Kingdom survey reveals huge demands on young players

A survey undertaken by Kerry GAA chiefs has revealed frightening demands being placed on underage players.

The county’s Minor Review Committee, discovered that one player had 86 training sessions and 25 matches during a 90-day period from the start of January until the end of March.

The interim findings were released to county officials at a meeting this week but the results, from one of the quietest periods of the year, have shocked many in the Kingdom.

Coaching officer and sub-committee member, Eamonn Whelan, said the research was undertaken as there were no “actual facts” to support the anecdotal evidence of the pressures faced by young players.

“The county committee established the sub-committee to get a picture of what was happening with a view to providing a balanced programme of games and training,” said Whelan.

“We took a survey, which was done through the children’s officers of clubs in the county, they were all invited to a meeting and about 50% came to that and were provided with questionnaires.

“They then gave them to the minor players in the clubs — those who are U17 and U18 this year — and returned the forms to us and then we collated the results, taking a cross-section from six different categories.”

Each category provided a variance between the most and least active players, but according to Whelan a fairly accurate overall picture was provided.

“With players who were playing with their clubs only, you’d be looking at something like 10-15 sessions and three-five games during the period, which of course would not be the busiest time of year. For somebody involved with a school and the club minor team then, for instance, the number of sessions ranged from 15 to 28 with between four and nine matches, and for those on the county minor team the results were starkest.”

Whelan continued: “Things varied from school to school, the more prominent ones would have done a lot of work and we counted gym sessions as they are still activity. At the low end of the spectrum, a player would have about 45 sessions and 15 games, but at the other end one player had 86 sessions and 25 games, followed by one who had 70 sessions and 24 games, during the 90 days. Those two were a good bit ahead of the next one, but the average was still about 63 sessions and 12 or 13 matches.

“This is an area where you would have a lot of different anecdotal evidence but no actual facts, which is what we are trying to provide. Once you have those, then you can do something about it. When the full report is forwarded to the county committee in September or October, they will examine the figures and see how the problem can be dealt with, as we have to find a way of protecting young players. I’m sure that it’s a similar story in a lot of other counties, and things must be improved.”

Meanwhile the Kerry County Committee has finalised the purchase of 48 acres of land at Currans in Farranfore for the development of a centre of excellence. A sub-committee, led by the county development officer Tim Murphy, has been set up and a design team for the project is currently being assembled. Preliminary archaeological works will commence in the next six-to-eight weeks to comply with the planning conditions set out. Following enabling works, the construction of two fully-lit sand carpet all-weather pitches and a clubhouse will commence in mid-2014. The remaining works will be completed on a phased basis as finances allow.