National Forum

Club Under 17 / 18

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Replying To journeyman:  "I believe the move to U17 a few years back was to address the issue of payer burnout. Similar to the introduction of the split season which really only benefits the county player imho the GAA took a very narrow view and the amount of players this impacts i.e the star U18 player when Minor was also playing adult hurling and possibly intercounty for 1 year(U17s could not play adult previously either). In effect for 1 year they will play alot of matches. Lots of less talented players are giving up the game because once they finish playing U17 they do not feel they are good enough and possible mature enough to be playing on an adult team. Once they are out for a year they don't come back, So the question is do you protect the talented player or lose alot of less talented players?"
You could just change the under 20/21 championship and play it through the year not hamstrung into the very end of the year like it is in many counties.
Sure in tipp divisional and county conpetitiond in some years have been played off entirely in november/December with finals on Stephens day which is just unfair to everyone involved

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3517 - 19/10/2023 23:24:12    2509334

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Replying To TigerWoods90:  "Westmeath reverting to U18 next year. A genuine question but are clubs actually losing more players? I'd love to see official figures, players at 18 and 19 have also drifted away for years when it was U18. I know the argument is that they play an extra year but I'll bet the same lads will still pack it in a year later, they go off to college etc and lose interest regardless of whether it's U17 or U18 in my opinion. The situation now in Westmeath is that they can't play until they are U19 which makes it so difficult on some clubs having no players come through in 2024. With U17 there's usually less clashing with state exams and leaving cert holidays etc but the narrative out there seems to be that the drop out rate is increasing but like I said I'd love to see facts backing that up"
Yes, Westmeath reverting back from odds to evens age from next year. I attended a coaching workshop ran by the county and the graph for player drop off was alarming from U17 onwards. My own club saw massive fall off even though games and teams to play in provided. Giving players an extra year to develop in underage (U18) allows them mentally and particularly physically to step up to adult football. Also U17 is the first year players adapt to size 5 football where previously started at U16. Retention of players for all club a key consideration after underage years finish. Note also Westmeath did not take the option to to allow players with parental permission to play adult football in their final year U18.

Convert2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 25 - 20/10/2023 08:24:44    2509348

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Under 16 in Galway at moment is pure joke of a competition even at top level A both corofin snd Tuam gave walkovers in games it's a shambles at under 15 level between feile and championship most teams prob play 10-13,matches then under 16 maybe at a push 4 how that make any sense tome go back 12-14 -16 snd 18 ,, I was involved in a team who played in minor semi in Galway this year ( under 17 ) all the lads that are overage have nothing next year a few will make club under 19 but majority won't as last years under 17 will all still be under age so most will play nothing snd prob stop playing ,

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 850 - 20/10/2023 16:19:11    2509495

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Replying To Convert2:  "Yes, Westmeath reverting back from odds to evens age from next year. I attended a coaching workshop ran by the county and the graph for player drop off was alarming from U17 onwards. My own club saw massive fall off even though games and teams to play in provided. Giving players an extra year to develop in underage (U18) allows them mentally and particularly physically to step up to adult football. Also U17 is the first year players adapt to size 5 football where previously started at U16. Retention of players for all club a key consideration after underage years finish. Note also Westmeath did not take the option to to allow players with parental permission to play adult football in their final year U18."
Ye need to consider the 18yo 2006s next year and in some way accommodate them for adult .
In wexford this year . We reverted back to evens and left huge void especially in smaller clubs where no players came up .
Coupled with the amount of lads who went travelling smaller clubs were decimated and could nt field 2 nd or 3td teams which is where these new adult players need to play to hone their adult careers.
It remains to be seen if that will leave lasting legacy where the players that got no games will return if they have a team .
Ie will the new adult players have a team to play with bar their clubs 1st or 2nd team which majority may not be ready for.
Put a motion to allow the 2006s play with the lowest level playing team in the club .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 24/10/2023 10:29:51    2509990

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Ye need to consider the 18yo 2006s next year and in some way accommodate them for adult .
In wexford this year . We reverted back to evens and left huge void especially in smaller clubs where no players came up .
Coupled with the amount of lads who went travelling smaller clubs were decimated and could nt field 2 nd or 3td teams which is where these new adult players need to play to hone their adult careers.
It remains to be seen if that will leave lasting legacy where the players that got no games will return if they have a team .
Ie will the new adult players have a team to play with bar their clubs 1st or 2nd team which majority may not be ready for.
Put a motion to allow the 2006s play with the lowest level playing team in the club ."
If minors were allowed to play in the adult grades, then you'd have a situation where the entire minor championships would be held up from early September (when it switches to weekend matches because the evenings are getting too short to play midweek) until the adult championships are over.

