There are a numerous advantages to this approach but the most obvious are: Games are small-sided and all participants get to play for the entire game

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2 What are GAA Go Games? GAA Go Games are small-sided games with modified rules in both Hurling (Go Hurling) and Gaelic Football (Go Gaelic). They form a central element of GAA policy on games for children up to and including the Under-12 age grade. The Go Games Model is defined by the following criteria: There is full participation for all players Games are organised in a non competitive way i.e. results are not recorded Games are small-sided Playing rules are modified to suit the developmental stages of the children Playing area is modified Playing equipment is modified What is the philosophy of Go Games? The underlying philosophy where Go Games are concerned is one of full participation and fair play where each player gets to play the entire game (no substitutes) and plays in a number of different playing positions during the course of each game. The games are small sided and the emphasis is on participation rather than the result. Go Games are not only about Fair Play in the sense that all participants should get the opportunity to participate fully in the games. They also revolve around the core values enshrined in the GAA Respect Initiative. What are the advantages of Go Games? There are a numerous advantages to this approach but the most obvious are: Games are small-sided and all participants get to play for the entire game

3 Games are played in a fun environment with emphasis on improving skills Children are not subject to the win at all costs approach Is there any research to support this approach? Research conducted at DCU, under the guidance of Prof Niall Moyne and Dublin football coach Mickey Whelan was crucial in the development of the Go Games. By tracking the same 7 players in a 15 a-side and 7-a-side game (each of 30 minute duration) the data indicated the following benefits of the small sided game; Players worked harder therefore increasing fitness levels Players had more contact with the ball leading to increased opportunities to score, make decisions, develop skills The children also reported a greater level of enjoyment and had higher levels of perceived competence (self esteem) Participation must never be sacrificed for competition, the success of the few must not be promoted over the opportunity for all children to take part, enjoy and develop to the best of their ability. What is the aim of this policy? The ultimate aim is to ensure a quality introduction to Gaelic games for all children and to build a mass of players to progress and continue to play with their club. The provision of formal competition for children is a relatively recent development. However, with the passage of time, these competitions have in some cases become more serious and naturally when this occurs a culture of keep the best and neglect the rest develops. While those in charge may be well intentioned, there is no justification for placing adult-type demands on young children e.g. where winning is the over-

4 riding concern, where they play in 15-a-side games, on over sized pitches, and have minimal involvement in the game. This has led to a situation where many players who - for a variety of reasons mature at a slower rate finish up dropping out of Gaelic games due to a lack of confidence in their own ability, a lack of playing time, a lack of fun and the absence of any real sense of achievement. In recent years, there has been a greater appreciation and increased recognition of the need to ensure that a child-centred approach is adopted where the promotion and development of Gaelic games is concerned. In other words, it should be a case of children first, winning second. This in no way rules out competition, but contextualises it, firstly through Go Games as the intrinsic motivation inherent to sport within a framework which ensures that all children get a fair opportunity to participate and provides greater opportunity for skill development and enjoyment. For too long the practice in sport has been to identify and cultivate the talented players and elite teams at younger and younger ages. There is the tendency to nurture the perceived best and neglect the rest. This has contributed to adult training regimes and playing conditions being imposed onto young players. Training and competition is geared to outcome and winning, and not for the process of development. For coaches of kids, there must be a balance between the need to win games and trophies versus the need to develop players and recognise the importance of fair play - provide full participation within an environment where players are encouraged to achieve their full potential. If you consider the reasons that children participate in sport, and the reasons that we as adults want them to participate in sport, you can see that there is a lot of common ground for coaches to work in:

5 Why do children take part in sport? There are many reasons that children take part in sport, but research has shown that children primarily participate to: Learn new skills Make friends See new places and have new experiences To be part of a team For the competitive challenge/winning Improve their self worth To have fun When children do not experience these feelings, they drop out from sport. Some will drop out in favour of other activities where they feel that these needs are being met, while others will simply drop out of sporting activities altogether. It is the role of the coach to create the environment for children to experience these. Why should children take part in sport? It may be obvious that children play to enjoy themselves and have fun, but there are many more reasons why you as a parent or coach should encourage children to participate: Increased confidence playing sport will provide each participant with confidence, and allow them to develop a real sense of achievement Becoming part of a team children like to feel as though they are part of a team or group. It also challenges them to work as part of a group and to think of others Improved skills participating in sport helps children develop a range of skills including balance, coordination and agility Children that participate in sports are less likely to be overweight and suffer health problems

