Gaels amalgamations

Started by The Monument Road, December 02, 2016, 01:18:10 PM

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blueandwhite1

Quote from: merman on January 30, 2018, 01:45:39 PM
Quote from: Helix on January 30, 2018, 01:24:43 PM
I see Castletown are down as Castletown Gaels in Palmer Cup competition on Laois today site. I take it is that with slieve bloom?

Yep.

Palmer cup only or for the year?

SCFC

Quote from: merman on January 30, 2018, 11:34:03 AM
Any word on Trumera and Ballinakill? I would have assumed it would be approved or declined last night.
It was "approved" last night at county level. But the word is Croke Park are unlikely to allow it.

merman

Quote from: blueandwhite1 on January 30, 2018, 05:39:22 PM
Quote from: merman on January 30, 2018, 01:45:39 PM
Quote from: Helix on January 30, 2018, 01:24:43 PM
I see Castletown are down as Castletown Gaels in Palmer Cup competition on Laois today site. I take it is that with slieve bloom?

Yep.

Palmer cup only or for the year?

For the year.
Big boost for Castletown. This year was always likely to be a crucial one; Slieve Bloom have a couple of promising young hurlers coming into adult ranks.

Keyser Söze

Quote from: SCFC on January 30, 2018, 05:51:43 PM
Quote from: merman on January 30, 2018, 11:34:03 AM
Any word on Trumera and Ballinakill? I would have assumed it would be approved or declined last night.
It was "approved" last night at county level. But the word is Croke Park are unlikely to allow it.

And so it should be blocked. No reason for allowing it. I don't understand how or why CB allowed it to be "passed" when it blatantly goes against their own bye laws introduced specifically to stop this kind of thing?
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled.......

hurlingmad

Quote from: SCFC on January 30, 2018, 05:51:43 PM
Quote from: merman on January 30, 2018, 11:34:03 AM
Any word on Trumera and Ballinakill? I would have assumed it would be approved or declined last night.
It was "approved" last night at county level. But the word is Croke Park are unlikely to allow it.

It shouldn't be approved anyway, these bed hopping amalgamations are the very thing brought up as an issue last year, although Trumera will probably say they cannot field a team on their own or something along those lines.

merman

If Trumera go that route then surely they shouldn't be allowed compete at Senior A level on their own.

They have joined up with Mountrath at all juvenile grades. There had been a link with Raheen Parish Gaels but that seems to have fallen through.

burdizzo

In fairness, it was more of an ad hoc arrangement with Raheen Parish Gaels, and the move to Mountrath is an attempt to streamline matters, and have all their players playing underage in the one place, I suppose.

hurlingmad

Quote from: burdizzo on January 31, 2018, 08:23:22 PM
In fairness, it was more of an ad hoc arrangement with Raheen Parish Gaels, and the move to Mountrath is an attempt to streamline matters, and have all their players playing underage in the one place, I suppose.

Oh God knows, they were allowed to join up with Kyle and play junior b or c on their own a couple of years ago, so on a different note are park/timahoe a full amalgamation or will they play junior on their own or play football on their own?

merman

#503
Timahoe and Park is a full amalgamation as a new hurling club. They will likely enter two teams; one in intermediate and one in Junior B.

Junior Ex Laoistalk

Football Amalgamations for 2018 .....  Laois Today.



Ballyfin Gaels – Senior Football Championship – Ballyfin (SFC) with players from Slieve Bloom (JFC "C")

Clonaslee St Manmans Gaels – Senior Football Championship – Clonaslee St Manmans (SFC) with players from Annanough (IFC)

Crettyard Gaels – Senior Football Championship – Crettyard (SFC) with players from Spink (JFC)

Mountmellick Gaels – Intermediate Football Championship – Mountmellick (SFC) with players from Castletown (JFC "C")
Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit!

Laoiseabu

It's this time of year again folks. Any truth in the rumors of Barrowhouse going in with Killeen?

clonadmad

 
Following the publication of the Strategy and Action Plan 2018 – 2020, two priority actions were recommended by the committee –
1. Laois Club Competitions
2. Combined Teams
(Page 32 Strategy & Action Plan 2018-2012)
Our committee were asked to consider the recommendations in the action plan and to report our findings and recommendations to Laois GAA. We set ourselves a target of completion and presentation for October 2018; however the complex nature and scope of the report made it difficult to achieve this target. We presented in November 2018.

