Juvenile Games Thrive in Dublin

 

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Dublin GAA continues to be the leading county in Ireland in the promotion and development of Gaelic Games for the youth of our county across all communities.

The games programmes managed by CCC1 (U8-U12) and CCC2 (U13-16) delivers an unparalleled quality fixtures calendar with a total if 15,000 scheduled games per annum. This extraordinary programme enables each juvenile player to play in excess of 30 hurling and football fixtures every year. The comprehensive schedule of fixtures is unique to Dublin within the GAA and is unequalled by competing sports codes.

CCC1 caters for our youngest members from U8-U12 with the games programme following the GAA Go Games Model. Go Games were first introduced to Dublin in 2000 and have successfully enhanced the young child’s formative experience, participation and enjoyment of hurling and football.

Since 2011 player participation rates at Go Games have grown by the impressive rates of 15% for football and 29 % for hurling. Very importantly we see an increase in the number of juveniles playing both hurling and football with 82% of all CCC1 players now playing both codes. Dublin is most certainly a Dual County!

Annually CCC2 schedules and organises in excess of 3,300 fixtures for adolescents, supporting these players to further develop their sporting skills and fitness and allowing the players to benefit from the life skills gained through the playing of team games and wider club involvement.The Coaching and Games Committee continues to develop the supports available to members. This year a total of 1,429 courses were completed at Foundation and Award Levels. Very importantly 525 members will complete the Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport. The partnership between the coaches and team mentors serves to improve the quality of GAA Games for players and mentors alike thereby maximising the continuing games participation of our players on the pathway from Juvenile to Minor to Adult Games.

The successes of the Dublin Juvenile Games Programme are the result of the actions of volunteer members in every club who enthusiastically give of their time, expertise and commitment in the promotion of our national games for our youth. This common goal is supported and enabled by the Games Committees, Coaching Staff, Administrators, Parnell Park Staff, our Referees and Schools.

Coiste Atha Cliath is fully committed to the further growth and development of Juvenile Games. Cathaoirleach, Andy Kettle, reinforces this commitment in his endorsement of the achievements of the clubs and members in making hurling and football the number one sports of choice for children in Dublin.

Sincere thanks to every member involved in supporting our youth to play our games and participate in wider club activities and culture. Your continuing commitment ensures that the future of the GAA in the Capital is very promising.

Go raibh maith agaibh go leir.

Cionnaith O’Suilleabhain, Cumann Cuala

Cathaoirleach

Coiste na nOg Atha Cliath