6 How are children different from adults? Children are physically developing from early childhood to late adolescence. This means they have different capabilities for exercise and exercise affects them in different ways. For this reason training programs for children should not be just scaled down versions of adult training programs. There are many ways in which children differ from adults: Technical - Children have limited co-ordination, agility and balance Tactical - Children have poor positional awareness (we have all seen children playing where all players follow the ball beehive play ) Team Play - Children play for themselves - Children have limited communication skills Physical - Children have limited strength - Endurance children have lots of energy but need frequent breaks - Speed - their speed tends to be reactive. There is a window of opportunity to develop speed amongst children - Children have a poor response to heat and cold Psychological - Children can lack confidence - Children can be emotionally immature moody/lose self control - Children can be very choosy about friends and who they play with - Children tend to lose concentration quickly or be easily led by

7 others - Children's decision making ability is poor and slow - Children may not know how to react to the different personalities they might face in a group Playing Facts - Children need numbers to learn, to benchmark their level against others "All children are individuals the rate at which they develop in each of these areas will be different" Emphasis should be put on the child's own progress, and not on comparing their achievements with those of others. This means that where possible individual instruction and challenges should be provided and a broad range of activities should be planned and presented. Activities should develop to be of an increasingly complex nature and be challenging but 'doable'. Where possible children of approximately the same skill levels should be grouped together for coaching. Also take care to note which children work well together, as disruptive children can make organising a coaching session very difficult. Respect Initiative Strategic Aim: We will introduce a detailed initiative to promote respect and discipline towards match officials and each other. The GAA Respect Initiative aims to promote positive behaviour and to ensure that an enriching environment is provided for the promotion and development of Gaelic Games. This includes respect for and from all participants on and around the field.

8 Download an Information Booklet on the GAA Respect Initiative. nd_games/respect_initiative_booklet.pdf Download an Educational Poster on the GAA Respect Initiative. nd_games/respect/educational_poster_final.pdf Download a Poster on the Respect Initiative. nd_games/respect/respect_poster.pdf Download a Toolkit on the Respect Initiative. nd_games/respect/gaa_respect_toolkit.pdf This toolkit has been developed to provide Clubs and Counties access to art work and templates for the various materials being used to promote this important initiative. What is involved? Implementing the Code of Behaviour Coach & Referee Education (Young Whistlers) Designated Spectators` Area Go Games Programme Strong Club Leadership Respect Awareness Programme Education Programme Recognition and Merit Awards How does it work? Players and coaches line up behind their manager before and after the game to shake hands with the referee, opposing players and coaches Referees communicate decisions to players in an effective manner A merit award - based on sporting endeavour and fair play - is awarded to players/teams at the end of each season/blitz

9 Supporters remain in designated areas at the side of the pitch for the full duration of each game. Each unit must strive to achieve maximum participation for all players Referees to be welcomed to the GAA Club. A Checklist for Behaviour Responsible Encouraging Supportive Positive Enabling Considerate Tolerant Managing Players The referee will work with the captain and coaches to manage the game effectively. Referees will control the game by applying the rules of the game and by dealing with any instances of dissent firmly. In the event of a player using foul language or behaving in an unsporting manner it is recommended that: A free is awarded to the opposition and the player is informed that he will be asked to leave the game in the event of repeat behaviour. In the event of repeated abusive language or unsporting behaviour, the referee instructs the coach to replace the offending player and the game is re-commenced after this. Managing the Sideline In the event of a person other than a player - using foul language or behaving in an unsporting manner it is recommended that: The matter is brought to the attention of the designated team representative

