Summer Soccer

At what age should players chose one or the other, how can they chose if their parents have only had the time to bring them to one?

Soccer has been creeping further and further into the GAA season anyway over the past few years. Those crossover months are difficult for coaches, kids and parents. It's gonna be difficult for both codes to keep everyone at the younger ages happy and at the end of the day happiness should be what sport is about.

GAA at underage isn’t a ‘summer sport’. It’s only the elite intercounty that has moved to have the big matches predominantly in the summer.

I don't know I suppose the kids and parents would decide that. I don't see why they can't pick one, commit to it and they'll be happy out playing it.

Two young daughters so don't have that dilemma. I know it's not an easy decision and is a shame for young kids that would like to do both.

My thinking is more selfish. I personally don't like playing or attending games on cold winter Sundays at 11 am or 2 pm. That's the only two windows for games where I'm from (except for sat night with clubs that have lights and astro).

I would love summer evening games after work on nicer pitches. Also training in the evening would be much nicer to do in brighter, warmer weather.

I was at a good game yesterday. Legs were numb with the cold by full time. Hardly anyone at it for that reason. I would guess there would be plenty st it on a nice evening

I think it will ultimately be massively beneficial to underage soccer in Ireland. On a global level soccer is huge and for young kids this will create more opportunities for them to progress in the game for the following reasons;

1. Continuity of playing time - rather than playing for a 2/3 month period from Sept to Nov straight and then sporadically really from December to February with weather and pitches, etc. The it picks back up from March and all games need to be crammed in to 3 months really to get it finished by May. The new format should allow for better consistency both in terms of matches and training.
2. Alignment with LOI - this will allow for kids who are joining clubs academies to be used to playing during the same conditions as those in the LOI. This should let kids at the age of 15/16/17 play for LOI clubs when they are ready as their schoolboy/underage academies will play the same calendar.
3. Better playing conditions - As above, the pitches should be in better condition which will allow those clubs playing football on the ground to come to fore. It will allow for a more consistent approach within clubs without interruption from having to play 2 or 3 games in a week. Clubs will know it will be match Saturday and training twice a week for the whole, or at least most, of the season.
4. GAA vs. Soccer - At some point kids have to choose one or the other, that's just how it is especially for those who are excellent/top tier in either or both sports. This normally happens around age 12 or 13 and the new system will mean kids may well have to choose earlier and there will always be those moaning about that. HOWEVER what I will say is that having to decide earlier will mean those at the top level of either sport can focus on that sport solely and should then develop even further in that particular sport. There will always be the option for some of those kids to keep fit throughout the winter/off-season by playing with friends and/or with astro winter leagues.
5. Injuries - mastering the craft and learning ways to play and tackle in one particular sport is very specific to that sport. By doing this at an earlier age it should avoid players getting injured whilst playing the other. Ultimately this will help develop kids physically in favour of one particular sport and therefore avoiding injuries by saying going in for a tackle in soccer the wrong way because you are used to/playing at a higher level in GAA. Also, playing on better pitches is much safer for kids.

That is my view on it and I feel ultimately it will be beneficial in developing more elite/top level soccer players in Ireland which has been neglected for a period of time. It is very rare that players get the correct coaching in Ireland at schoolboy level and this will be a gateway to open that.

You can't stop kids playing what they want to play. If they see alot more soccer on the TV that may be why they gravitate towards this. Kids should ultimately play the one they enjoy most and not what their friends are playing but you have to leave them to figure it out.

The money involved in soccer may ultimately sway them if they are top level at both.

You made some excellent points. Not sure I agree with the one about injuries but pitches and not having to cram the ending of the season into April and May because of poor weather conditions over the winter is a big one imo

You have kids - yes?

EDIT: Sorry, I see you have two girls - why would/should that make any difference?

What age should you ask your kids to decide?

Someone mentioned above - that its often the same parents that are coaching both codes in rural Ireland - it can be the same in towns also. It will lead to significant issues however in fairness as I've said theres a massive overlap in the times of both sports anyway.