Mentors Handbook

5. Playing and Training

Providing teams for our juvenile members to play with is the core objective of everything we do as a club and as a Juvenile Games section. In order that we can be successful in this endeavour we need to have some regulations, policies and indeed rules that we all abide by for the greater good.

The first consideration in all decisions being taken by mentors must be the welfare of the player(s). Overuse of good players and under use of weaker players within each respective age group can lead to burnout in some players and a lack of development in others.

As mentors we have a responsibility to be mindful of the impact our decisions will have on our players’ welfare and to ensure that it forms a central part of our considerations.

As mentors we don’t have full visibility of all the other sporting activities, school physical education programs or general play activities that juveniles are engaged in on an ongoing basis or if sufficient sleep or rest is regularly taken so ultimately it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to determine situations where burnout may exist but where signs are monitored during Naomh Jude activities the mentor should inform the parent/guardian.

Player Welfare

Concussion Guidelines

A concussion is a brain injury that is associated with a temporary loss of brain function. The injury must be taken seriously to protect the long-term welfare of all players. A concussion is caused by a direct or indirect hit to the player’s head or body.

The club asks every mentor to make themselves aware of their responsibilities in this area by reading the Concussion Management Guidelines for Gaelic Games.

Concussion should be a topic discussed with your parents at your Annual Parents meeting and with your players in age groups as appropriate.

Mouth Guards

All juvenile players must wear mouth guards, with the exception of Academy players, for football training and matches and no mentor should allow a Juvenile to train or play without one.

Injury Prevention

The term sports injury, in the broadest sense, refers to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur during sports or exercise. Some sports injuries result from accidents; others are due to poor training practices, use of improper equipment, lack of conditioning, or insufficient warm-up and stretching.

The club asks that all mentors make themselves aware of their responsibilities in this area by reviewing the GAA 15, a 15-minute standardised warm-up programme aimed at reducing the number of injuries sustained by our players.

Injury Benefit Fund

The GAA requires that its members are registered with the GAA Injury Benefit Fund. The Fund only provides cover for otherwise irrecoverable losses up to the benefit limits. The Fund should not be used as a guarantee of the payment of expenses. Ultimately, the responsibility to ensure that adequate cover is in place rests with the individual member commensurate with their specific individual needs.

Further details about the fund can be read here.

Reacting to an Injury

As a mentor it is important that you are aware of your responsibilities if one of your players is injured during either a training session or during a match. Please refer to the Injury Treatment section at this link.

Lead mentors of each age group should ensure that at least one person in the group that regularly attends training and matches receives some First Aid training and that they are responsible for maintaining and replenishing the First Aid kit provided by the Club through the Juvenile Equipment Officer and bringing it to all training sessions and matches. Where there are multiple teams and games groups within an age group, more than one trained person will be required and additional First Aid kits should be sought.

The Club regularly runs First Aid training courses that should be attended by the relevant individuals and details of which will be communicated through the various games group coordinators.

In the event of any injury during a match it is important that the mentor liaises with the referee to ensure that the details are included with the Referee’s report. All injuries requiring further treatment should be advised to the GGC and where a claim against the GAA Player Injury Benefit Fund is envisaged all supporting detail and documentation should be sent to Mick O’Brien, 087 602 0915.

Age Groups and Team Selections

Naomh Jude encourage and support the development of our players to be the best that they can be.

Naomh Jude implements the common practice of keeping children of the same age and gender with their correct age group (year of birth) as a central part of good practice. This gives every child the opportunity to develop their abilities to their fullest potential at an appropriate level.

One Age Group – Two Codes

Naomh Jude operates a structure of keeping all the children of one age group together as a single group for both codes (Football/Hurling, Football/Camogie) from the Academy right through to U16. We see this as being the strongest and most successful model when it comes to the retention of players across both genders in both codes.

• Age Groups should be structured with a single point of contact.
• It is recommended that an administrator that is not coaching/mentoring be appointed to handle all communications and the group’s general administration.

