Games Development within the GAA A Guide to the Overarching Principles and the Underpinning Philosophy

GAA Grassroots to National Programme (GNP) The GAA Grassroots to National Programme (GNP) is a multidimensional framework which serves to ensure that people Play & Stay with the GAA. This involves the implementation of a series of action points which provide a basis for delivering on the following: - maximise participation, social representation & penetration (quantitative) - optimise organisation, regulation & education (qualitative) - harmonise relations, operations & administration (facilitative) The practical inputs involved - known as the Key of the GNP – can be summarised as follows:  Ambition  Mission  Vision

Key of the GNP 1.Players are provided with a pre-planned programme of games appropriate to their needs and level of ability 2.Coaches nurture the culture of skill + will on the back of a games-based approach to training and development 3.Volunteers work with elected officers and full time personnel to achieve agreed targets on the basis of specific projects

County Games Development Plan Delivering on the GNP - Projects 1.County Games Programme at Child, Youth and Adult Level 2.Camp Programme – Summer (Cul), Easter & Midterm 3.8/10 week Autumn and Spring Primary School Inputs and measure of Skill Proficiency for Pupils in final year 4.Academy Programme (Schools of Excellence U.14/U.15 and Development Squads U.16/U.17) 5.Coach Education Programme – at Child, Youth and Adult Level – where practical inputs are based on the above 6.Referee Education Programme – Young Whistlers (Primary School) and Young Referee (Post Primary School) – where practical inputs are based on the above County Games Development Manager Inputs Plan Coordinate Implement Certify Report

GO GAMES PROGRAMME: KIDS Players (representing a club, school or community based team) are deemed to participate in the Go Games Programme when they take part in a total of 5 Blitzes a year Blitzes are organised on a small-sided pitches and on a recreational basis The playing rules may be modified to meet varying needs No provision is made for league tables or finals etc and no deviation can be made from the one golden rule: everyone gets to play for the entire game First TouchQuick TouchSmart Touch Age 7/8Age 9/10 Age 11/12 HURLING FOOTBALL

GAA Go Games Programme Go Games ensure enjoyment because they are structured to maximise the level of participation, achievement, friendship and fair play derived by children who play Hurling and Football Go Games promote a child-centred approach and the following motivational ethos “fun do, can do we do” on the back of the unconditional support provided to players by team mentors Go Games are an ideal vehicle for delivering on the values set out in the GAA Respect Initiative and, by so doing, provide a quality introduction for boys and girls who play Gaelic games

Super Touch Programme: Teenagers Age 13/14 Age 15/16 Age 17/18 HURLINGFOOTBALL Players (representing a club, school or community based team) are deemed to participate in the Super Touch Programme when they take part in a total of 5 Blitzes a year Blitzes are organised on a small-sided, competitive basis The playing rules may be modified to meet varying needs Team qualification for play offs, finals etc., is determined on the back of finishing position in earlier games Interchange system is used to maximise the level of player involvement Year: 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6 th

GAA Super Touch Programme The Super Touch programme builds on the Go Games concept and is geared to maximise competitive outlets – in Hurling & Football – for those between age 13 and 18 Increased competence apart, involvement also provides for a range of other learning opportunities and benefits: Optimises health & well being and provides space for teenagers to take on increased responsibility Enhances their level of self-reliance/resilience and contributes to their growing sense of independence Inspires them to excel and to value the importance of discipline, goal setting, collaboration & team work Promotes a lifelong commitment to the GAA

Club Based CentreCommunity Based Centre Numbers Participating Male Female GAA CÚL CAMP PROGRAMME: KIDS Age Profile(Female) 7/8 9/10 11/12/13 Name of Organising Unit: Start Date: Finish Date: Camp Coordinator: Assistant Coordinator: Age Profile(Male) 7/8 9/10 11/12/13

GAA CÚL CAMP PROGRAMME Provides participants – between the ages of 7 and 13 – with an action-packed and fun-filled week of activity during the summer holidays which revolves around maximising enjoyment and sustaining participant involvement in Gaelic Games Activities are game-based – a strong emphasis is placed on skill acquisition - and are organised in an age appropriate manner with a view to: - optimising learning - enhancing friendships - improving physical & psychological well being - promoting school and club links

PRIMARY SCHOOLS – AUTUMN & SPRING PROGRAMMES School Name: Total No. of Pupils_______ MaleFemale Autumn Programme: Start date_______ Finish Date________ Hurling Football Both Total No. of Coaching Sessions_______ Average No. of Participants per Session______ Spring Programme: Start date_______ Finish Date________ Hurling Football Both Total No. of Coaching Sessions_______ Average No. of Participants per Session______