Either that, or you'd be expecting lads to play minor on a Saturday and an adult grade on the Sunday, or vice versa.

I don't believe this issue of clubs "needing" minors to make up the numbers for a second or third team is as big as it's made out to be. What clubs in Wexford pulled a team out this year due to shortage of numbers? None down as far as the Junior A grade in either hurling or football anyway. And at Junior B level, my own District had all the usual competitors in both codes too. Did a club or two pull out a Junior B team in some other District?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2258 - 24/10/2023 13:12:03    2510051

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "If minors were allowed to play in the adult grades, then you'd have a situation where the entire minor championships would be held up from early September (when it switches to weekend matches because the evenings are getting too short to play midweek) until the adult championships are over.

Either that, or you'd be expecting lads to play minor on a Saturday and an adult grade on the Sunday, or vice versa.

I don't believe this issue of clubs "needing" minors to make up the numbers for a second or third team is as big as it's made out to be. What clubs in Wexford pulled a team out this year due to shortage of numbers? None down as far as the Junior A grade in either hurling or football anyway. And at Junior B level, my own District had all the usual competitors in both codes too. Did a club or two pull out a Junior B team in some other District?"
Fethard both codes clongeen Kilmore st martins st marys rosslare shamrocks football junior a bar relegation final junior b hurling too. Kilrush realt na mara and there only off top of my head there are more .
But if you say there's was nt well there must nt have been I m mistaken. Check the tables ask the clubs .
Never said ñs ideal but it leaves a void for clubs . With knock on effect for year after possibly .
Possible solution the 2006 can play lowest level in club only if the club needs them
2 oer 3 u18s playing up ost that any worse than 12 or 13 others playing nothing ?
Most young lads in wexford as well as you know play soccer rugby too of a weekend and school teams in big load on them.
Don't quote player welfare as u21 played 2 days befire adult championships over 4 week period as well as u18s playing u21 .
I m just pointing out to the lads one of the pitfalls I ve seen . Maybe you seen something different .
Next year in wexford it will be better as there will be players coming up . Let's hope all the above teams can muster and encourage the lads that did nt play back to their respective teams and not have them walk away forever .
It might be a problem only for one year but it can have a lasting legacy .
Possible solution turn 18 during the year you can play adult . .
With u17 under 20 County now taking precedence over club no meaningful championship for u16 or 18 in wexford until July where as up to few years ago 2 to 3 rounds of both codes played before leaving cert and junior cert break . .
18 year olds most vulnerable þinvthat year of waiting

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 24/10/2023 17:23:56    2510114

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I think the move to 17s was a disaster, I do understand the intention of it but I think it was a major mistake, as it stands now your juvenile journey ends at 17 which is 5th year in school for many, what's happening locally is u18s soccer has never been as strong, we have handed over that final year of juvenile to another sport.

I agree with the move to 17s at inter County, I think taking that burden away from leaving cert students was a good idea.

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1599 - 24/10/2023 22:11:55    2510144

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Fethard both codes clongeen Kilmore st martins st marys rosslare shamrocks football junior a bar relegation final junior b hurling too. Kilrush realt na mara and there only off top of my head there are more .
But if you say there's was nt well there must nt have been I m mistaken. Check the tables ask the clubs .
Never said ñs ideal but it leaves a void for clubs . With knock on effect for year after possibly .
Possible solution the 2006 can play lowest level in club only if the club needs them
2 oer 3 u18s playing up ost that any worse than 12 or 13 others playing nothing ?
Most young lads in wexford as well as you know play soccer rugby too of a weekend and school teams in big load on them.
Don't quote player welfare as u21 played 2 days befire adult championships over 4 week period as well as u18s playing u21 .
I m just pointing out to the lads one of the pitfalls I ve seen . Maybe you seen something different .
Next year in wexford it will be better as there will be players coming up . Let's hope all the above teams can muster and encourage the lads that did nt play back to their respective teams and not have them walk away forever .
It might be a problem only for one year but it can have a lasting legacy .
Possible solution turn 18 during the year you can play adult . .
With u17 under 20 County now taking precedence over club no meaningful championship for u16 or 18 in wexford until July where as up to few years ago 2 to 3 rounds of both codes played before leaving cert and junior cert break . .
18 year olds most vulnerable þinvthat year of waiting"
Thank you for those examples. Have to cast doubt over many of them, though.

