Setting up a New Club 1. Identify a player pool within the area When a request is made for support for the setting up a new club, this chart is helpful guide to the required process. 2. Identify if there is a GAA Club within the area Meet with the interested personnel and work through each step on the chart answering the questions below. 3. Decide the appropriate structure for the club As Development Officer you should provide support and guidance at each stage of the process. It is unrealistic for all new clubs to get text book structures from the start but will require a settling in phase. It is therefore important to monitor new clubs on a regular basis. 4. Identify personnel to volunteer within the club 5. Draw up a financial budget required to run the club 6. Register the club with the County Board 7. Promote your Club within local Community
Setting up a New Club Steps to setting up a New Club 1. Identify a player pool within the area Important that there is a sound underage pool of players e.g. U 12 or U 14 to sustain growth within the club Are there other Ladies Football clubs in your area? How many schools in your area? How many girls attending these schools? Do the schools participate in Cuman na mbunscoil competitions? 2. Identify if there is a GAA Club within area A GAA Club will serve as a source for access to facilities, a club name, club colours and a recognised name within the community If no GAA Club within the area facilities for training and playing matches should be identified at this stage of the process 3. Decide the appropriate structure for the Club Will club be a stand alone club? If yes, club facilities, name and colours need to be decided Will club be fully integrated with GAA Club? Club will take on GAA structures Will club be a sub committee of GAA Club? If so, club will have its own governance structure but will be closely linked with GAA Club for activities such as fundraising, etc. Club should meet with GAA to discuss the options above. 4. Identify personnel to volunteer within the club Identify the number of volunteers required by the club. This will include Officers, Coaches, etc. see Official Guide re Officers of a Club Identify and recruit personnel from local community e.g. parents, teachers, 3 rd level students, etc. Offer training to all recruited volunteers e.g. Club Officer Training, Coaching courses, etc.
Setting up a New Club 5. Draw up financial budget required to run Club List all sources of expenditure for the club i.e. affiliation, registrations, team kit, equipment, etc Identify potential sources of income i.e. key businesses within local community, business links with the club Draw up some fundraising ideas i.e. church gate collections, bag packing, club draw If linked with GAA club for fundraising, should consult with GAA before organizing separate fundraising initiatives 6. Register the Club with the County Board Contact County Board to register your club and get list of fixtures for the relevant teams Provide list of officers to the County Board and source County Board Meeting dates, etc Identify any potential courses or training being offered by the County Board Contact Croke Park for a New Club Pack which will include team list book, registration book, promotional posters, etc 7. Promote your Club within the local community Once training days, times and venue are confirmed it is vital that all current and potential members are aware of them Ensure that the local community is aware of the new club and what the club has to offer i.e. what age groups can join and opportunity to coach or be part of administration team Use all promotional tools available i.e. local newspapers, local radio, local Mass Bulletin, etc Set up a Club School link with all schools in your area. Ensure to put posters up with training days and times, clearly outlining all new members welcome
Developing a Better Club Structure! Step by step guide: 1 Identify the club(s) in your County that require assistance regarding requiring better club structures 2 Once there is a general agreement, set up a meeting with the club. All members must be in attendance to gain maximum benefit 3 Get the club to record where they are NOW regarding the following: Club Officials List the current number of volunteers involved in the Committee and the role each volunteer plays Members How many volunteers does the club have at present? Schools Lis the number of schools in the area and identify the number of girls attending Club/School Link Establish is there a club/school link at present Facility What facilities does the club have at present Teams List the number of teams involved in the club at present and numbers of girls/ladies involved in each team Coaches/helpers List the number of coaches and helpers associated with each of the teams in the club Link with the GAA Club Does the club have an established link with the GAA Section of the club in particular the Bord na nog section Finances What are the clubs finances like at present? Does the club have a sponsor? 4 Get club to discuss WHERE they want to be in 1 years time regarding the following: Club Officers (Discuss what key roles within the club are needed) Members School Links Facilities Teams Coaches/Helpers Links with the GAA Club Finances 5 Club devises a plan on HOW they are going to achieve the above.
Developing a Better Club Structure! Suggestions: AGM Putting in place new officers Prior to AGM, it would be important to head hunt new volunteers as it is vitally important that the club have a good working committee All personnel should receive the LGFA Club Officer booklet prior to the AGM in order to understand roles and responsibilities before seeking election All officers will receive training at the club officer programme organised by the County Board Ensure all officers do the basic code of ethics course Ensure the Children s Officer does the required code of ethics training Open Night Everyone welcome to attend Have forms available for all parents with info to include name, contact number, would you like to be a part of the club? Is yes, in what capacity would you like to get involved? Forms for players will be available also in order to build up a database Night should involve parents and players being informed of the aim of the club and where they hope to go and how they hope to achieve it In addition, the importance of volunteers and assistance for the club to run efficiently will be highlighted Launch Club / Registration Night Invite distinguished guests and Inter County players to attend the night Identify role of the club in the community etc. Hold registration on the same night. Ensure all relevant forms are signed NO players can play unless registered
Developing a Better Club Structure! Coaches / Helpers Approach personnel to assist with helping out the various teams Organise the LGFA Ready, Steady, Coach Programme for persons who will be assisting with coaches for the year ahead Coaches who would like more in depth training should attend the LGFA Fundamentals or Level One Coaching courses that will be organised by the County Board during the year Finances Budget the costs for club for the year Identify ways of fundraising and approach potential sponsors or identify Club/School Link Could the club appoint a school liaison officer to create a link with the schools in the area? Has the club a notice board in the school? Does the school participate in Cuman na mbunscoil and could club assist with coaching the teams? Promotion Appoint quality PRO with appropriate skills Get information out about the club via posters, newsletters, local media etc. Initiatives Use initiatives such as Come and Try it days or Galeic4Mothers & Others to try and get people into the club thus creating an interest in same
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL CLUB DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONNAIRE The (insert county) Ladies Gaelic Football Development Committee are currently compiling a development plan for (Insert County) Ladies Gaelic Football. NAME OF CLUB: Non Playing U-10 U-12 U-14 U-16 U-18 ADULT Members Last This Yr. Yr. Total Registered Players/Members Total ACTIVE Registered Players Total number of mentors involved with each grade (Please highlight where duplication of roles occur) n/a n/a Chairperson Secretary Treasurer Registrar PRO Child Officer Please tick which Officers are filled in your club at present (Please highlight where duplication of roles occur)
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL CLUB DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONNAIRE Please number 1 to 5 (5 being the least priority) areas you feel your Club requires immediate assistance with: Lack of Volunteers involved at an administration level with club Club Committee members not understanding roles and responsibilities Lack of Volunteers assisting with Coaching teams within club Attracting new people into club Lack of players at underage level in club Lack of players at Adult level in club Not enough games provided for underage club teams Not enough games provided for Adult club teams Fundraising Sourcing Sponsorship General Club Finance Lack of referees within the club Standard of Refereeing within the County Club Mentors not understanding the Rules of Ladies Football Gaining access to facilities for club games/training Poor Club/School links Not enough Coaching Courses being made available to clubs Not enough Referee Courses being made available to clubs Promoting club locally and beyond Equipment Club training and education Opportunities Other (Please specify): Thank you for Co-operation