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Counties look at Dublin/Limerick, wondering how do we catch up?
Most solutions we hear about are short term & look at senior intercounty as the be all & end all.
Dublins success wasn't built in days, weeks or months.
It is many years of sustained Coaching & Games Development
Most solutions we hear about are short term & look at senior intercounty as the be all & end all.
Dublins success wasn't built in days, weeks or months.
It is many years of sustained Coaching & Games Development
The GPO scheme in Dublin (full disclosure, I was one) was an innovative program that no other county had anything near.
Clubs in Dublin paid over 50% of the wages of the GPO, with the rest matched by Dublin GAA, Irish Sports Council, GAA, Leinster GAA etc
Clubs in Dublin paid over 50% of the wages of the GPO, with the rest matched by Dublin GAA, Irish Sports Council, GAA, Leinster GAA etc
This, regularly quoted figure of €1m a year, goes to the grassroots, the little acorns I referenced earlier. It helped to pay 40-50% balance that was needed to pay the GPOs and full time Games Development staff.
This money is primarily used at primary school age children..
This money is primarily used at primary school age children..
GPOs main role is multi faceted and multi tiered.
•Primary school coaching
•Post Primary school assistance
•Coach education in club
•Nursery (4-7 year olds) coordination and coaching
•Summer Camps
•Advanced Camps
As well as other roles within each club as designated...
•Primary school coaching
•Post Primary school assistance
•Coach education in club
•Nursery (4-7 year olds) coordination and coaching
•Summer Camps
•Advanced Camps
As well as other roles within each club as designated...
The €1m isn't spent on the Dublin senior football team.
It is spent on the acorns, to help them grow.
So, let's say a county spends €500k on their intercounty senior team.
If 25% of this money spent on 1 senior team was instead put towards Coaching, what would it look like?
It is spent on the acorns, to help them grow.
So, let's say a county spends €500k on their intercounty senior team.
If 25% of this money spent on 1 senior team was instead put towards Coaching, what would it look like?
So, €125k is our starting fund.
Let's say the county board offer €10k if the club/s raise €15k and that employs 1 full time GPO.
Big clubs might have their own one.
2-4 small rural clubs might come together to raise €15k and they share the GPO..
Let's say the county board offer €10k if the club/s raise €15k and that employs 1 full time GPO.
Big clubs might have their own one.
2-4 small rural clubs might come together to raise €15k and they share the GPO..
From the original €125k, we might get 12 more full time personnel on the ground.
3 GPOs might be in single clubs.
3 GPOs might have 2 clubs.
3 GPOs might have 3 clubs.
3 GPOs might have 4 clubs.
All of a sudden, we have 30 clubs with a full time coach working with the acorns
3 GPOs might be in single clubs.
3 GPOs might have 2 clubs.
3 GPOs might have 3 clubs.
3 GPOs might have 4 clubs.
All of a sudden, we have 30 clubs with a full time coach working with the acorns
That means 30 clubs are getting best practice coaching in the schools.
EVERY SINGLE CHILD in those 30 clubs is getting 30+ coaching sessions a year in the primary school setting.
A 5 year old in junior Infants goes home after a few weeks of fun and says "I want to join the GAA"
EVERY SINGLE CHILD in those 30 clubs is getting 30+ coaching sessions a year in the primary school setting.
A 5 year old in junior Infants goes home after a few weeks of fun and says "I want to join the GAA"
Now imagine that, with nearly every single child in every single one of those 30 clubs?
100% exposure of potential club players (and future administrators, coaches, volunteers etc) who had a really positive introduction to GAA with a trained professional.
100% exposure of potential club players (and future administrators, coaches, volunteers etc) who had a really positive introduction to GAA with a trained professional.
Will it help that county win an all Ireland next year? No
Or in 10 years? No
But is it planting more acorns that maybe, in 20 years time, we will have lots of great trees??
That's what counties need to do.
That and a really good underage games program for all players..
Or in 10 years? No
But is it planting more acorns that maybe, in 20 years time, we will have lots of great trees??
That's what counties need to do.
That and a really good underage games program for all players..
Only when counties start doing that, will they be able to reach their potential.
Their potential might be division 2 hurling or football, maybe reaching the super 8s in football or competing in the Liam McCarthy in Hurling.
But put the best foot forward.
Their potential might be division 2 hurling or football, maybe reaching the super 8s in football or competing in the Liam McCarthy in Hurling.
But put the best foot forward.
It is not that difficult a program to devise.
The money is already there, it is just a case of diverting it from short term goals to long term goals.
Clubs and Counties together, need to be proactive in giving the acorns every chance to become great trees
The money is already there, it is just a case of diverting it from short term goals to long term goals.
Clubs and Counties together, need to be proactive in giving the acorns every chance to become great trees