Academy Age Groups

Our academy is split into two levels with a Junior Academy for U5’s and a Senior Academy for U6’s and U7’s.

Junior Academy:
To manage the large numbers of new children joining & to assist with the longer term development of a team group, players should be placed in the appropriate age & gender group from the beginning. While we understand that some children may wish to come up to the academy with an older sibling or friend, many years of experience show the huge benefit of children playing in their appropriate age group from the beginning. Historically it has proved difficult for a child to join their correct group after that group has been in existence for some time. The children will have to adhere to age compliance throughout their Juvenile games journey so it is important to form friendships/relationships with coaches etc. with the appropriate team from the start.

Senior Academy:
The final two years of the Academy include U6’s (first year) and U7’s (second year).

Only players of 7 years of age in their final year in the Senior Academy can graduate to play under U8 Go Games in the following year.

U8 – U16 Age Groups (Boys and Girls)

To ensure that all our players can develop and to promote player retention, we encourage mentors as much as possible to give all our juvenile players the chance to participate in games on a regular basis.

The following regulations and guidelines are in place as a reference point for mentors to return to when making decisions around team selections and to ensure that we have a common approach as a club that can be easily explained to players and parents as needed.

Team Selections

The following has been ratified at both Juvenile and Executive Committee level within the club regarding juvenile players playing within their age group.

The primary team for all juveniles is one of their correct age (year of birth) and gender where such a team exists within the club and all players, mentors and parents are expected to respect this decision.

To aid in the understanding and implementation of this decision please be aware of the following:

1. Preparation for ensuring that players are playing with their correct age (year of birth) will happen in the Senior Academy as outlined in the section ‘Academy Age Groups’ above.
2. All players are to play and train with a team of their correct age (year of birth) where one exists. If no team exists, please refer to the appropriate section below.
3. The only games or training related contact with parents of players is to be by the mentor(s) or administrator(s) of the players own age group (year of birth).
4. On leaving the Academy and where teams are available for both genders, the club will not field girls on any boys’ teams for all CCC1 age groups. If a boys team is short of players, then the “where no team exists” or “playing up” regulations apply as outlined below.

Where No Team Exists

• In certain circumstances the Juvenile Games Committee (JGC) may agree to merge age groups where numbers dictate that greater playing time will be enjoyed if all or some players from two age groups and/or genders (subject to County Board rules) play together.
• No precedent will be set, and the grouping will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and at the end of that playing year.
• In these circumstances a proposal should be brought to the JGC by the Games Group Coordinator for the age groups affected.

Playing Up

As always County Board rules take precedence, and mentors must be familiar with the rules and regulations surrounding playing up. County Board rules can be different for girls’ teams so please make sure you are aware.

Teams are encouraged to be as self-sufficient as possible with their own playing numbers, particularly at the U8–U12 age groups only entering teams that match the number of players they can field.

However, teams can sometimes find themselves short for various reasons and it is important that mentors are able to support each other in the best interests of the club as a whole but with the welfare of the players to the fore.

Playing up regulations:

1. Boys can only play up one year older than their current age (year of birth).
2. Girls may play up two years provided all other regulations are adhered to and all mentors agree.
3. No girls should play up or across (same age) on a boys team. Where boys teams are short they should look to the boys age group below and where girls teams are short they should look to the girls age group below them.
4. Players can play up on occasion provided that:
   • The player plays and trains with their own age group.
   • There is no conflict with the fixtures and/or plans of their primary age group.
   • The player is of suitable ability and can handle the jump in standard.
   • Game time is balanced in consideration of all players involved.
5. If you would like to request a player from a younger age group:
   • Contact the mentor of that age group and make your request.
   • Never directly contact a parent from a younger age group.
   • Always ask for more than one player and avoid asking for specific players and provide justification if doing so.
   • Accept the decision(s) of the mentor of the younger age group.
6. If you are asked to provide a player to an older age group:
   • Consider the welfare of the player first.
   • Be aware and consider how much game time a player may already have had in both GAA and other activities and consult the parent/guardian.
   • Be aware that the support of the group below may be required to ensure that some players of the older age group aren’t deprived of game time if the fixture has to be forfeited.
   • Only send players that you believe can handle the standard and will benefit.
   • Consider your full squad and don’t always send the same players.
   • Send a minimum of two players at a time – never one player on their own.