Laois Club Competitions
In relation to Laois Club Competitions, the Strategy and Action Plan recommended that Laois GAA set up two working groups to review "every aspect of club competition, including the structure of those competitions at (a) Adult level & (b) Underage level". The plan asked to consider the possibility of regional teams (comprising of Intermediate & Junior players only) participating in Laois Senior Hurling and Football Championships.
Our committee have examined this particular subject and felt that this area needs detailed and forensic examination following completion of all competitions in 2018, particularly at juvenile level, given that the competitions have changed in dynamic following the move to odd ages at juvenile competition. The introduction of the Under 17 grade presents a problem for players exiting this age group and progressing to the senior grade a year earlier than usual practice would have allowed for. With this in mind, particular attention must be given to this player, to ensure a smooth transition both at club and county leave to ensure that both player engagement and player welfare are considered.
Another contributing factor is the "Gaels" concept, which adds particular complication to scheduling fixtures and the impact of individual clubs identity as outlined in the Strategic Plan. We shall address this concept in the body of the recommendations.
Combined Club Teams (Gaels)
The Strategy and Action Plan report identified that there were 87 combined teams in both codes, at all levels competing in Laois GAA. In particular, there are 36 amalgamations at a level between under 8 & under 18 in football and 30 in hurling at the same age levels, with frequent different amalgamations at various age levels. This committee spent considerable time examining this particular concept and received valuable feedback from the clubs in Laois in relation to this topic. The "Gaels" concept is not unique to this county, and many clubs will feel that without this concept, clubs are unable to compete with stronger, more populated clubs. This may be the case, however, the committee feels strongly that the club identity must be cherished, and make recommendations in relation to this in the report.

Terms of Reference
The committee were set this onerous task under the following terms of reference as advised in the Strategy and Action Plan 2018- 2020 (page 35).
1. The review shall consider the structure of all competitions at Adult levels/grades (incl. U21) and at all underage levels down to U7, in both playing codes.
2. The review shall consider what competitions (if any) might be organised for less than 15-a-side teams, where clubs have limited playing resources (to maintain club identity).
3. The review shall consider the scheduling of Junior championship games (both codes) to ensure that every advantage accrues to Junior teams whose top team plays at that level.
4. The review shall consider if specific Junior competitions (in both codes) might be more appropriate for clubs whose top team plays at that level (this would exclude the second team of any club).
5. The review should consider the possibility of allowing regional teams (i.e. comprising Intermediate & Junior players only) to participate in the Laois Senior Hurling & Senior Football Championships.
6. The review shall consider the scheduling of games involving dual clubs.
7. The review shall consider the scheduling of club games where the same clubs are involved with combined teams.
8. The review shall ensure that GAA players in Laois, and especially at underage levels, have a minimum number of games available to them (in both codes, where applicable).
9. All clubs in Laois shall be consulted by the review committee determining how best this should happen.
10. The Laois CCC shall be asked to contribute to this review.
11. The report shall consider whether any of its recommendation will impact on Laois County Bye-Laws.
12. The review shall set out the criteria by which clubs may apply to the County Board to become part of a combined unit to play in Laois GAA competition(s) at Adult levels/grades (incl. U21) and at underage levels/grades down to U8, in both playing codes.
13. The review shall determine the timeline by which clubs must apply to be part of a combined unit in the following year's competition(s).
14. The review shall determine which County Board sub-committee should consider requests to be part of a combined team annually or whether a new committee should be established specifically for this purpose, whilst taking into account Laois GAA County Committee have ultimate authority to sanction the creation of any combined teams in all grades and codes
15. The review shall consult all clubs in Laois in determining how best to manage the issue of combined (Gaels) team in the county.
16. The report shall be considered by the Laois County Board at its September 2018 meeting.


The review committee attempted to cover all aspects of the brief, however, precise attention should be given to fixture planning at juvenile level in particular, whilst been mindful in retaining a competitive nature at competition and protecting the club ethos.