Am in the Gorey District myself and my own club played Kilrush/Askamore in both hurling and football in Junior B this year. We also played against Ballygarrett in Junior B hurling. And while we didn't play Realt na Mara in Junior B football, they didn't have a football team in the grade last year either, when there nothing to stop a player turning 18 during the year from playing adult grades, since minor was still U17.

As for Shamrocks football.....let's just say their problems this year were about more than minors not being allowed play.

St Martin's had their usual three hurling teams (Senior, Intermediate A and Junior B) and two football teams (Intermediate and Junior) this year.

Rosslare fielded in Junior B hurling, but not Junior B football. However, like Realt na Mara, they didn't field in Junior B football last year either, when nothing was stopping somebody turning 18 during the year from playing. Same with Kilmore if you swap the codes - i.e. they played Junior B football this year but not Junior B hurling, but they didn't play Junior B hurling last year either. So clearly can't be the case that the only thing stopping them from fielding was that somebody turning 18 during the year wasn't allowed to play.

I don't know the exact situation with Fethard or Clongeen. But what's clear overall here is that at most, it's a bare handful of clubs not able to field a second team in either code, and the absence of lads turning 18 can't be the only reason why, since this wasn't a factor last year and they didn't field a second then either.

So, to turn your question around, what's worse.....every single club having their minor championships held up during September and October if minors are allowed to play adult grades, or a bare handful of clubs not being able to field a second team when there's no guarantee they could field one anyway even if they could pick from their minors?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2258 - 25/10/2023 00:34:25    2510152

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Thank you for those examples. Have to cast doubt over many of them, though.

Am in the Gorey District myself and my own club played Kilrush/Askamore in both hurling and football in Junior B this year. We also played against Ballygarrett in Junior B hurling. And while we didn't play Realt na Mara in Junior B football, they didn't have a football team in the grade last year either, when there nothing to stop a player turning 18 during the year from playing adult grades, since minor was still U17.

As for Shamrocks football.....let's just say their problems this year were about more than minors not being allowed play.

St Martin's had their usual three hurling teams (Senior, Intermediate A and Junior B) and two football teams (Intermediate and Junior) this year.

Rosslare fielded in Junior B hurling, but not Junior B football. However, like Realt na Mara, they didn't field in Junior B football last year either, when nothing was stopping somebody turning 18 during the year from playing. Same with Kilmore if you swap the codes - i.e. they played Junior B football this year but not Junior B hurling, but they didn't play Junior B hurling last year either. So clearly can't be the case that the only thing stopping them from fielding was that somebody turning 18 during the year wasn't allowed to play.

I don't know the exact situation with Fethard or Clongeen. But what's clear overall here is that at most, it's a bare handful of clubs not able to field a second team in either code, and the absence of lads turning 18 can't be the only reason why, since this wasn't a factor last year and they didn't field a second then either.

So, to turn your question around, what's worse.....every single club having their minor championships held up during September and October if minors are allowed to play adult grades, or a bare handful of clubs not being able to field a second team when there's no guarantee they could field one anyway even if they could pick from their minors?"
Again I m not trying to prove you wrong . But junior b is the life blood and building ground for smaller clubs and young adult players not ready for higher grades do we use leave them walk away
Marys rosslare realt na mara martins Kilmore think ferns possibly too started pulledd out .due to lack if numbers there were more .
check through the districts junior b wexfird district was re structured I was told by one of the clubs officers after couple rounds as some of above teams could nt field teams after the first couple rounds
If u think its OK for handful of smaller clubs to not field 2nd teans so be it I think differently . U17s18s can play minor Saturday and adult soccer Sunday . It may have an impact but for donkeys years it was managed .

Sure let them off so if t's acceptable collateral damage .