We are all one Club and all teams should work together, share experiences, support each other and endeavour to help teams that are short of numbers so that only as a total last resort a walk over is given.

Training Up

The club actively encourages age groups to organise occasional training sessions with the age groups directly above and directly below them, as a full group and/or as streamed groups (for example A with A and B with B) as appropriate to the age group. This promotes good communication and learning between the age groups and ensures that players are more familiar with each other as they develop towards the older Juvenile age groups and into Minor and/or Adult Games.

However, individuals or small groups of players training up should not be happening in our younger age groups (U8–U11) and should only be happening under special circumstances in our older age groups (U12–U16) and then only with the agreement of all mentors involved as outlined below.

1. All players are expected to train with their correct age (year of birth) and gender where such a team exists.
2. No individual player or small groups of players from our U8–U11 age groups should be training with other age groups or genders.
3. Selected players from our U12–U16 age groups can train up prior to a competitive tournament (for example Championship, Camaint or Feile), within a reasonable timeframe as agreed between the mentors of both groups and if it doesn’t affect their involvement with their primary age group.

Championship

Exceptions can be given on an annual basis that allow players to play up as part of a Championship panel for girls’ teams from U13–U16 and from boys’ teams from U15–U16 provided all players of the correct age group are included in a panel for that year’s competitions. This means that selected players can play up for the duration of the team’s involvement in the competition provided that:

• Their correct age group fixtures are given priority and where any clash exists the correct age group fixture of the players playing up takes precedence.
• Agreement has been reached between the mentors of the two age groups involved and with the appropriate GGC.
• Game time for players is balanced in consideration of all players involved.

Féile Competitions

Our U15 boys and girls enter panels into Dublin Féile competitions each year. Each panel entered can have up to a maximum of 24 players. It is accepted and established practice that the U15 Féile teams would invite players from that year’s U14 squads to help them make up the panel(s) of 24 as needed and that these players may train up with the U15’s within a reasonable timeframe as agreed between the mentors of both groups.

• All U15 boys and girls registered to play for the club in any given year have a right to a place on a Féile panel if one is being formed.
• No U15 player should be left out of a Féile panel to accommodate an U14 player.

Exceptions to Playing with your Primary Age Group (Year of Birth)

Individual exceptions can be made by the Juvenile Games Committee (JGC) officers in consultation with the Children’s Officer as appropriate that allows for a player to play and/or train with an age group other than their primary age group (year of birth) where County Board rules allow.

It should be accepted by all in good faith that exceptions can only be agreed by the JGC officers in instances of a child needing flexibility due to personal physical, emotional and/or mental challenges or where there is a genuine fielding requirement and that this exception is not intended to be used to allow or promote any form of elitist or preferential agenda within the club.

Any mentor or GGC can send a request for consideration directly to a JGC officer. Both mentors and parents are asked to respect the decision of the JGC and the Children’s Officer as being final in these matters.

Streaming

The club advises that mentors stream their teams according to the playing rules guidelines issued by the appropriate County Board according to their age group, gender and code.

What is Streaming?
Streaming is putting players of similar ability on the same team as opposed to having a team of mixed ability playing together. The idea is to allow players of all abilities to have an increased chance of spending more time on the ball and by that to be more directly involved in the game and consequently to have more fun and to develop.

Children develop at different stages and a child who is seen to be potentially weak at age 10 may be a very strong player at age 14 and vice versa. Streaming must therefore be constantly reviewed.

How to approach Streaming
Streaming should be undertaken in accordance with County Board recommendations and it should be a player-centred process. Mentors must endeavour to find the right team for the player to play on to develop the player’s confidence, skills and participation.

