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Why is the attitude towards underage GAA coaches so negative?

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Comments

  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 57,950 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,971 ✭✭✭Former Former Former


    I’ve been coaching my daughters for five years and have no idea what the OP is talking about.

    Maybe it’s different with boys’ GAA but I have never experienced anything other than gratitude from parents and appreciation of what a sacrifice it is.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    well that was not good.

    however - I would go back to the 'ask' of coaches that are, like yourself, parents - but they are volunteering their time. That in addition to doing the coaching, running the games, contacting the oppposition, contacting the refs and loads of other things - they are also expected to go chasing parents up to make sure players (i) have fees paid and (ii) have registration paid.

    yes, you can say - well they should have told us, they shouyldnt have told the kid…. and that makes sense. But it is also saying, all this work that you do for free that I benefit from hugely, i'm not happy with you & you need to do more.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    I was referring more to the media view of underage coaching. But also to some, not many parents, who'll be constantly giving out that its not done properly.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 57,950 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    It wasn't the coach though. He was quite happy to play him, as he was registered and fees had been paid long ago. It was a club admin who randomly decided to cause the issue. Young fella is all sorted now this week but it didn't need to happen, it was because someone stuck their nose in where it wasn't even required.

    Also it's literally child protection and safeguarding 101 that you don't approach children with this sort of stuff. So I don't accept that nonsense that they're too busy, because if they're suitably qualified to coach kids then they know how these situations should be handled.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 22,552 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    The people whom shout and abuse the loudest weren't thr greatest players if they played at all. I find generally



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    Experiment.

    Also some games you might up against bigger or faster forwards or backs. Which means you need to move players to best counter the other teams.

    Having static positions makes no sense. Unless you have someone who is fantastic in a certain position.

    One of mine is always played full back for one coach. But never on every other team, even when played up on teams that don't know them.

    You are not going to retain players or broaden their skillset and knowledge of the game leaving then in the same position for a decade.

    If it's a critical match and players who bring some thing extra to a position that's different.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 57,950 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    I find moving them around gives them a great education on how to defend/attack in different positions too as they take their own experience into the matches.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,621 ✭✭✭crusd


    What I would say is that there is a lot of variation club to club. But the pressure to win is definitely higher with the boys teams. I would regard our own club is quite progressive but have heard grumblings about "what are they at with the U13s" and the like. And I certainly know with other clubs it can get quite toxic.

    It is different with boys and girls as well. With larger clubs especially, they know they will always have enough players so can prioritise success over retention. However with girls the fall off in playing numbers is much more significant, so they need to prioritise retention. Drop from 3 sides at U14 to 1 at U16



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    Maybe.

    I didn't think a mentor or coach needs to have been a player. Sometimes it's helpful some times people just are natural at mentoring.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    I think it's different with different groups be it girls or boys. Some will be ultra competitive some less so, some very talented some less so and every combination. Different personality types some teams very close group and supportive others not so much.

    So coaching will be different with each groups.

    Enjoy it while it lasts. I felt it changed a lot at minor. It wasn't as close a group at minor.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 22,552 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    Im specifically talking about sideline supporters shouting abuse at coaches and players



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    havent seen it in gaa, have seen it a few times in soccer. and quite literally, the difference there might be the GAA pitch is so much bigger, what would be the point in roaring at a coach the far side of it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 196 ✭✭HurlingBoy


    There are alot of qualities needed to be a good coach. It helps to have played the game but I have seen coaches who have played at county level quite poor at coaching. Coaching is like teaching where you need a level of authority and gain respect of the players



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    The right coach for one team might be the wrong coach for another - a big thing for me though is excessive talking. In particular - halftime is over, the ref is standing in the middle, one of the teams is on the pitch and ready to go. The other team still in a huddle….. the team talk is still going on….. and on and on….



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,456 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    I think it depends on what's being said. Might be just meaningless babble. Might be tactics and verbal kick in the behind. Lift heads. Could be either.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,193 ✭✭✭threeball


    You're right, the coaches are there because they have an interest and more often than not their kids are very evolved as a result. I'd often find myself in the position of taking off my kids first even though they'd be pretty strong players. I'd argue they probably suffer from this disproportionately just because I coach. Its the parents who rock up to drop the kids as babysitting and never get them to touch a ball or a hurl from one training session to the next that are the worst. Often the mouthiest and with the highest expectations of "fairness" despite never even giving their own kids a chance to compete.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭mooz


    Nail on the head! Or if numbers were low for opposing team, they might take one of our players or two... again usually the coaches son/sons. Those that turn up occasionally are never the ones to put their hands up for playing with opposition! I bet you this happens alot!



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Thought that struck me today (while watching my daughter playing).

    There are without doubt a few coaches out there that will give all other coaches a bad name, because in short they are too aggressive and have the wrong attitude.

    Part of the problem here I think is that the GAA and LGFA are not strong enough on the Do's and Don'ts. And I amnt talking about rules of the game, specifically about coaching etiquette.

    Two obvious examples.

    Its is a big no-no for the coach to be on the field of play during a match. I dont mean the coach that runs on becaue one of the players has twisted their ankle and is bawling their eyes out. I mean the coach that stands ten yards in from the sideline barking instructions. This is really common. Its really bad because it intimidates the kids on both sides. It should be absolutely crystal clear that this isnt allowed - I've never seen any communication of any sort to tell me its not allowed. The same applies to umpires that are also roaring instructions from the goalmouth, just as bad.

    Second example, and it relates to the first. At underage, up to u12 anyways, the referees are kids. No coach should ever be roaring at a 15 year old ref about steps or throw pass or whatever. But its happens frequently. The 15 year old ref is simply not in a position to tell adult coach to stfu.

    GAA would do everyone a favour - especially the kids - if they would come down heavy on this type of behaviour.

    Again, you are talking one coach in 20, but an awful pain in the neck when it happens.

    One final point - again relating to etiquette, and probably relevant here given some of the earlier comments - Its OK To Lose. And its also ok to get hammered.

    Especially at u12 or u13. If you lose badly, its not because your players didnt try hard enough, its not because your warm up was bad, its not because one of the players arrived lated, its not because the team wouldnt follow your tactics.

    It is ONLY because the opposition have better players. And there is f**k all your players can do about that, so dont be roaring at them.



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