I m talking about the year in wexford gone no minors came up. Left clubs without numbers fir 2nd 3rd teams end of story . Next year will he different
It'll only be the one year where they won't come up but it could have negative effect on smaller clubs
If counties are reverting back to even years they at least deserve to know the pitfalls .
Inc the consequences of county being u17 and u20s interfering with 16s 18s 20/21s club where at present at odds it dies jt effect u15 . Its acceptable for county to interfere with club but having 2nd year minors playing up for the club is nt Because it ll interfere with fixtures . Mmm
Elite players priority over majority being club only players .
.

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 25/10/2023 10:54:18    2510189

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Thank you for those examples. Have to cast doubt over many of them, though.

Am in the Gorey District myself and my own club played Kilrush/Askamore in both hurling and football in Junior B this year. We also played against Ballygarrett in Junior B hurling. And while we didn't play Realt na Mara in Junior B football, they didn't have a football team in the grade last year either, when there nothing to stop a player turning 18 during the year from playing adult grades, since minor was still U17.

As for Shamrocks football.....let's just say their problems this year were about more than minors not being allowed play.

St Martin's had their usual three hurling teams (Senior, Intermediate A and Junior B) and two football teams (Intermediate and Junior) this year.

Rosslare fielded in Junior B hurling, but not Junior B football. However, like Realt na Mara, they didn't field in Junior B football last year either, when nothing was stopping somebody turning 18 during the year from playing. Same with Kilmore if you swap the codes - i.e. they played Junior B football this year but not Junior B hurling, but they didn't play Junior B hurling last year either. So clearly can't be the case that the only thing stopping them from fielding was that somebody turning 18 during the year wasn't allowed to play.

I don't know the exact situation with Fethard or Clongeen. But what's clear overall here is that at most, it's a bare handful of clubs not able to field a second team in either code, and the absence of lads turning 18 can't be the only reason why, since this wasn't a factor last year and they didn't field a second then either.

So, to turn your question around, what's worse.....every single club having their minor championships held up during September and October if minors are allowed to play adult grades, or a bare handful of clubs not being able to field a second team when there's no guarantee they could field one anyway even if they could pick from their minors?"
Clongeen played their game against Taghmon at Junior B Football. Fethard conceded theirs, although I know a number of them went travelling this year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12146 - 25/10/2023 12:00:43    2510207

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Again I m not trying to prove you wrong . But junior b is the life blood and building ground for smaller clubs and young adult players not ready for higher grades do we use leave them walk away
Marys rosslare realt na mara martins Kilmore think ferns possibly too started pulledd out .due to lack if numbers there were more .
check through the districts junior b wexfird district was re structured I was told by one of the clubs officers after couple rounds as some of above teams could nt field teams after the first couple rounds
If u think its OK for handful of smaller clubs to not field 2nd teans so be it I think differently . U17s18s can play minor Saturday and adult soccer Sunday . It may have an impact but for donkeys years it was managed .

Sure let them off so if t's acceptable collateral damage .

I m talking about the year in wexford gone no minors came up. Left clubs without numbers fir 2nd 3rd teams end of story . Next year will he different
It'll only be the one year where they won't come up but it could have negative effect on smaller clubs
If counties are reverting back to even years they at least deserve to know the pitfalls .
Inc the consequences of county being u17 and u20s interfering with 16s 18s 20/21s club where at present at odds it dies jt effect u15 . Its acceptable for county to interfere with club but having 2nd year minors playing up for the club is nt Because it ll interfere with fixtures . Mmm
Elite players priority over majority being club only players .
."
Think the point you made there about the issues being just for this year with the change back to even number years explains alot of the problems. And that went for everyone all the way down. My eldest was in the younger year at u11 last year, and was still In the younger year this year too. Next year will be his 1st year of playing meaningful football and hurling up to the age in his life, as covid messed up his earlier years. Next year all the boys will move up as usual.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12146 - 25/10/2023 12:05:55    2510211

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Again I m not trying to prove you wrong . But junior b is the life blood and building ground for smaller clubs and young adult players not ready for higher grades do we use leave them walk away
Marys rosslare realt na mara martins Kilmore think ferns possibly too started pulledd out .due to lack if numbers there were more .
check through the districts junior b wexfird district was re structured I was told by one of the clubs officers after couple rounds as some of above teams could nt field teams after the first couple rounds
If u think its OK for handful of smaller clubs to not field 2nd teans so be it I think differently . U17s18s can play minor Saturday and adult soccer Sunday . It may have an impact but for donkeys years it was managed .

Sure let them off so if t's acceptable collateral damage .

