To Stream or Not to Stream???

thegen

As the title says this is about streaming of kids. (U9's)

Firstly I know the Dublin County Boards directive on this is to stream. What I am looking for are opinions on this from Mentors of under age teams.

I for one am strongly against it as I feel we will lose more kids to other sports if they are being told they are on a C or a D team when their friends are playing A football or hurling. It would be worse in large clubs that have 5,6 or even 7 teams at this age group.

Let me know your thought and reasons behind them.

Screaminmidget

You shouldnt really start streaming till u12's imo.
U9's just want to play with their friends, and its not really that competitive.

GAAman

Unless the sport is really really strong in the kids family its just too young, if you lose the craic in the game you lose the kid to the game

Agreed with 12 and up for it

thegen

I have had matched against 5 clubs in Dublin this year with each of them asking "which is your A,B & C Teams" before throw in. This is both in Football and Hurling.

keane2097

U-12s is the absolute earliest it should be done imo.

Diabhal Beag

Really hated streaming. When I played football from 8-13 we had 4 teams. Ruined it for me and I quit because I hated being kept apart from my buddies.

At least 12 years or older because at that age you'll know whether you want to devote yourself to something else or not.

Stevecw

U9 is far too young for that. 12s is when that should start. Before that u just end up turning kids off the game. Bad idea.

eigrod

There are arguments for and against, in my opinion.

I've been involved in blitzes where you don't stream and the "weaker" kids just don't get a touch of the ball....they stand in the corner and are blown away by the stronger kids. You also lose kids because of this.

WIth streaming, they can be up against kids of their own ability and will feel far more involved in the games and will develop better simply because they get more of the ball.

DH2K9

What I also hate is when you have a team in a 2 team league in under 10 and 11 and you have to stream the two teams into A and B. Now all the A players think they're great and the B players want to leave. You try swapping them around but then the people who were on the A team think they have gotten worse and leave.

Why on earth can we not split up the two teams evenly and have two quality games of football? Everybody is happy and everyone feels they're playing in a good team.

The county board want us to split the one team and separate them into a good team and a bad team. In what other sport do you tell your players who are the best and who are the worst?

Rant over........

eigrod

DH2K9 wrote: »

In what other sport do you tell your players who are the best and who are the worst?

It certainly happens in soccer from the age of 8, to a far more competitive extent than GAA.

DH2K9

eigrod wrote: »

It certainly happens in soccer from the age of 8, to a far more competitive extent than GAA.

No I'm talking about when you have a team and you play in a two team league.

You have to split your own team into an A team and a B team and play matches beside each other against a A and a B team from the opposition.

So players are on the same team but really they're on two separate teams. To me it is ridiculous and after streaming teams at least don't stream them again so you have to choose the best players and the worst even thought they are on the same team.

The county board never actually thinks about how this affects a small club. Even though the club has only one team at an age group, if it wants to play at a high level they have to enter a two-team league which means they have to stream the one team into two. This causes leads to lose interest and leave.

Very simple stream teams but once you have done that make sure the two matches that take place when one team travel to another are fair and even.

eigrod

DH2K9 wrote: »

Very simple stream teams but once you have done that make sure the two matches that take place when one team travel to another are fair and even.

Ah yes, agree with that. By and large, the coaches involved in both teams will agree to that, or should at least.

keane2097

Are games up to u-12s still 15-a-side?

Obv the teams should be far smaller at younger ages...

eigrod

keane2097 wrote: »

Are games up to u-12s still 15-a-side?

Obv the teams should be far smaller at younger ages...

Under 12 is now 11 aside (a Croke Park directive).

Under 8 and Under 10 are 7 and 9 aside respectively, but that is only a recommendation - coaches tend to agree the number of players before the game, but you're right, it shouldn't be more than 10 aside at those ages.

Under 14 upwards is 15 aside.

keane2097

eigrod wrote: »

Under 12 is now 11 aside (a Croke Park directive).

Under 8 and Under 10 are 7 and 9 aside respectively, but that is only a recommendation - coaches tend to agree the number of players before the game, but you're right, it shouldn't be more than 10 aside at those ages.

Under 14 upwards is 15 aside.

Good that's a lot better alright.

I would have thought that the smaller teams would combat the problem of weaker players getting less of the ball?