Recommendations

1. The Laois GAA fixtures review committee are in favour of the continued promotion of Gaels teams at both hurling and football codes at senior championship level, with the following recommended conditions –

a) Gaels teams may only be formed at Senior Championship level in both codes.
b) Gaels teams shall only be allowed to compete in championship at premier Senior grade only. Clubs may not apply for or compete as a Gaels team at Senior A, Intermediate or Junior levels
c) "Geographical boundaries" will regulate the formation of "Gaels" teams, adjoining clubs and/ or parish rules are only permissible in the formation of the "Gaels" team. This shall be outlined and regulated by Laois CCC.
d) Any club with more than 2 affiliated adult teams (Senior, Intermediate & Junior level) may not apply to play as a "Gaels" team
e) In the event of a "Gaels" team being involved in a relegation play off, then only players from the original senior club may be allowed to play in the relegation play off, as the "Gaels" formation is only permissible for championship games. This stipulation is recommended in order to safeguard a standalone senior club being potentially relegated by a "Gaels" team.
f) Any player from the senior club, who plays at a higher level in championship, (including "Gaels" teams) will retain that status for the remainder of that playing year, and will be entitled to apply for a re-grade for the following year's championship at the appropriate time.
g) Gaels teams must be submitted at affiliation deadline time for the forthcoming year, and must declare both a chairperson and secretary in order to be eligible for consideration for that year's senior championship.




2. The committee feels that the current concept of week on / week off is fair in terms of fixture planning, and congratulate Laois CCC in completing all fixtures in a timely manner.  The recommendations in relation to the "Gaels" concept will enable the CCC to have more control and flexibility in relation to scheduling of games involving dual clubs and in particular that of combined teams.

3. This committee recommends that every effort be made to avoid amalgamations of clubs at juvenile level (under 7 to under 17) by introducing competitions at 9, 11& 13 a side to facilitate and promote club and player development at a young age in Laois. The committee further recommends that the U17 championship be played in conjunction with the Adult championships at both codes. The committee would encourage clubs to promote a club identity and build for the future rather than concentrating on success at competitions. With this in mind we ask Laois CCC to check the number of  registered players at each grade  to determine if the club would be better served for the future by fielding in a competition with less players to ensure players are not being lost for the future as area teams only benefit the strong player.

4. The committee is in favour of and recommends the continued practice of playing the 1st round of all championships at the highest level first and progressing thereafter progressively to junior level.


5. The committee are of the belief, that there are insufficient "stand alone" Junior clubs to warrant a separate competition to exclude second teams from other clubs. These junior clubs would benefit from participation in a separate "regional championship" should the appetite exist.

6. The committee would ask that Laois CCC examine the continued championship structure at Senior & Senior A level in hurling, and would recommend that a return to the 2017 championship format be given consideration, in order to provide a more balanced and competitive championship. The general consensus was that the football championship was fine in its current guise, but may need some minor adjustment following examination of the "Gaels" concept.

7. The current concept of "regional" teams for development purposes has gained favour throughout Laois GAA. The committee recommends that Laois GAA explore to further this concept, thereby giving non-senior players a platform to showcase their talent and play at a premium level in the county in both codes. Should this competition gain traction, then Laois GAA may examine the feasibility of a separate championship to include regional teams (combined of Intermediate & Junior Clubs only) to compete against Senior clubs at the highest grade. (as per recommendations from Strategy & Action Plan pg 32)

8. The committee recommend that u19 competitions in both codes be facilitated in the summer months, after exam time. The reason for this is to close the gap on the time a player emerging from the previous year's u17 competitions has to wait in order to play at their own level in competition. The current football completion has been poorly supported by some clubs with frequent walkover been awarded.

9. The committee sees no reason to appoint a sub committee to oversee such recommendations, other that the Laois CCC.

Jd

On recommendation 1(F), is that suggesting that a player from an intermediate club who plays with a senior amalgamation cannot go back and play intermediate with their own club. Maybe I'm picking it up wrong. Does one of the Gaels teams have to be already Senior of could two Intermediate clubs join up. At underage level have longstanding parish teams like Stradbally parish gaels (3clubs) St Pauls (2clubs) to apply every year for inclusion in underage competitions

SCFC

Quote from: Jd on November 26, 2018, 10:28:52 AM
At underage level have longstanding parish teams like Stradbally parish gaels (3clubs) St Pauls (2clubs) to apply every year for inclusion in underage competitions
That's not really a change Jd. Technically every year, county committee approves those amalgamations.

High Fielder

Death by regulation. If you allow a Gaels team in the first place, why on earth would you go putting extra conditions on top of them? Silly stuff.