What do people make of u17 players not allowed to play adult football? Was down in west clare (football mad county)last week and trained with the local team who I played with for a few years. This part of Clare is on the loop head peninsula and greatly effected by emigration and the local team have a extremely small panel of around 22 . They have 5/6 lads who are u17 who are not allowed to play adult football because of this crazy ruling. These are young mad football lads who live for football and unfortunately don't have other sports around to play, the nearest football/rugby teams are probably around 20 miles and will probably only play 5/6 minor throughout the year. This club actually won the junior championship in Clare 2 years with 5 players u17. This motion failed at congress, surely rural clubs should speak up and try overturn motion? This greatly effects rural clubs and turns young people to drink and drinks if they cant play sport. When player burnout proposals were been talked(this only really effected the "elite player", the ordinary club is not getting enough games.

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 12/05/2016 12:23:04    1854346

We've 6 lads unable to play adult this year because of this silly rule. we'd always have had one or two 17 year olds on a team, especially for junior league games

they'll probably get 6 minor games instead.
meanwhile, the local soccer league will let them play and they get 20 games

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 12/05/2016 12:36:24    1854351

Surely you should realise that those in power in the GAA only care about the intercounty set-up and that clubs, and particularly rural clubs, are nothing more than a nuisance to them.

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 12/05/2016 12:43:09    1854355

Surely you should realise that those in power in the GAA only care about the intercounty set-up and that clubs, and particularly rural clubs, are nothing more than a nuisance to them.

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts:723 - 12/05/2016 12:43:09

Correct onlyhurling. GAA only care about profits and dont 2 hoots about the grassroots of Gaelic games

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 12/05/2016 13:07:43    1854366

We've 6 lads unable to play adult this year because of this silly rule. we'd always have had one or two 17 year olds on a team, especially for junior league games

they'll probably get 6 minor games instead.
meanwhile, the local soccer league will let them play and they get 20 games

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts:268 - 12/05/2016 12:36:24 1854351

exactly lost to other sports, this smacks of arrogance from GAA knowing they will players to others sports especially in urban areas

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 12/05/2016 13:10:17    1854368

I think the bigger problem here is that they are only getting 6 minor matches.

Under 18 is still pretty young to start playing adult football. From an injury prevention view point I have to say I like the rule. It'd be all too easy for a club senior manager to draft players in who are not physically up to it so as to make up the numbers. I'm happy enough for there to be some minimum age level. Under 17 sounds reasonable.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4225 - 12/05/2016 13:11:01    1854370

In theory, it's a good rule but, like all rules, there are exceptions. Amalgamating with a neighbouring club for minor league & championship is one possible solution.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 12/05/2016 15:31:47    1854438

Have to agree with whamm - the problem is the lack of minor games.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 12/05/2016 16:18:15    1854456

Well said Gael 85

We have a few lads who can't play football either, but in reality this rule really affects the hurlers, as there isn't many hurlers in small clubs....
this burn-out idea.... is great when they go and play other sports

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1673 - 12/05/2016 16:20:29    1854458

These rules are just moving the deck chairs around the titanic.
All consuming County focus by the gaa is the killer here. Clubs are the Lifeblood of the gaa are are being slowly suffocated by the over emphasis on success of the county team. Even county development squad friendly matches take priority over a young fella or girl lining out for their club in a competitive match. It's nuts. No matches for club players for months on end and they wonder why we can't attract and keep adult players, hence relying on young kids to make up the numbers to field teams.

showforit (Meath) - Posts: 156 - 12/05/2016 16:58:06    1854469

There's a hurling club in Westmeath who have not got one adult league or championship match in 2016

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 12/05/2016 18:09:37    1854481

"We have a few lads who can't play football either, but in reality this rule really affects the hurlers, as there isn't many hurlers in small clubs...."