I m talking about the year in wexford gone no minors came up. Left clubs without numbers fir 2nd 3rd teams end of story . Next year will he different
It'll only be the one year where they won't come up but it could have negative effect on smaller clubs
If counties are reverting back to even years they at least deserve to know the pitfalls .
Inc the consequences of county being u17 and u20s interfering with 16s 18s 20/21s club where at present at odds it dies jt effect u15 . Its acceptable for county to interfere with club but having 2nd year minors playing up for the club is nt Because it ll interfere with fixtures . Mmm
Elite players priority over majority being club only players .
."
Again....some of those clubs didn't field in both codes at Junior B last year either, when they would have been allowed to play lads who were turning 18 during the year. So there's clearly more than just that one issue at stake.

Ferns is a new one you've mentioned but I know for a fact they fielded three teams in both hurling and football this year, and didn't pull out of Junior B in either code.

I'm not saying it's "okay" that some smaller clubs can't field two teams in a certain code. I'm saying it's the lesser of two evils, when you consider the other one would be that every club in the county would have their minor championships held up for most of September and October if even only a few minor players were also fielding for an adult team.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2258 - 25/10/2023 12:26:52    2510219

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Again....some of those clubs didn't field in both codes at Junior B last year either, when they would have been allowed to play lads who were turning 18 during the year. So there's clearly more than just that one issue at stake.

Ferns is a new one you've mentioned but I know for a fact they fielded three teams in both hurling and football this year, and didn't pull out of Junior B in either code.

I'm not saying it's "okay" that some smaller clubs can't field two teams in a certain code. I'm saying it's the lesser of two evils, when you consider the other one would be that every club in the county would have their minor championships held up for most of September and October if even only a few minor players were also fielding for an adult team."
It's already held up until July same as u16 due to county u17 both codes for even lesser amount of players . As well as for underage county toutmrnaments in August. .
Maybe intercounty underage should switch to winter off season . Keep the elite players hurling kicking all year long

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 25/10/2023 14:38:15    2510254

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Again....some of those clubs didn't field in both codes at Junior B last year either, when they would have been allowed to play lads who were turning 18 during the year. So there's clearly more than just that one issue at stake.

Ferns is a new one you've mentioned but I know for a fact they fielded three teams in both hurling and football this year, and didn't pull out of Junior B in either code.

I'm not saying it's "okay" that some smaller clubs can't field two teams in a certain code. I'm saying it's the lesser of two evils, when you consider the other one would be that every club in the county would have their minor championships held up for most of September and October if even only a few minor players were also fielding for an adult team."
Ballyhogue too

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 25/10/2023 14:38:46    2510255

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Replying To Formertownie:  "It's already held up until July same as u16 due to county u17 both codes for even lesser amount of players . As well as for underage county toutmrnaments in August. .
Maybe intercounty underage should switch to winter off season . Keep the elite players hurling kicking all year long"
Couple of points on this one:
- if Minor club championships are already held up until the start of July, surely that's all the more reason not to hold them up again in September/October?

- Club minor players are not sitting around with nothing to do during the inter-county minor campaign. Same as the All County Leagues at adult level, there were separate league competitions run at both U16 and U18 during March/April/May, where clubs fielded without their county players. You might make the same criticisms of these leagues as people do of the All County Leagues ("meaningless/a joke/etc."), but at least they're games for lads to play.

- Between league and championship across both codes, my own club's minors have had more than 20 matches already this year, and they've still one more to come as they're in a hurling final this coming weekend.

Finally, I've held off on saying this until now, but if a club really does have to rely on a number of second year minors each year to make up a second team (i.e. a bunch of raw 17- or 18-year-old chaps), then there must be other things wrong there as regards keeping slightly older players involved.

Maybe they should be asking themselves what more they could do to keep lads involved during their twenties, rather than calling for the whole system to be changed and having all sorts of knock-on effects by wanting to play a couple of 17- and 18-year-olds instead?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2258 - 25/10/2023 15:14:06    2510265

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Couple of points on this one:
- if Minor club championships are already held up until the start of July, surely that's all the more reason not to hold them up again in September/October?

- Club minor players are not sitting around with nothing to do during the inter-county minor campaign. Same as the All County Leagues at adult level, there were separate league competitions run at both U16 and U18 during March/April/May, where clubs fielded without their county players. You might make the same criticisms of these leagues as people do of the All County Leagues ("meaningless/a joke/etc."), but at least they're games for lads to play.

