The Tipperary GAA Discussion Thread

It will be an interesting team announcement for this one. Anyone heard anything about ticket availability

When I'm watching underage matches in tipp. I always feel the standard of players is top class can't understand why we havent had decent minor teams lately

My point was Woodlock can turn it around. People have to start somewhere.

I don't see how what you're saying is relevant to my post.

I get your a Liam Cahill supporter, waiting for Tipp to lose so Liam Cahill can get the job. You don't have to keep banging the drum. You've been on here before. Same story.

Published in 2018

Premier Plan: Towards 2020

Coaching and Games Development There are currently five people working full-time in Coaching and Games Development in Tipperary. The role of the GDA has changed considerably in recent times and there must be a realisation and acceptance that this role will change even further as Tipperary GAA continues to evolve, change and be proactive in tackling the many challenges facing our organisation. The original employee worked mainly as a Primary School Coach. While this is still an important part of his work schedule, the duties have broadened considerably to the extent that the modern GDA is now very much an organiser, coordinator and educator, as well as a coach. Flexibility and mobility is very important as the GDA continues to support the large volunteer sector working on the ground. While most of the employee’s work is within their allocated area, at times they are required to assist with county/provincial events and activities. With Croke Park, Munster GAA and County Board investing heavily in this area, it is vitally important that a thoroughly professional approach is taken by all concerned, thus ensuring the best possible product is delivered. The quality of delivery by the GDAs is vital to the success of all programmes. The GDA’s work can be categorised under one or more of the following National Key Areas: 1. Games Opportunities (Child) 2. Games Opportunities (Youth) 3. School Initiatives 4. Camps 5. Talent Academies 6. Learning & Development GDA’s Main Area of Work Within the above key areas the following are the areas of responsibility to be covered by the GDA during the year.  Club Development (Admin & Planning)  Primary Schools  Post Primary Schools  Academies  Camp Programme  Go Games Blitzes/Leagues  Super Games Centres Intra/Inter/Fixed and Open Premier Plan: Towards 2020 10  Skills Tests  Adult Club Development  Coach and Referee Education  Planning and Reporting (MIS & TMS)  Promotion & Publicity Games Development Administrators’ Allocated Regions GDA Allocated Area Contact Andy Ryan Mid Tipperary + Killenaule, Ballinahinch, Newport and Sean Treacys 087-9090985 andy.ryan.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie Paudie Malone North Tipperary 087-9698153 paudie.malone.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie Kevin Halley West Tipperary + Cahir, Fethard and Clerihan 086-1925188 kevin.halley.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie Colm Canning South Tipperary 083-1243725 colm.canning.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie In the 2010-2015 County Strategic Plan, a wide range of activities was included. Many of these have now been subsumed into the operational side of coaching and games development. Examples would be “Go Games” and “Camps” which are now central to our operation. For the 2018-2020 plan we are concentrating mainly on two areas: Resources/Manpower and Youth Player Development. As the work load increases, the demand on the GDAs has grown hugely. Currently, staff is at maximum in terms of workload. In spite of efforts to streamline and organise work around the key project areas it is still proving very difficult to avoid the fire-fighting effect that the workload always seems to throw up. While the staff is completely committed to their roles the danger with this type of pressure is that standards might drop and quality of work produced is not up to the mark. In this plan, changes are suggested to the running of the Primary School coaching scheme and how it operates. Also suggested is the employment of extra full time and part time personnel. We feel this is necessary to keep standards up and to cater for all programmes across the key areas. A significant drop out (58%) occurs from 13 to 21 years of age. While there are a number of factors causing this, lack of perceived ability, loss of interest, lack of game time to mention a few, we must try to avert some of the drop out. Recent surveys tell us that games and the availability of playing opportunity is a major factor in players giving up. In the plan we propose to implement strategies, through the provision of extra games opportunities, to alleviate some, if not all, of the fall off in playing numbers. Premier Plan: Towards 2020 11 Findings in the Strategic Plan Survey, from a games development point of view, provided vital information: 90% of clubs have a coach in their Primary Schools 70% of clubs provide other resources to the Primary Schools. 60% of clubs provide no assistance to the Post Primary sector. Over 80% of clubs appoint their officers at the AGM while mentors and selectors are appointed in the same manner in 50% of clubs. Officers select team mentors in 40% of clubs. There is a very obvious lack of real connect between the juvenile club and the adult club. When asked what number of games per year would be considered adequate for juvenile players, all clubs agreed that 14 would be the minimum number required for each age group. 