Ulster Schools U19's are proudly sponsored by Northern Bank
The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U19 squad is organised by management teams appointed by the Ulster Schools' Committee and ratified by the Ulster Branch. Each March schools are asked to nominate players they consider to be of definite Ulster Schools' standard to the management teams. All player information is collated and during the Easter period all nominated players are asked to attend screening sessions. These might take the form of trial matches or teams may be selected to play against school teams in "end of season" games. The important fact is that all players nominated have a chance to be seen playing in front of the management teams. Following this screening process an initial squad of around 40 players will be selected to take part in a summer training programme. This programme involves working on skill development as well as strength and conditioning programmes with Neil Doak, Elite Player Development Officer (16-19) and Steve Richards, Strength and Conditioning coach at the Ulster Academy.
During August the U18 and u19 Schools squads get together with their management teams to work on the team aspects of play. Games are organised to help the coaching staff as well as the player's see what progress is being made. At the end of the summer programme the squads numbers are reduced to 24/26 in preparation for the October Inter Provincial series.
This summer the U19 Schools' squad has played against Rainey Old Boy's U20 and the Ulster Clubs U19's. These competitive games have assisted the management team in their preparation.
Players are constantly screened once they return to school in September and the respective management teams call on the expertise of personnel such as ex Ulster coach David Mc Master to assist in making their final decisions on the 22 players to be included in the squad for the Inter Provincial series.
Ulster Schools' Committee Chairman
Mr John Wilson
U19 Schools' Management
Barney McGonigle, Terry Annesley, Chris Campbell