Streaming is generally not a scientific process and is therefore subjective. Mentors should strive to find a fair and transparent way to implement streaming with both the player and the wider age group’s interest in mind.

Streaming and the wider age group
While streaming is an important practice it is also important to ensure that the players do not lose the sense of the wider age group as many of the players will move up and down through the streamed teams over the year(s). To keep the group bond intact, it is important that the entire group finds opportunities to train and socialise together as often as possible.

County Board Guidelines on Streaming and Playing Rules

• Boys teams are not streamed at U8. For CCC1 Go Games guidelines on
  streaming from U9 – U12 please refer to the documents at this
  link.
• Please see Camogie Board clarification on streaming for Go Games
  here.
• Guidelines for Dublin Ladies Football playing rules can be found at
  this link.

Playing and Training Equipment

At the start of each season the Juvenile Games Equipment Officer places an order with an appropriate supplier of playing and training equipment for the entire Juvenile section. This order is based on balancing the requests for equipment across the entire Juvenile section with the budget agreed with the Club Treasurer.

• An Equipment Requisition Form is sent by the Equipment Officer to the lead mentor of each age group in mid-December of each year requesting him/her to complete the form with the items they would like to order for the following playing year.
• The order is then placed in mid-January and a notification of availability of equipment for collection is sent by the Equipment Officer in early February.

Care and Recycling

It is an expensive business equipping a Juvenile section the size of ours and so mentors are asked to take care of the equipment throughout the year and to return any items no longer required to the Equipment Officer when placing their order for the following year.

Additional Orders

The equipment distributed at the start of the year is intended to suffice for the age group for that full playing year. Any further requests during the year for equipment to, for example, replace lost footballs or sliotars can be considered by the Equipment Officer considering the equipment the age group has already received and the budget available.

All orders for equipment must go through the Equipment Officer. No expenses incurred for equipment of any type purchased by individual teams, mentors, players or parents will be reimbursed by the club.

Team Jerseys

It is the current policy of the club that all team jerseys (playing) must be bought and/or ordered through the club shop. This is to ensure that club teams are representing Naomh Jude on the field of play in a uniform manner and that any arrangements that the club may have with specific suppliers are being respected.

The provision of jerseys is dependent on the age group:

• For non-competitive Go Games (U8 – U11 boys, U8 – U12 girls), jerseys are purchased individually by players from the club shop.
• From U12 (boys) and U13 (girls), teams should order numbered sets through the club shop or use older sets passed down.
• It is the lead mentor’s responsibility to ensure funds are available (sponsorship, parent contributions, or a mix of both).

Fixtures

Each of the County Boards creates a schedule of fixtures including league and championship matches for all of the teams that we enter. These are official fixtures.

Official fixtures are added by the various County Boards to a central fixtures system and the Naomh Jude specific fixtures and results are filtered to our Fixtures and Results pages on the club website:

• Ladies Football
• Camogie
• CCC1 Boys
• CCC2 Boys

Referees

Boys Referees

• U8 – U11 Football and Hurling – referees are appointed internally by the club’s Referee Coordinator. Please contact him/her at least 3 days before matches.
• U12 Boys Football and Hurling – contact the referee coordinator of the club that has been appointed to your game. Contact details can be found at this link.
• U13 – U16 Boys (CCC2) – referees are appointed by CCC2. Mentors should text the appointed referee in advance of the match to ensure they are available. Guidance can be found in CCC2 league regulations and a list of referees is available here.

Girls Referees

• U8 – U11 Ladies Football – referees are appointed internally by the club’s Referee Coordinator. Please contact him/her at least 3 days before matches.
• U8 – U12 Camogie – referees are appointed internally by the club’s Referee Coordinator. Please contact him/her at least 3 days before matches.
• U12 – U16 Ladies Football – neutral referees appointed by the DLGFA.
• U13 – U16 Camogie – neutral referees appointed by Dublin Camogie Board.