The game of shinty has been woven into the fabric of Scotland’s culture for as long as it has existed, but ensuring its survival and growth in the modern era requires an injection of fresh ideas—and a new generation of players and leaders.
That’s exactly what the Camanachd Association, the sport’s governing body, has been working towards through their continued partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
The latest chapter of this profitable collaboration focuses on training 90 teaching students to deliver shinty in both primary and secondary schools across Scotland. The initiative is part of the wider “Shinty for Schools” programme delivered by the governing body, which seeks to not only introduce more young people to the sport - but also instil within them the values of teamwork, discipline, and community that lie at the heart of the game.
Ronald Ross, National Development Manager of the Camanachd Association, said:
“We are delighted to be able to provide this exciting opportunity for trainee teachers to deliver shinty in schools across the whole of Scotland. For us, it is important we continue to promote and grow our game and ensure that it has a bright future, which starts with getting young people involved.”
Building new sporting leaders
Since the partnership was first launched in 2023, more than 260 teachers have already received training in the sport – and have gone on to deliver shinty lessons across the country - helping hundreds of young people pick up their caman for the first time.
With this year’s additional 90 teaching students, the ambition is clear: to continue building a network of enthusiastic and capable leaders who can take shinty to young people in the community.
As Ronald Ross put it, “To grow the game - we need to increase our workforce, and this partnership allows us to do that.”
The focus isn’t just to teach shinty as a sport, but to nurture a sustainable culture around it too. A culture where schools, clubs, and communities can work in conjunction to develop the sport moving forward.
From theory to practice
The training for the new student teachers has been carefully designed to balance both the theory of the sport with on field practice.
On the one hand, students will learn “How to Coach” and “What to Coach” - whilst also taking part in practical sessions, learning how to build fun and engaging drills that can make the sport of shinty as approachable for beginners as possible.
The hope is that this will ensure that the new teachers don’t just understand the sport on paper - but also feel genuinely confident when they step onto the field to teach.
To ensure sure their lessons will remain fresh and inspiring, every trainee who completes the course will also receive a newly designed coach resource pack, filled with drill cards and additional skill videos for them to utilise.
While the short-term goal of the project is to create leaders capable of delivering shinty sessions, the long-term vision is more ambitious: embedding shinty into the educational ethos of schools in Scotland.
Graeme MacDiarmid, the Camanachd Association’s Youth Director, explained: “Moving forward the Camanachd Association would like to see ‘Shinty for Schools’ highlighted in school development plans and being recognised as a key part of a school’s ethos to create opportunities that are available for the long term in the local community.”
A Community Sport with a Bright Future
At its core, the “Shinty for Schools” programme is about increasing accessibility. Shinty has sometimes been seen as a sport confined to rural areas, but initiatives like this one hope to open it that up, showing children that the a game can be played by everyone. With trained teachers leading the way, young people will not only learn how to strike a ball or master a skill - they’ll also develop their soft skills and CV builders through teamwork and leadership.
