The Camanachd Association has announced the coaching teams for this years North and South U14 and U17 representative matches.
The North and South U14 sides meet for the Fraser MacPhee Memorial Cup.
The North U14 side will be coached by Jock Sneddon and Alasdair Bruce. Jock Sneddon is the current Marine Harvest Youth Coach of the Year and has been credited with establishing the successful youth set up in Fort William which has produced so many talented players. He works with the Fort William youths at U14 and U17 level and he has also been involved with the North U14 side for many years now. Alasdair Bruce has coached at Primary age and U14 age players on Skye and in 2005 he established the Skye Camanachd U14 B side which helps cater for the large number of shinty playing youngsters who move up an age group from the Isle of Skye Primary Schools Camanachd Association. He was involved in setting up the Shinty & Wellbeing Project which attracted over £50,000 funding and which coach Willie Cowie implemented on Skye. He has been Skye Camanachd treasurer since 1985 and also runs the Skye Camanachd website with his son Martin.
The South U14 side will be coached by John McGlip and Norrie MacMillan. John McGlip is the current Marine Harvest Youth & Schools Award winner and he has been credited with the resurgence of youth shinty in the Ballachulish area which has led to the Jubilee Park side running a second team in Marine Harvest South Division 2 this season. Norrie MacMillan is heavily involved in the very successful youth shinty scene at Milngavie & Bearsden who are the current U14 Development Trophy winners. He is one of the main organisers of the annual Milngavie & Bearsden Tournament which runs competitions at the both the Primary 7 and Primary 5 age groups. He is also Chairman of the Central Scotland Youth Shinty Association.
The North and South U17 sides meet for the Peter Black Trophy
The North U17 side will be coached by Ally Ferguson and Ronald Ross. Ally Ferguson is the Head Coach of Scottish Hydro Premier Division side Lochaber. He also coaches their U17 side who are currently both MacTavish Juvenile Cup and WJ Cameron League winners. He is also a former Head Coach of the senior Scotland shinty / hurling side and has a wealth of shinty experience. Ronald Ross is the Camanachd Association Youth Development Officer and is the most recognisable name in shinty. He sees the players in action for their clubs but also sees them in action at the Annual Shinty Development Camp.
The South U-17 side will be coached by Lisa Norman, Fraser Inglis and Grant Irvine.
Lisa Norman stars for Aberdour’s women’s team and she is the woman’s international captain, and is also a Camanachd Association Tutor Coach. Fraser Inglis has played for Oban Camanachd, Kingussie and now plays for Taynuilt. He has won all the honours in the game and is a former Scottish International and a current Camanachd Association Tutor Coach. He has also appeared as a knowledgeable shinty analyst is recent live televised shinty matches. Grant Irvine is a regular coach at the Camanachd Association’s Shinty Development Camp and the Scotland U21 international was also an important part of the Kyles Athletic side which narrowly lost out in this season’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final.
Players will be selected on performances this season and squad training sessions will be organised. The representative matches will likely take place on 1 November 2009 but full details will be distributed when confirmed.
The Camanachd Association's Coaching and Performance Manager, Graham Cormack said "The Camanachd Association is delighted to announce management teams that possess all the relevant skills to provide the players with quality support and guidance. It is very encouraging that we have been able to attract coaches who understand the principles of Long Term Player Development and have such a wide range of experience and knowledge."