The 2010 Congress passed a motion to ensure a "child centred" Games programme for children in the U12 and younger age grades. The motion requires all U12 Games to facilitate full participation for all players and to be a maximum of 11-a-side from January 2011.
Specifically the motion means games for all age groups up to and including U11 must be organised exclusively on the Go Games model. The Go Games Model is defined by the following criteria: • There is full participation for all players • Games are organised in a non competitive way i.e. results are not recorded • Games are small-sided (Max 11-a-side) • Playing rules/equipment are modified to suit the developmental stages of the children
At U12 level Mini-League Competitions are organised to provide and support a gradual exposure to the challenges of competitively organised games programmes.
The motion aims to promote a philosophy of children first, winning second. It in no way rules out competition, but emphasises a quality introduction to Gaelic games which ensures that all children get a fair opportunity to participate and provides greater opportunity for skill development and enjoyment, ultimately helping to build a mass of players to progress and continue to play with their club.
For more information visit http://www.gaa.ie/youth-zone/gaa-go-games/. |