COURCEY ROVERS UNDERAGE PLAYER POLICY Jan 1st 2017

REVIEW COMMITTE DAVID HAYES DECLAN WALSH GER SWEETNAM LIAM TWOMEY LISA MURPHY* GARY MOLONEY * - Due to family reasons Lisa withdrew from committee in Sept

POLICY OBJECTIVES To be fair to every player, both weak and strong Give guidance to Coaches Give guidance/protection to the Club Be in line with the ambition of the Club Be in line with Best Practices in youth sport (Our Games Our Code) Be able to deal with increasing numbers of underage players

AREAS POLICY WILL NOT DEAL WITH Coaching – Standards, methods, etc. Grades at which teams should play Competitions

POINTS TO REMEMBER This can be a very emotive issue There is no “Silver bullet” policy Common sense must be applied to all policies

BACKGROUND Looked at other clubs policies Looked at various documents from the GAA Met with the Cork coaching officer Kevin O’Donovan

AMBITION OF THE CLUB Keep up with best practice Increase Juvenile playing numbers Give all players the opportunity to reach full potential Reduce drop out Pass to adult club a steady flow of high performing players Develop (up skill) and become a team of coaches To see a healthy successful Courceys in the long term * Source: Courcey Rovers Coaching Plan

OBJECTIVES FOR PLAYERS Players aged 6–11 Play to learn Players aged 12–17 Learn to Compete Players aged 18 + Compete to win * Coach 10 – GAA Coaching model

STRUCTURE OF THE POLICY THE POLICY CONSISTS OF THREE MAIN POINTS THE NEXT SLIDES FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING FORMAT FORMULATING EACH POINT INTRODUCE THE POINT CONSIDERATIONS

FORMULATING OUR POLICY -POINT 1 What are the reasons for an underage player to join a GAA club? What do players/parents of players expect when they join a GAA Club? What are we as a club offering/promising them?

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY - POINT 1 All players who are registered with Courcey Rovers and who regularly attend training sessions are entitled to regular meaningful games (RMG)

CONSIDERATIONS This point is extremely hard to argue against We recommend that coaches keep a log of attendance for all training sessions and matches

FORMULATING OUR POLICY -POINT 2 What team/age group takes priority for a player playing for more than one team or age group? How is this decided? Who decides this?

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY -POINT 2 2. All players must train and play with their own age group first.

CONSIDERATIONS - POINT 2 Children want to play with their friends/peers/classmates In the GAA players are grouped by the year of their birth The majority of children will start school in the September of the year that they are going to be 5 – All of these children will be born in the same year Some children will start school in the September of the year that they are 4 – These children will be born in a different year than the majority of their classmates

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY - POINT 2 2. All players must train and play with their own age group first. - However, if the club coaching officer considers it more appropriate in developmental or player retention terms for a boy (6-12) to play with his primary school classmates in an older group, they may do so. - Players in the above scenario can not revert to a younger age group for blitzes/matches unless the Coaching Development Group deems it beneficial for the player and teams/age groups involved.

FORMULATING THE POLICY - POINT 3 What happens when players are required by an older group(s)? Who decides what/when/who?

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY - POINT 3 If players are required by an older age group, the Club Coaching Development Group is first consulted and then the coach of the younger team is informed before any players are notified

CONSIDERATIONS POINT 3 How do you satisfy the clubs ambition of being successful and developing all players? How do you manage team selection/game time to achieve these goals

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY -POINT 3 3. If players are required by an older age group, the Club Coaching Development Group is first consulted and then the coach of the younger team is informed before any players are notified 3a. All players form Under 10 downwards, who regularly attend training, will be provided with Equal Game Time 3b. At U11 and U12 players who attend training regularly will be provided with meaningful game time, 3c. At U14, U16 and U18, a principle of playing players on the age where possible will be established, with due consideration given to the varying importance between league and championship games.

DEALING WITH ISSUES As issues may arise during the course of a playing season, the first point of contact for the resolution of such issues is the Coaching Development Group.

UNDERAGE PLAYERS POLICY All players who are registered with Courcey Rovers and regularly attend training sessions are entitled to regular, meaningful games. All players must train and play with their own age group first. - However, if the club Coaching Development Group considers it more appropriate in developmental or player retention terms for a boy (6-12) to play with his primary school classmates in an older group, they may do so. - Players in the above scenario can not revert to a younger age group for blitzes/matches unless the coaching officer deems it beneficial for the player and teams/age groups involved. 3. If players are required by an older age group, the coaching Development Group is first consulted and then the coach of the younger team is informed before any players are notified. 3a. All players form Under 10 downwards, who regularly attend training, will be provided with Equal Game Time 3b. At U11 and U12 players who attend training regularly will be provided with meaningful game time, 3c. At U14, U16 and U18, a principle of playing players on the age where possible will be established, with due consideration given to the varying importance between league and championship games.