Minimum age to play senior football 2016

mrhardyannual · September 04, 2015, 11:46:01 AM

Quote from: AZOffaly on September 04, 2015, 11:30:02 AM
It used to be a vicious circle. You couldn't schedule minor leagues or whatever because the same players would be burnt out with junior, u21 etc etc.

Now that they can't play adult football, the relevant county boards need to schedule appropriate competitions and games to fill the void, against people they are capable of competing with.

Mayo club minors are guaranteed 7 league games in the County League, an additional 3 games in the qualifying stages of championship and a further 4/5 games in an optional summer league. All in all a player on a successful team could play 20 Minor games if their team reaches semis in league and c/ship. County minors do not play summer league unless county side has exited c/ship. Many would also play 2nd level colleges and U 21.

Mikhailov · September 04, 2015, 11:48:10 AM

Lads, I stand corrected on this one but AFAIK the rule only applies to county minors and was passed at congress for starting in 2016.

Basically any county minor can NOT play for his club until his county team are OUT of the championship in order to avoid burnout. The rule does not apply to an 17 or 18 year old who is NOT on county minor panel.

It is a decent rule but up for serious manipulation from clubs - they will advise their Johnny or Tommy that if they are not on starting 15 for county minors then they should just pack it in and play for club only in order to get football - possibly causing conflict with the player/family etc etc

Maybe I am wrong on the rule but that is way I understand it.

AZOffaly · September 04, 2015, 12:00:37 PM

Hi Michailov, I don't think you're right there. We had this discussion at a committee meeting this week. If you are a 17 year old, you cannot play adult (over U21) competition.

mrhardyannual · September 04, 2015, 12:18:31 PM

From Treoraí Oifigiúil 2015
Age Grades
To be eligible for the Grades listed hereunder, a player
shall meet the respective stated age criteria:
Adult: Be over 16 years.
Chapter 6 GA
MES &
COMPETITIONS
85
Under-21: Be Under 21 years and Over 16 years.
Minor (Under 18):
- Club - Be Under 18 years and Over 14 years.
- Inter-County Be Under 18 years and Over 16 years
Under 16: Be Under 16 years and Over 12 years.
Under 14: Be Under 14 years and Over 10 years.
Under 12: Be Under 12 years and Over 9 years.
(From 1st January 2016, the following changes shall apply:
Adult
- Club - be over 17 years
- Inter-County - be over 18 years
Under 21
- Club - be under 21 years and over 16 years
- Inter-County - be under 21 years and over 18 years)
To be "Under" an age shall mean that the player shall
celebrate the Upper Limit birthday (e.g. 21st. for Under
21 Grade) on the 1st. January of the Championship Year
or on a later date.
To be "Over" an age shall mean that the player shall
have celebrated the Lower Limit birthday (e.g. 16th. to
participate in Senior/Under 21 Grades) prior to the 1st.
January of the Championship Year.
Adult shall include Senior, Intermediate and Junior
Grades.
Girls may participate only up to and including the Under
12 Grade.
Note: In the interests of the avoidance of any doubt
regarding Age Grade eligibility, Championship Year
shall mean the Calendar Year in which the Competition
is commenced. In the event that the Competition
is completed in a subsequent Calendar Year, such
circumstances shall not be construed so as to allow a
player who was ineligible, by reason of age, at the date
of the commencement of the Competition to play in the
Competition at any time up to and including the date of
its conclusion.

Clearly, from Jan 1st a player will be in his last year as a minor to be eligible for adult club level and minors will be ineligible for adult level inter-county competition.

AZOffaly · September 04, 2015, 12:21:47 PM

Yep, that's as I understood it too. Thanks for the post hardyannual.

laceer · September 04, 2015, 12:25:44 PM

Quote from: mrhardyannual on September 04, 2015, 12:18:31 PM
From Treoraí Oifigiúil 2015
Age Grades
To be eligible for the Grades listed hereunder, a player
shall meet the respective stated age criteria:
Adult: Be over 16 years.
Chapter 6 GA
MES &
COMPETITIONS
85
Under-21: Be Under 21 years and Over 16 years.
Minor (Under 18):
- Club - Be Under 18 years and Over 14 years.
- Inter-County Be Under 18 years and Over 16 years
Under 16: Be Under 16 years and Over 12 years.
Under 14: Be Under 14 years and Over 10 years.
Under 12: Be Under 12 years and Over 9 years.
(From 1st January 2016, the following changes shall apply:
Adult
- Club - be over 17 years
- Inter-County - be over 18 years
Under 21
- Club - be under 21 years and over 16 years
- Inter-County - be under 21 years and over 18 years)
To be “Under” an age shall mean that the player shall
celebrate the Upper Limit birthday (e.g. 21st. for Under
21 Grade) on the 1st. January of the Championship Year
or on a later date.
To be “Over” an age shall mean that the player shall
have celebrated the Lower Limit birthday (e.g. 16th. to
participate in Senior/Under 21 Grades) prior to the 1st.
January of the Championship Year.
Adult shall include Senior, Intermediate and Junior
Grades.
Girls may participate only up to and including the Under
12 Grade.
Note: In the interests of the avoidance of any doubt
regarding Age Grade eligibility, Championship Year
shall mean the Calendar Year in which the Competition
is commenced. In the event that the Competition
is completed in a subsequent Calendar Year, such
circumstances shall not be construed so as to allow a
player who was ineligible, by reason of age, at the date
of the commencement of the Competition to play in the
Competition at any time up to and including the date of
its conclusion.