55% of clubs agreed that the club minor age should revert to 17 in line with county and that each subsequent age should drop one year. Over 95% of clubs run coaching courses and other coach education events each year. This is very healthy from a games development point of view. Objective: Increase participation and improve playing standards. Action Responsibility Timescale Outcome Primary Schools:  Primary School Coaching Recording System  Restructuring of Primary School Coaching Scheme  GAA ‘Get Fit 4 Fun’ Programme / 5 Star Centres GM/GDA/CGC GM/GDA/CGC Co. Comm. GM/GDA/CGC Sept 2017 /Jan 2018 Jan 2018 /Dec 2020 Sept 2018 /Dec 2020 Electronically based recording and monitoring system to streamline and manage reporting of coaching scheme Consolidate scheme by employing full-time coaches on a part-time basis in schools. Child Physical Competence through Gaelic Games Post Primary Schools:  GAA Post Primary Support Groups  Post Primary “Football Development” Project  Restructure U14 Football Blitz (Rockwell) GM/GDA/CGC Co. Comm GM/GDA/CGC Football Comm GM/GDA/CGC Jan 2018/Dec 2020 March/April 2018 May 2018 Code specific Support Groups in Post Primary School in the County. Promotion and develop standard of Gaelic Football at Youth level. More beneficial series of competitive games for the age bracket. Premier Plan: Towards 2020 12  Post Primary School Transition Year Programme. GM/GDA Sept 2018 Qualify this cohort of students to assist with GAA Development in schools and clubs Fixtures Planning:  Designated day per age group  Integrate Munster and County CGD Fixtures into Div/County Fixtures Co./Div CCC/ Co. Comm Co./Div CCC/ Co. Comm/ GM/GDA March 2018 March 2018 Smoother running of our championships across each age group To allow clubs the opportunity to participate in all available competitions/blitzes Games Opportunities: Child  Premier Go Games Club Blitz Programme  Premier Go Games School Blitz Programme  Winter Games Programme  U11 Premier Leagues GDA/Volunteer Army GDA/ Teachers/TY Students GM/GDA/ Clubs GM/GDA/CGC Annually March to October Annually Sept to June Annually November/Feb March/October Two blitz opportunities in each club for each age group per month. Provide extra appropriate games opportunities to compliment Cumman na mBunscoil. Offer games opportunities to clubs during Winter months. Provision of Hurling and Football games for all clubs on a weekly fixtures programme. Games Opportunities: Youth  Winter Games Programme  Premier Super Game Centres  Initiate Youth County Leagues GM/GDA/ Clubs GM/GDA GM/GDA/ Co BNG/ Co & Div Boards Annually Nov - Feb Annually SeptMarch Jan 2018- Dec 2020 Offer games opportunities to clubs during Winter months. Additional games for youth players in each division Players at youth level will receive a cluster of meaningful games Premier Plan: Towards 2020 13 Camps  Implement a Youth Camp Programme  Consolidate Easter/Summer Camps GM/GDA GM/GDA Jan 2018 Jan 2018 Extend camp opportunities to youth players Maintain current club and participant numbers Coach Education  Club Coach Pathway  Club Coaching Community of Learning  Club Youth Coach Knowledge Transfer Group  Annual County Coaching Seminar GM/GDA GM/GDA GM/GDA/ Tutors GM/GDA Jan 2018-Dec 2020 Jan 2018 Feb 2018 Annually Feb Coaches will have come through a systematic coach education programme in their club Knowledge transfer between coaches in the club Knowledge transfer between coaches county based Up skill and educate coaches on specific topics Academy  3 rd level student placement  Appoint Recruitment officers in both codes  Rookie Squad GM/GDA/ CGD/LIT GM/GDA/Co. Comm GM/GDA/Co. Comm Jan 2018 Oct 2017 To formally introduce an LIT student placement initiative to complement development in the areas of Academy, Primary, Post Primary and Coach level. Appointment of top quality mentors/coaches to Academy squads Provide development pathway for non county U21 players Club Development  Player/Coach/ Club Officer Pathway  Club 2020 Youth Coach Development  Annual Club Workshop/Seminar Programme GM/GDA/Co Dev Comm/Co. Comm. GM/GDA/Co Dev Comm/Co. Comm GM/GDA/Co Dev Jan 2018 Jan 2018 Jan 2018 Clear avenue for development of the three strands Through a proper club/youth coach philosophy lead to a reduction in the fall off at youth level Dedicated series of workshops/seminars aimed at specific coach//player groups to further compliment the coach education programme.

John Devane might not make the intercounty grade as a manager based on the last two seasons. Some of the positioning and selections...

I think Woodlock picked a very young minor squad/team with an eye on growth/development. He's getting it in the ear now for that decision. Had a number of 15-year-olds in there.

I think something like 16 of the squad are under age again next year. I think the view in some quarters is, you have more of a chance to develop players and gel a team over a two-year period- exposing them to bigger players, losses, and hopefully they'll respond into a stronger team the following year - giving them a longer apprenticeship rather than producing winning teams.

Time will tell.