GUIDELINES FOR FOOTBALL MANAGERS (13-18yrs) 2015

Guidelines for football managers (13 to 18yrs)

Division 1 football in Dublin is hugely competitive.  Our preparation should at all times facilitate our boys, both individually and collectively to be as competitive as possible at this level.

Some of our players will have the potential to achieve excellence in Gaelic football and it should be a privilege for managers to play a part in that development. The drop out rate however for 13A to 18A is 30% +.  The only way we can replace these players on the A panel is from our B and C teams. It is imperative therefore that the standard of preparation and coaching given to our B players is at an equal level with A team coaching.

The holistic development of a child however must be upper most in our priorities.  Teenage years are times of great challenge in a boy's life both physically and psychologically. We should at all times factor this into our decision making process.

RECOMMENDATIONS/GUIDELINES

1.  The ideal football week should be two training sessions and one match.

2.  Except in exceptional circumstances players should never be expected to do more than three sessions a week of club football.

3. Our priority should be a football match every weekend for those who are exclusively Gaelic football players.

4. To facilitate this objective it may be necessary to enter cup competitions at a higher age group. 

• Occasionally this may mean playing two football matches over the weekend, a game on Saturday and Sunday.
• In this situation extra players should be incorporated into the panel to avoid player burnout.

5  We suggest at A level that there should be a panel of at least 25/26 players.  This will ensure adequate numbers at all sessions/matches and will allow the manager to play players who train regularly.

6.   Down time every year should be for a minimum of eight weeks. This may be at Christmas/Easter/ exam times/Gaeltacht times and/ or family holidays.

7.   It is expected that all teams should involve themselves in a gym based strength and conditioning program for six weeks at the end of the year.

8.   As a dual GAA club, hurling participation is at all times facilitated fully.

9.   Involvement in non GAA sports is inevitable for some. This however should not be seen as a barrier to involvement in Gaelic football as long as the boy's potential development as a Gaelic footballer is not inevitably compromised.

10.Training sessions should as far as possible be primarily skill based.

11.Channel of communication with parents re fixtures/training/generic plans for the season can be through all of the standard communication mediae.

12.  However any communication between management and parents that is outside that remit should only be conducted through the medium of verbal communication, preferably face to face.

13.Club gear should be worn at all training sessions/matches by both players as much as possible, and mentors as an essential.

 14. The Executive guidelines of dual players ' NO Kilmacud dual athlete should ever be asked to train/play on more than five occasions in any seven days '  needs to be adhered to.

15. It is important that all managers/coaches have the required coaching qualifications as outlined by Croke Park.