Clearly, from Jan 1st a player will be in his last year as a minor to be eligible for adult club level and minors will be ineligible for adult level inter-county competition.

I had thought the same as you but the part highlighted in bold seems to suggest that he can play senior in the year that he turns 17?

Edit - a bit like the over 40s - you can play in the year you turn 40

oakleaflad · September 04, 2015, 12:38:03 PM

Quote from: laceer on September 04, 2015, 12:25:44 PM
Quote from: mrhardyannual on September 04, 2015, 12:18:31 PM
From Treoraí Oifigiúil 2015
Age Grades
To be eligible for the Grades listed hereunder, a player
shall meet the respective stated age criteria:
Adult: Be over 16 years.
Chapter 6 GA
MES &
COMPETITIONS
85
Under-21: Be Under 21 years and Over 16 years.
Minor (Under 18):
- Club - Be Under 18 years and Over 14 years.
- Inter-County Be Under 18 years and Over 16 years
Under 16: Be Under 16 years and Over 12 years.
Under 14: Be Under 14 years and Over 10 years.
Under 12: Be Under 12 years and Over 9 years.
(From 1st January 2016, the following changes shall apply:
Adult
- Club - be over 17 years
- Inter-County - be over 18 years
Under 21
- Club - be under 21 years and over 16 years
- Inter-County - be under 21 years and over 18 years)
To be "Under" an age shall mean that the player shall
celebrate the Upper Limit birthday (e.g. 21st. for Under
21 Grade) on the 1st. January of the Championship Year
or on a later date.
To be "Over" an age shall mean that the player shall
have celebrated the Lower Limit birthday (e.g. 16th. to
participate in Senior/Under 21 Grades) prior to the 1st.
January of the Championship Year.
Adult shall include Senior, Intermediate and Junior
Grades.
Girls may participate only up to and including the Under
12 Grade.
Note: In the interests of the avoidance of any doubt
regarding Age Grade eligibility, Championship Year
shall mean the Calendar Year in which the Competition
is commenced. In the event that the Competition
is completed in a subsequent Calendar Year, such
circumstances shall not be construed so as to allow a
player who was ineligible, by reason of age, at the date
of the commencement of the Competition to play in the
Competition at any time up to and including the date of
its conclusion.

Clearly, from Jan 1st a player will be in his last year as a minor to be eligible for adult club level and minors will be ineligible for adult level inter-county competition.

I had thought the same as you but the part highlighted in bold seems to suggest that he can play senior in the year that he turns 17?

Edit - a bit like the over 40s - you can play in the year you turn 40

Seems to suggest the exact opposite to me, that you have to turn 17 before 1st January that year or you can't play i.e. you must be in your last year of minor football to play seniors.
This basically suggests that there will be no new senior club footballers next year. What you have eligible this year is the same as next year.
To me this could have a bigger impact on reserve/2nd teams than anyone else although some rural clubs at junior/intermediate level are bound to feel aggrieved.

laceer · September 04, 2015, 12:45:11 PM

QuoteTo be "Over" an age shall mean that the player shall
have celebrated the Lower Limit birthday (e.g. 16th. to
participate in Senior/Under 21 Grades) prior to the 1st.
January of the Championship Year.

It's this part that is making me think differently

e.g. in 2016, a player must have celebrated his 16th birthday prior to 1st of January 2016, therefore, will turn 17 in 2016.

It will definitely have a big impact on my own club - we have a group of lads turning 17 who would at least be fit for reserves next year and are chomping at the bit to get playing.

AZOffaly · September 04, 2015, 12:52:39 PM

I think that's another stupid f**king typo in a GAA rule, qu'elle surprise. The 16th Birthday is only relevant for U21, not Adult. So a lad will have to have celebrated his 16th birthday in 2015 to play U21 in 2016.

He'd have to have had his 17th birthday in 2015 to play adult in 2016.

i.e.
Adult
- Club - be over 17 years

Under 21
- Club - be under 21 years and over 16 years

They shouldn't have said 16 for Adult/U21 in their 'helpful' note.

Gabriel_Hurl · September 04, 2015, 12:56:07 PM

the rule book is in desperate need for an update / be rewritten in less amibiguous language

laceer · September 04, 2015, 12:56:42 PM

It'd really need to be clarified either way!

AZOffaly · September 04, 2015, 12:58:43 PM

The rule is what is important, never mind their unhelpful hint.

The lad has to have celebrated the lower limit birthday PRIOR to January 1st of the Championship Year.

For Adult Club Competitions, the lower limit birthday is 17.

For U21 Club Competitions, the lower limit birthday is 16.

twohands!!! · September 04, 2015, 12:59:28 PM

Quote from: AZOffaly on September 04, 2015, 11:30:02 AM
It used to be a vicious circle. You couldn't schedule minor leagues or whatever because the same players would be burnt out with junior, u21 etc etc.

Now that they can't play adult football, the relevant county boards need to schedule appropriate competitions and games to fill the void, against people they are capable of competing with.

Has any county board done any sort of forward planning and proposed any new competitions for minors?

AZOffaly · September 04, 2015, 01:02:47 PM

Don't know about other counties. Mayo seem to have something along those lines.

twohands!!! · September 04, 2015, 01:36:20 PM

Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on September 04, 2015, 12:56:07 PM
the rule book is in desperate need for an update / be rewritten in less amibiguous language

whoever is responsible for drafting the language should be shot - some of the way the rules are written is shocking.

I know that the motions in Congress get run past a committee of some sort to make them somewhat better but there is still a lot of ambiguity in an awful lot of places.