‘GAA
launch ‘play to stay’ pilot initiative’
On Friday 12th
September the Sligo GAA in partnership with the GAA National Research Committee
announced details of a 24 week pilot project focused on Youth participation in
Gaelic Games. The pilot which was launched on Sept 12th was attended by
players, Teachers and coaches from Summerhill College and surrounding clubs.
‘On behalf of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, I am pleased to
endorse the GAA Super Game Centre Pilot Project. The fall off in youth
participation highlights a key need for the association to explore new ways to
engage young people in our wonderful games. This was a significant issue
identified in the "Mobilising Forces, Modernising Structures & Moving
with the Times" review that we completed in 2013. I look forward to seeing
the pilot in action over the coming weeks’ stated Liam O’Neill, Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael
Between September
2014 and April 2015, players aged 12 – 16 years can attend a local GAA Super
Game Centre in Summerhill and experience a programme of modified games designed
to motivate young players to stay involved in GAA sport. Key modified elements
in the games included – everyone gets a game, little or no coaching, small
sided games, modified rules so as to ensure that the games are enjoyable at all
times.
‘We know from internal figures that as many half of
players between the ages of 12 to 21 years drop out from GAA participation on
an annual basis. The GAA National Research Committee have acted on this
alarming trend and established a dedicated research programme entitled the Play
to Stay research programme. The GAA Super Game Centre is a ‘Play to Stay’ pilot
project aimed at exploring new ways of keeping players aged 12-16 year of age
involved in Gaelic Games’
explained Daragh Sheridan, Research Lead, GAA Super Game Centre Pilot Project
& University
of Stirling.
The GAA Super Game
Centre pilot project will be commencing on Friday September 26th at
3.45pm in Summerhill
College. Participants of
this study will be male players drawn from 12 – 16 age cohort. A specific
effort is being made to target players how have dropped out or who may be on
the point of doing so. Players and parents will be required to complete an
informed consent form before joining the pilot project. The project, which is supported by the University of Stirling aims to make a significant
contribution to existing best practice concerning youth development.
‘I am personally delighted to have been asked to lead
this project on behalf of my county. I believe the project is of major national
and local importance.’
explained Liam Og Gormley, Pilot Site Lead for the Summerhill College
centre. ‘The small sided games format
whereby everyone participates in an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere are key
in ensuring young people enjoy our wonderful games well into their adult years’
explained Gormley.
Further information concerning the GAA
Super Game Centre Pilot Project can be accessed via www.gaa.ie/playtostay or Liam Og Gormley on 086-8254420