- Between league and championship across both codes, my own club's minors have had more than 20 matches already this year, and they've still one more to come as they're in a hurling final this coming weekend.

Finally, I've held off on saying this until now, but if a club really does have to rely on a number of second year minors each year to make up a second team (i.e. a bunch of raw 17- or 18-year-old chaps), then there must be other things wrong there as regards keeping slightly older players involved.

Maybe they should be asking themselves what more they could do to keep lads involved during their twenties, rather than calling for the whole system to be changed and having all sorts of knock-on effects by wanting to play a couple of 17- and 18-year-olds instead?"
The only reason I've commented on this thread . Is to make anyone nterested or affected by age change that they wil have no new players coming up in first year .
Depending then on size of club it could mean anything from 15 20 to 7 or 8 . On a given year .
Taking the natural drop off into account its inevitable we lose some if they have nt stopped already. In all my years I've never seen or heard of a full complement complete the transfer.
The point is big clubs can possibly do without minors coming up for 1 year but the smaller clubs who may for whatever reasons , travelling , injuries ,retirements, exams . Struggle to field the lowest level team who already may be short on numbers .
When the following year comes around and minors do come up it may improve but only if the others come back who were possibly already not that committed to it .
I ll let other people in clubs in other counties decide what suits them best .
The beauty of democracy .
Counties can decide on age limit and then clubs in that county could have their own policy if it suits them to play or not play 18yos.
Minor fixtures should be set in Stone with 48hr rule for minors . Whatever they decide themselves then. .
I see on wexford paper aan u16 player was on the bench for Wexford Fc mens team . Sometime over the last couple weeks and also played in juvenile co final .
Thats way too young but an 18yo can drink legally ,,drive ,vote , travel independently ,live on their own but can't play.adult. .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 26/10/2023 08:11:09    2510354

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Replying To Formertownie:  "
Replying To Pikeman96:  "Couple of points on this one:
- if Minor club championships are already held up until the start of July, surely that's all the more reason not to hold them up again in September/October?

- Club minor players are not sitting around with nothing to do during the inter-county minor campaign. Same as the All County Leagues at adult level, there were separate league competitions run at both U16 and U18 during March/April/May, where clubs fielded without their county players. You might make the same criticisms of these leagues as people do of the All County Leagues ("meaningless/a joke/etc."), but at least they're games for lads to play.

- Between league and championship across both codes, my own club's minors have had more than 20 matches already this year, and they've still one more to come as they're in a hurling final this coming weekend.

Finally, I've held off on saying this until now, but if a club really does have to rely on a number of second year minors each year to make up a second team (i.e. a bunch of raw 17- or 18-year-old chaps), then there must be other things wrong there as regards keeping slightly older players involved.

Maybe they should be asking themselves what more they could do to keep lads involved during their twenties, rather than calling for the whole system to be changed and having all sorts of knock-on effects by wanting to play a couple of 17- and 18-year-olds instead?"
The only reason I've commented on this thread . Is to make anyone nterested or affected by age change that they wil have no new players coming up in first year .
Depending then on size of club it could mean anything from 15 20 to 7 or 8 . On a given year .
Taking the natural drop off into account its inevitable we lose some if they have nt stopped already. In all my years I've never seen or heard of a full complement complete the transfer.
The point is big clubs can possibly do without minors coming up for 1 year but the smaller clubs who may for whatever reasons , travelling , injuries ,retirements, exams . Struggle to field the lowest level team who already may be short on numbers .
When the following year comes around and minors do come up it may improve but only if the others come back who were possibly already not that committed to it .
I ll let other people in clubs in other counties decide what suits them best .
The beauty of democracy .
Counties can decide on age limit and then clubs in that county could have their own policy if it suits them to play or not play 18yos.
Minor fixtures should be set in Stone with 48hr rule for minors . Whatever they decide themselves then. .
I see on wexford paper aan u16 player was on the bench for Wexford Fc mens team . Sometime over the last couple weeks and also played in juvenile co final .
Thats way too young but an 18yo can drink legally ,,drive ,vote , travel independently ,live on their own but can't play.adult. ."
All of this year's minors who are overage will be able to play adult next year now though? It was only this year the clubs were down a year of lads.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12146 - 26/10/2023 09:40:06    2510362

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Club Minor Competition for 2024.
Where are county at to date.
Correct if wrong.

