Kelly
Ed Gafney

Next week the IRISH number 1 Arthur Gaskin and teammate Sean Conroy have 2 challenge matches on successive days. On Monday they play in Westwood SC, Dublin and on Tuesday in Celtic SC, Waterford. And if that wasn’t enough Arthur is also getting married this week.