Sports
Summer Camps for Kids in Mayo
By MSP
21, Jun 2014 - 09:59

Directory of Summer Camps in Mayo

Mayo Sports Partnership has compiled the 2014 directory (spreadsheet download) as a source of information for those wishing to make contact with organisers of Sports Camps around Mayo.

For Parents Guide to Summer Camps and to obtain information for parents on their childrens involvement in sport please see below for Extract from The Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children's Sport in Ireland - parents' guide.

This information resource gives information on different camps per area

- Adventure Sports Camps

- Achill

- Ballina

- Ballinrobe

- Ballyhaunis

- Castlebar

- Claremorris

- Charlestown

- Erris

- Foxford

- Kilmovee

- Newport

- Swinford

- Westport

- Miscellaneous

Inclusion in this directory is not an indicator of the quality or value of the camp. All camps listed are independently run and all related queries should be directed to the camp contact as listed. The listed camps are those who we are aware of at this moment and time. If there are any others who would like to be included on our web based directory at www.mayosports.ie please contact us at 094-9047025 or e-mail us the details to msp@mayococo.ie.

Extract from The Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children's Sport in Ireland
(Parents Guide)

The Irish Sports Council and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland developed the Code of Ethics & Good Practice For Children's Sport in Ireland to ensure a fun and safe environment for children. While "The Code" is primarily aimed at the sports club environment, the guidelines below may also be useful for parents to apply to other sporting activities their children participate in.

Parents/Guardians have the primary responsibility for the care and welfare of young people. As such there are a number of steps you can take to ensure a fun and safe sporting environment for children.

1. Examine the role you can play to enhance the quality of your child's involvement in sport. Encourage your child to:

 Put in their best effort - have a go
 Improve their skills
 Make friends
 Play by the rules
 Appreciate/accept everyone in the group, regardless of ability, race, religion, gender etc.
 Accept winning and losing as part of the game

2. Examine your behaviour and involvement in your child's sport. You should:

 Be a role model - your child will learn best by example
 Show appreciation of, and respect towards, sports officials and their decisions
 Encourage children to play within the rules
 Behave responsibly on the sidelines and in all interactions involving children
 Focus on the child's efforts rather than on performance
 Focus on the fun and participation of the child in the activity
 Know the names and qualifications of the leader
 Liaise with the sports leaders in relation to the times, locations etc, of training sessions.

Strike a Balance
We need to keep in mind the reasons why young people want to take part in sport.
They want to learn new skills, make new friends, be part of a group, to win and be
successful, experience excitement, challenges and action. They need input and guidance
by adults to achieve these aims but parents need to ensure that young people's fun
remains the central focus. In providing for the needs of young people in sport parents
should not:

 Put undue pressure on the child to please or perform well
 Ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a game
 Treat the club as a child-minding service
 Take a child's safety for granted. Never ignore or dismiss genuine complaints or
concerns expressed by a child, which relate to his/her involvement in sport.

3. The Sports Leader is the other important influence on the child's enjoyment of sport. It is important that we support the leader where possible. Parents should take note of the
following aspects of the leader's approach:

 The emphasis on fun as well as competition
 The opportunities for children to make friends and for everyone to be included
 The opportunities to improve skills
 The use of modified games or equipment, where possible

Communicate often with the leaders even though you may not be in a position to attend
every session. Show an interest in their efforts to make your child's involvement in sport safe and enjoyable. Show that you consider their role important - they are not baby-sitters.

3. Parents can work with the club/organisation to ensure that procedures of good practice are created and adhered to. Parents should:

 Check that the club has a copy of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport in Ireland. A copy will be made available to every club in the country. It will also be available on the Irish Sports Council's web site.
 Check that the Code has been adopted by the club
 Be willing to become a member of the club and be committed to upholding a code of good practice
 Take an active interest or offer to help in the running of the club, club events or any sporting activities in which your child takes part
 Be willing to become the Club Children's Officer or offer to help the officer
 Be aware of their child's training and/or competitive programmes and its suitability for the child
 Be aware of the club's procedures and policies, in particular where changes are made that affect your child.

A copy of the "Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport" can be downloaded from the Irish Sports Council Website:
http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie

Note: All of the above guidelines may be considered by parents in the Sports Summer Camp environment. Mayo Sports Partnership runs Code of Ethics and Best Practice in Sport Training for Sports Volunteers and community activists at regular intervals.

Mayo Sports Partnership has complied this directory as a source of information for those

wishing to make contact with organisers of Sports Camps around Mayo. Inclusion in this
directory is not an indicator of the quality or value of the camp. All camps listed are
independently run and all related queries should be directed to the camp contact as listed.