Coaching
Coaching
Juvenile Competitions restructuring proposals
[ Thursday, 27th September 2007 ]
The Dublin Coaching & Games Develpment officers have made a recommendation to CCC (Competition Control Committee) that U15 competitions would be moved from Sunday to Saturday. Currently, boys' competitions are organised on Saturdays from U9 to U16 with the exception of U15 which is on Sunday morning.
The rationale behind the Coaching and Games Development recommendation is
1. Consistency. Players joining GAA teams at U9 will know that their games will be on a Saturday, either morning or afternoon, right through to U16. That way, players who participate in rugby or soccer will be aware of this and need to make their choices accordingly.
2. Player Burn Out. To protect players from being asked to play two games per weekend. Currently U14s can play their own game on Saturday and sub up to U15 on Sunday. Likewise, U15s can sub up to U16 on Saturday and play their U15 game on Sunday.
3. Development Squads. In the event that Sunday was free for all juvenile competition, then it would become the day on which Development squad activity would be organised.
The Juvenile CCC2 has reservations about the proposal and have asked that we would initiate debate within our clubs in order to be able to present an agreed club position when this proposal comes up for decision.
CCC2 Reservations are based on the following rationale:
1. Smaller clubs will not be able to field at U15 level if they cannot draw on U14 players. Likewise, U16s may not be able to field if they cannot draw on U15s.
2. Lack of facilities such as pitches and referees to accommodate additional, concurrent games.
3. Development squad activity on Sunday caters only for the elite few leaving the remainder with no game on a Sunday and perhaps encouraging them to play soccer or rugby in that time. U15 & U16 is a critical time in either keeping a player through to adult grade or losing him.
Can you please revert with your views on this topic to myself, John Lennon or to any member of the Juvenile committee so that we can represtent the club's view when next this comes up for discussion at CCC2. Input from mentors who have previously taken teams through U15 & U16 would be especially welcome.
Regards,
Ciarán Maguire
