The Youth Game

The youth game is one of the fastest growing for any sport with more and more new teams forming each year. The introduction of shinty is becoming a key part of many schools curriculum and the primary schools leagues are growing and the number of kids getting invloved is looking promising for teams. Along with primary schools developing the high schools are also gaining teams each year. New tournaments are being set up year in year out for the high schools to compete in due to the number of teams rising each year. High school shinty can be an important part of where that player ends up playing after they finish school as if the player is not already playing for a registered club then this gives coaches the opportunity to invite the player to play with them. Outside of schools the youth shinty is in full force with there being u12s, u14s and u17s leagues and tournaments played throughout the year. There are many people who put a lot of hard work and effort into helping the youth shinty develop from shinty co-ordinators throughout scotland, coaches who give up many hours of their week to help, the clubs involved who register the players and organise the pitches,strips and generally looking after te team and finally to the parents who help transport the children to games and training. The youth players involved are all at different standards with some having played shinty since they could walk and others joining later in their lifes so it is vital that the coaches are equipped with the knowledge of the game to help every individual gain experience and a higher skill level of the game. Many youngsters are not lucky enough to get shinty in school and due to this there are large numbers of people unawair of what shinty even is and so in my opinion it is vital that children are taught shinty in primary school at least and that way by the time they finish if they do not want to continue it then at least the camanchd association can say they have tried. However there is a competitive streak amongst youngsters and so the coaches also have to try and teach the children that winning isnt everything as this is the only way to help kids control their emotions and behaviour on and off the pitch.