Whatâs also catching clubs is the fact the go-games up to u12 can be anything from 11 a side up to 15 a side and girls can also play. So a lot of clubs are happy tipping away being able to play their blitzes and u12 competitions but then when they come to u14 they realise they are short on players for 15 a side competition.
Iâm coaching a very good u14 side this year, but for 3 or 4 games weâve had to get 11 year olds to tog to be sure weâd field a team.
This isnât an issue unique to Limerick. The local club here has had to train with two or three different clubs just to have numbers for a decent session.
Last year championship games had to be agreed at 11 side and even then we had to give walkovers before some games due to lack of numbers.
I know in our club, at minor level, for example, we have a lot of players who only really want to play hurling. But theyâll still tog out in football, because theyâre not going to let down their friends who want to play football. And are actually quite good.
I would say that sports teams have always been utilised as outdoor crèches to an extent at the young age but the key is to instill a love for the game in the kids themselves. Make them want to come back.
I mean you canât force someone who doesnât enjoy playing to play. And plenty of kids wonât.
Also youâll find lads who might not necessarily have been much good at playing can be the most valuable members when it comes to the administration side of things.
This is why junior b teams are more important than just being a method to bring through senior players. There has to be more to a club than just playing.
Or you could give them an oul game in the backs
Our club has always had the tendency to put the shit lads in the forwards. Less likely to make a crucial fuck up there.
Backs are just lads who arenât good enough to be forwards. No ones ambition is to be a corner back.
We had a handy lad from Thomondgate coming through a few years ago. Played with Limerick all the way up but he fecked off to Australia.
Not as many young fellas pucking around in the field at home if thatâs any indicator.
Too busy stabbing.
Speaking of which, according to the Leader, the fella charged with those stabbings has been ordered by the judge to âstay out of the East Limerick towns of Bruff, Bruree & Kilmallockâ.
I did not realise those towns had moved east.
Not a local
The GGA is dead in Limerick city. Paul o Connell killed it
Which one is Paul OâConnell?
Spot on.
Problem a lot of clubs have is getting the best coaches possible for the U6 & U8 grades. Most people want to get involved with teams that can win silverware, or the opposite those who just want the Saturday morning gig.
It is so important you get the best possible people to make learning the game fun & as you said make the kids want to come back no matter what mam or dad say.
The GAAs problems in Limerick City go back to before the time Paulâs father was playing for Sundayâs Well .
If anything the Munster thing has weakened the cityâs rugby clubs .
What?
I find the coverage of our recent under 21 win v Galway very alarming. 3 years ago we hammered them out of site. This year with with everything stacked in our advantage we pulled through late on. Have Galway significantly improved? Maybe but unlikely imo. What limerick lads have significantly improved in the last 3 years? The two lynchs have stagnated. Tom morrissey? Colin Ryan? Donât think so. I fear another batch of young limerick hurlers will Be lauded for a facile win in an underage competition without really digging a bit.
3 years ago they were little boys, physicality has gone up considerably in that period.
Given weâve been carrying more with out senior panel than other panel youâd think weâd well ahead in the physical stakes.