10 The representative reminds the person concerned of his/her responsibilities Where the behaviour continues, the game may be terminated A full report is provided by the referee to the committee with responsibility for the fixture. The Gaelic Athletic Association is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who wish to participate in our games and activities. We shall take all practicable steps to protect them from discernible forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings. For detailed information, please visit the Child Welfare & Protection website: The Association and its sister organisations recently launched (December 2012) online version of Our Games - Our Code, the joint Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport. re/our-games-our-code-dec-2012.pdf This Code has been agreed between the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, GAA Handball Ireland and the Rounders Council of Ireland. The Code replaces all previous Codes and is a mandatory Code of Best Practice for all Gaelic Games Associations in our work with underage players. It is a comprehensive good practice guidance publication and we are anxious that as many players, coaches, parents and other Club personnel have immediate access to its contents.

11 The Code is also available in Disc format (not printed) form the National Children's Office. For more information or a disc, please contact the GAA National Children's Officer, Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl at or nationalchildrensofficer@gaa.ie Garda Vetting Garda Vetting is but one part of the overall recommended GAA recruitment and selection procedures for those who work on our behalf in areas of responsibility with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or who may at a later stage seek to work in such areas of responsibility. Garda vetting, which is the pre-checking of an applicant s background for criminal convictions or prosecutions is recommended by the Irish Sports Council, by Sports NI in Northern Ireland and as part of Children First - the National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children. Vetting and Police checks have been utilized by many Governmental agencies and by sports and community based organisations for a number of years The GAA and Vetting It is no longer possible or permissible for an individual to have a vetting application processed for themselves. Vetting applications will only be accepted from organisations that have been recognised by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) to fulfil such functions. The GAA is recognised by the GCVU to carry out vetting on behalf of our members and a number of Authorised Signatories have been selected by the GAA to facilitate this role.

12 The GAA has agreed to the implementation of vetting for all persons who on behalf of the Association work in any capacity with children and young people in the delivery of our games or activities. In effect this means that any person working on behalf of the Association or on behalf of any of our clubs with people under the age of 18 years of age will be required to be vetted. Download form (from link below) and send it to designated person in County board only. Rules Rules agreed by clubs at County meeting. See Rules document. Clubs must abide by rules in place as children will not be insured for playing purposes otherwise. Rules are means of improving all players, creating a fun and safe environment, giving everyone a chance. The problem area is that of the zones for U10 age group. The zones effectively allow all children participate and get more touches on the ball. They encourage more team-play rather than dominant players on the pitch and while they stop the herding effect on the pitch children also understand and become more aware of positions on the Pitch. We leave playing the zones to the choice of host club on each day. The zones will be used on Dunganny blitz days. For these two reasons we ask that club mentors use/familiarise participants with the zones.

13 Regulations Research shows that best practice of development for children is a minimum of 3 training sessions for every game. At adult level players have average 20 games each year including challenge games. We have to develop the skills at an early age so they will be able to progress and excel for the club & county in later years. Games can be part of training sessions to spot & fix. Sometimes as coaches we look for the easy option of playing a game rather than coach. In the last 5years children are playing games/activities/sports only when they are at their classes/training. The basic fundamental movements and skills needed to progress cannot be practiced on computers it is up to mentors to ensure they are getting enough practice time and encourage them to practice more at home. Competition We do not need cups, medals, winner photos to instil competition. We are all naturally competitive that is why we have fear.of failure. Children will compete in the moment not just to win the match. The real competitors are us the mentors to win gives a sense of satisfaction/achievement/glory/rite to move up the ranks. Back to reality now..ask yourself what is the first game you remember playing/winning/loosing as a player? Children playing games continuously need to win. Children playing games as a reward for training will have more enjoyment. As a mentor of U8 & U10 is winning the sole purpose of why you chose to give up your time or is it to improve the club. Is it more important to win 8/10 games and play only strongest players or start the year with 15 and finish the year with 20.