PRIMARY SCHOOLS – AUTUMN & SPRING PROGRAMMES Provide a basis for ensuring that pupils are provided with regular opportunities to play Gaelic games Serve to encourage pupils to become proficient in the skills of hurling & football Dovetails with PE requirements as set out in the primary school curriculum Enables teachers to ensure best practice inputs in an educational context and to enhance their coaching ability

Unit Name Club Based Centre Community Based Centre School Based Centre Number of Participants Hurling Female Male Number of Participants Football Female Male Number of Participants (in the final year of Primary School) Female Male Number of Participants who have achieved 5 Star Gold Award Female Male U-Can (Skill) Awards Programme: Kids

U-Can (Skill) Awards Programme Provide a basis for encouraging and motivating children to commit to mastering the basic skills of Hurling & Football Skill challenges are set out on a sequential and developmental basis i.e. become more difficult as children grow and mature The 5 Award levels (1 Star to 5 Star) – there is gold, silver & bronze status at each level – serve to reflect the extent to which players achieve bilateral coordination i.e. are able to perform the underlying playing techniques (skills) on the left and right hand side of the body

School of Excellence (U.14/U.15) HurlingFootball Under 14 Under 15 Basis on which School is organised: County Divisional Regional Other Total number of Participants? Total number of Clubs represented? Total number of Sessions organised? Total number of Games played? Total number of Coaches involved?

Schools of Excellence (U.14/U.15) System used to provide talented players with 8 quality coaching sessions and the opportunity to represent their county in blitz competitions on 4 occasions a year as part of the GAA Academy Players are selected on an inclusive basis e.g. on the basis of interest and/or a specific number of players from each club May be organised on a regional/divisional or county basis depending on the size of the unit concerned and the relative strength of the game

Development Squad (U.16/U.17) HurlingFootball Under 16 Under 17 Basis on which School is organised: County Divisional Regional Other Total number of Participants? Total number of Clubs represented? Total number of Sessions organised? Total number of Games played? Total number of Coaches involved?

Development Squads (U.16/U.17) System used to provide talented players with 8 quality coaching sessions and the opportunity to represent their County in 4 games a year as part of the GAA Academy Players are selected on a more exclusive basis i.e. ability, commitment and/or improvement (late developers) etc May be organised on a regional/divisional, county or cross-county basis depending on the size of the unit concerned and the relative strength of the game

ChildHurlingFootball Foundation Award 1 Award 2 Award 3 Total No. of Participants:______ Youth HurlingFootball Foundation Award 1 Award 2 Award 3 Total No. of Participants:______ AdultHurlingFootball Foundation Award 1 Award 2 Award 3 Total No. of Participants:______ COACH EDUCATION COURSES

Person who builds competency by assisting/ challenging players to deliver on their potential Coach (What)

Coach (When) Nurture the culture of “skill & will” as this = power to excel

Coach (How) Implement a games based approach to training & development and use as a basis to give practical expression to the following motivational ethos: “fun do, can do, we do”

Coach (Why) It cultivates the playing and performance competencies which underpin “skill + will” and the by-products of this: confidence, commitment, competitiveness & cohesion Competencies – What are these? 3T’s & 3P’s

Coaching Capacity - CC (When) nowledge xperience es to Skill & Will Underlying Process pplied ifelong earning K E Y A L L

REFEREE EDUCATION COURSES Young Whistler: No. of Courses No. of Participants (Primary) Male Female Young Referee: No. of Courses No. of Participants (Post Primary) Male Female Adult Club Referee: No. of Courses No. of Participants

GAA Respect Initiative espect is the core value in terms of ecruiting and etaining personnel. It ensures that their ights – to games, fairness, inclusion etc - are ecognised and that they, in turn, have egard for their esponsibilities in relation to eferees and the ules of the Association thereby ensuring that it is egulated on an effective basis. This fosters elationships and engenders the ongoing sense of appore and renewal which eplenishes and promotes egeneration throughout the Association R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Putting Respect into Practice All Clubs to sign up to and undertake to implement the GAA Respect initiative Designated Spectator Area: Spectators to remain within a dedicated area – not permitted to encroach on the playing area – and to refrain from shouting criticism Role of the Captain: The team captain to have responsibility for communicating with the referee and for relaying messages to team mates Role of the Referee: The referee to implement the playing rules on a consistent basis and in an impartial manner Rewarding Fair Play and Skill: Player to be selected in each game – and provide with a merit award - on the back of giving tangible expression to the GAA Respect Initiative