Spot on. The rule that minors can't play county U21 is particularly frustrating. Our county U21 panel last year was made up of lads from 17 to 20 years of age. All bar one is U21 again this year but 6 of last year's squad is now ineligible because they're still minors. And the All-Ireland Minor 'C' competition has been scrapped!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 12/05/2016 18:21:11    1854482

A good U17 footballer at a small club is expected to carry his team even though everybody knows that he will be targeted by the opposition. The problem is compounded if he is a fairly light player. However, at adult level for the club he simply concentrates on playing his own position. He finds it much easier and is targeted much less physically. That has always been the case.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 12/05/2016 19:53:12    1854499

U17 not allowed to play adult football
What do people make of u17 players not allowed to play adult football? Was down in west clare (football mad county)last week and trained with the local team who I played with for a few years. This part of Clare is on the loop head peninsula and greatly effected by emigration and the local team have a extremely small panel of around 22 . They have 5/6 lads who are u17 who are not allowed to play adult football because of this crazy ruling. These are young mad football lads who live for football and unfortunately don't have other sports around to play, the nearest football/rugby teams are probably around 20 miles and will probably only play 5/6 minor throughout the year. This club actually won the junior championship in Clare 2 years with 5 players u17. This motion failed at congress, surely rural clubs should speak up and try overturn motion? This greatly effects rural clubs and turns young people to drink and drinks if they cant play sport. When player burnout proposals were been talked(this only really effected the "elite player", the ordinary club is not getting enough games.
Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts:1157 - 12/05/2016 12:23:04An excellent rule. An u17 if able to play adult grade will have minor/u21 and then junior or senior and then if club plays both gaelic and hurling double teams again. This is an excellent rule. You change minor(u17) to provide more games then if thats a worry. I dont see how this ruling is crazy. There has to be something done about player burnout and this is key to it. It works well in other sports that there is lower age limit on playing adult level open age grade games as this protects those young players from burnout and harm before they may be physically and or mentally ready to play adult open grade games.

"We have a few lads who can't play football either, but in reality this rule really affects the hurlers, as there isn't many hurlers in small clubs...."
Spot on. The rule that minors can't play county U21 is particularly frustrating. Our county U21 panel last year was made up of lads from 17 to 20 years of age. All bar one is U21 again this year but 6 of last year's squad is now ineligible because they're still minors. And the All-Ireland Minor 'C' competition has been scrapped!
keeper7 (Longford) - Posts:2900 - 12/05/2016 18:21:11 Minors shouldnt play under 21. Under 21 is still a development grade and you should play under 21s ahead of minors. This helps widen the player pool as the minors will have 3 years to play and develop on county under 21 while it may be a players nly shot at playing under 21...

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/05/2016 21:30:51    1854531

However, at adult level for the club he simply concentrates on playing his own position. He finds it much easier and is targeted much less physically. That has always been the case.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts:205 - 12/05/2016 19:53:12 1854499

That is just not true. A young player in adult will be targeted if he's good and he often won't have the tools to deal with it.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4225 - 12/05/2016 21:50:17    1854541

ormondbannerman

I am inclined to agree with your post on this topic, you are right re U21 being a development grade. And in many ways so is U17 lads are not physically mature or developed enough to play adult men the potential for an injury is huge.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 12/05/2016 21:57:39    1854545

If an 18 year old minor is allowed play senior for their club then it's ridiculous that the same player can't play county U21. It's limiting the amount of hurling a young player can play in weaker counties like my own. No one ever suffered burnout from playing too much hurling in Longford!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 13/05/2016 10:02:39    1854572

U21 club football/hurling is usually a knockout competition.
How can it be a 'development' grade?

17/18 year old club players need more games, not less. This rule is denying 17 year olds the opportunity to play. They might not all be physically ready for the challenge, but let the clubs and players make that judgement

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 13/05/2016 14:01:43    1854666

If adult teams can't field without a 16 year old child then games should be facilitated at 13-a-side.
Rather than flog kids at this age by pressuring them to play on multiple team county boards and clubs need to adapt to this rule and frame competitions that clubs can take part in ie games at 13-a-side if thats what the majority of clubs in a particular area need.
Let the young player mature into an adult, don't drag him into adulthood.

downredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 567 - 13/05/2016 14:27:20    1854680

Don't think a lot of the rule - it has affected my club big time. However, I'd be a little bit more inclined to accept it if the players affected (those that are under 17 this year) had a proper programme of games. Minors in my county are likely to play a maximum of 7 club games and a minimum of 5. That's just not good enough.

CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 160 - 13/05/2016 14:32:05    1854686