14 There is an average drop off rate of 30-40% mid-teens. Therefore it is important to keep as many participants playing to keep numbers up. Gum shields New legislation states that all players must wear gum shield for training and matches. It is a drastic change and this year will be the most difficult but if we as mentors insist it as good practice it will take effect. For more information contact ruairi.harvey@gaa.ie Referees Go Games referees are crucial to the game. A Go Games referee is a neutral coach on the pitch encouraging children to part-take, keeping calm on the pitch and sidelines, whilst enforcing all Go Games rules. The referees especially the young person(s) are only learning and we as mentors must encourage them they are helping the club and possibly future referees for our county. For this reason we ask that their efforts are applauded not criticised. Courses will be ran and anyone age 16 this year or older can complete the course. We ask that clubs send a minimum of 2 participants to course to help blitz days run more efficiently. As discussed at the meeting clubs attending blitz days are asked to bring their Go Games referees with them and inform host club how many will attend.

15 Food (lotto) Clubs are not obligated to provide food or beverages to visiting clubs. However it is a simple touch that will help your day run more smoothly. We ask if clubs are providing that they inform visiting clubs in advance. Suggestions from clubs: Provide food/beverages as good will. Provide food/beverages at a cost. Provide food/beverages and ask people to do club lotto. Change of dates Dates of Go Games U8 & U10 blitz days are now set. Host clubs can reorganise the blitz for the Friday/Saturday or Sunday of the weekend. However clubs that wish to change a date/day must contact the clubs in their group and inform them. They must also contact Maria or Jamie to confirm date is available. Go Games is hurling and football therefore we ask that the 3 week cycle is adhered to. Week 1 = Football Week 2 = Hurling Week 3 = Free Half time games club/county As part of the Go Games initiative we have permission to play games at half time of Club/County games in Pairc Tailteann. Teams will be selected to play on the basis of good practice: rules, respect, code of behaviour, host days, dual players, good communication, hospitality, legit challenge games etc. Clubs will be notified when they have been selected.

16 Challenge games All challenge games must be applied for by ing 7 days prior to game. Games must coincide with Go Games rules and must not clash with Go Games blitz weeks. Remember suggested good practice is MINIMUM: 3 training sessions to every match. Blitz days All host clubs are asked to contact clubs in their group with details of times etc at least one week prior to date. If any changes are made please notify all clubs in your group. Attending clubs are asked to forward number of children they will have on the day to allow organisation of the day. All clubs are asked to bring 1/2 Go Games referees to help each blitz day run more efficiently. Clubs are asked to send in details prior and post blitz day for attending and reporting purposes to maria.kealy.gda.meath@gaa.ie. Photographs may be taken if all parents have agreed (clubs should ask this individually). Approved photos can be sent via and Meath Coaching & Games may use them for promotion.

17 Remember The future strength of our program will be determined, NOT BY WINS & LOSSES, but by the quality of OUR behaviour when we wear the cap Keep your PERSPECTIVE. It s not about you it s about serving the kids. It s not about football/hurling it s about life. No kids in our program will make a living playing these games, none will remember win-loss records, but all will take memories all will become fathers/employees/citizens/ and hopefully, leaders so make em good ones! To Sample or to Specialize? Seven postulates about Youth Sport Activities that Lead to Continued Participation and Elite Performance. Côté, Lidor & Hackfort, 2009, IJSEP 1. Early diversification (sampling) does not hinder elite sport elite sport participation in sports where peak performance is reached after maturation. 2. Early diversification (sampling) is linked to a longer sport career and has positive implications for longterm sport involvement 3. Early diversification (sampling) allows participation in a range of contexts that most favourably affects positive youth developments 20 Play the game and let it be your master GAA 4. High amounts of deliberate play during the sampling years build a solid foundation of intrinsic motivation

18 through involvement in activities that are enjoyable and promote intrinsic regulation. 5. A high amount of deliberate play during the sampling years establishes a range of motor and cognitive experiences that children can ultimately bring to their principal sport of interest 6. Around the end of primary school (13) children should have the opportunity to either choose to specialize in their favourite sport or to continue in sport at a recreational level. 7. Late adolescents (16) have developed the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills needed to invest their effort into highly specialized training in one sport. Comment: Let the children explore their environment. Coaching needs to be more attuned to the overall future of the child. Coaches need to be more cognisant of the other demands on children from other sports. Link of above discussion for Underage training and small sided games have a look: nfused-and-concerned/p1