Galway U17
Kilkenny U17
Leitrim U17
Louth U17
Offaly U17
Tipperary U17
Waterford U17
Wicklow U17
Antrim U18
Armagh U18
Cavan U18
Cork U18
Derry U18
Donegal U18
Down U18
Fermanagh U18
Kerry U18
Limerick U18
Longford U18
Mayo U18
Meath U18
Monaghan U18
Roscommon U18
Tyrone U18
Westmeath U18
Wexford U18
Carlow ???
Clare ???
Dublin ???
Kildare ???
Laois ???
Sligo ???

Mountainside07092 (Sligo) - Posts: 1 - 26/10/2023 10:18:03    2510370

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Replying To Viking66:  "
Replying To Formertownie:  "[quote=Pikeman96:  "Couple of points on this one:
- if Minor club championships are already held up until the start of July, surely that's all the more reason not to hold them up again in September/October?

- Club minor players are not sitting around with nothing to do during the inter-county minor campaign. Same as the All County Leagues at adult level, there were separate league competitions run at both U16 and U18 during March/April/May, where clubs fielded without their county players. You might make the same criticisms of these leagues as people do of the All County Leagues ("meaningless/a joke/etc."), but at least they're games for lads to play.

- Between league and championship across both codes, my own club's minors have had more than 20 matches already this year, and they've still one more to come as they're in a hurling final this coming weekend.

Finally, I've held off on saying this until now, but if a club really does have to rely on a number of second year minors each year to make up a second team (i.e. a bunch of raw 17- or 18-year-old chaps), then there must be other things wrong there as regards keeping slightly older players involved.

Maybe they should be asking themselves what more they could do to keep lads involved during their twenties, rather than calling for the whole system to be changed and having all sorts of knock-on effects by wanting to play a couple of 17- and 18-year-olds instead?"
The only reason I've commented on this thread . Is to make anyone nterested or affected by age change that they wil have no new players coming up in first year .
Depending then on size of club it could mean anything from 15 20 to 7 or 8 . On a given year .
Taking the natural drop off into account its inevitable we lose some if they have nt stopped already. In all my years I've never seen or heard of a full complement complete the transfer.
The point is big clubs can possibly do without minors coming up for 1 year but the smaller clubs who may for whatever reasons , travelling , injuries ,retirements, exams . Struggle to field the lowest level team who already may be short on numbers .
When the following year comes around and minors do come up it may improve but only if the others come back who were possibly already not that committed to it .
I ll let other people in clubs in other counties decide what suits them best .
The beauty of democracy .
Counties can decide on age limit and then clubs in that county could have their own policy if it suits them to play or not play 18yos.
Minor fixtures should be set in Stone with 48hr rule for minors . Whatever they decide themselves then. .
I see on wexford paper aan u16 player was on the bench for Wexford Fc mens team . Sometime over the last couple weeks and also played in juvenile co final .
Thats way too young but an 18yo can drink legally ,,drive ,vote , travel independently ,live on their own but can't play.adult. ."
All of this year's minors who are overage will be able to play adult next year now though? It was only this year the clubs were down a year of lads."]Yes I kniw thats the point i m making .
If alliwed now it will be a problem further down the line if it changed again and 18yo were nt allowed play
In the year it changed to u17 there were 2 years of minors going up to adult.
Be very interesting to see how many of that years then 17yos are still playing
its the intervening year Im just making people aware of . I m not saying all should play but in certain situations u can make the case .
We voted to allow u17 with means at some stage we felt they were ready .
Now we are saying we are wrong.
Or was it croke park led through financial rewards/carrots .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 184 - 26/10/2023 11:24:37    2510390

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Viking66 makes a good point above.

Any minor squad this year of even only 18 to 20 players would surely have eight or nine lads who'll be 18 by the end of this year, and therefore overage for minor next year and eligible instead for Junior B or whatever other adult grade.

So any club that did struggle for numbers this year and blamed it on "lack of young lads coming through" would have eight or nine new players available next year anyway. Even if they're amalgamated at minor level, you'd expect they'd still have four or five.

If that's not enough and they still need two or three more who'd still be minor next year, then you'd have to think there's something else wrong in the club as regards keeping lads playing at age 19 and into their twenties.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2258 - 26/10/2023 11:34:00    2510392

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