For many years, GAA players have turned to soccer and rugby to keep up their fitness levels over the winter, but they are now finding that basketball is of more benefit to them during the off-season.

There has always been a close connection between GAA and basketball, particularly in Gaelic Football where many of the same skills can be used.

Down through the years, there have been a number of top GAA stars who played basketball at the highest level in this country as people like Mayo's Liam McHale, Galway's Kevin Walsh, Kerry duo Michael Quirke and Kieran Donaghy and Dublin midfielder Michael Dara Mcauley have all excelled in both sports.

An initiative has been run in Cork over the last four years which involves the Cork GAA Games Development Body, Colaiste Ioliuna Corcai, Cork LSP, Cork Men's Board, Cork Ladies Board, and Basketball Ireland. The aim of the programme is to get more and more GAA clubs involved in playing basketball and develop a stronger relationship between the two sporting bodies and also provide links between local GAA and Basketball clubs.

Basketball Development Officer Ciaran O'Sullivan spoke with hoganstand.com about the aim of the programme and what it has to offer.

"The programme has been running here in Cork for the past four years. Nine GAA clubs are currently participating in the programme. The sessions are one hour in length and held over a six-week period," said Ciaran.

"The focus of these sessions can be broke down into three areas: (1) To ensure that children leave the session knowing that Basketball is a fun sport to play. (2) To ensure that children develop key motor skills, which will impact on their overall physical development. (3) To improve skills that are transferable to both sports (Passing and receiving, ball handling moving, timing cuts, spacial awareness, peripheral vision, transition offense and defence, pivoting and decision making)."

Ciaran added that there are many links between the GAA and basketball, but they are hoping that can increase on a nationwide basis and not just confined to Cork. The initiative was launched in both Dublin (April) and Kerry (June) with Kevin McManamon and Kieran Donaghy turning up to lend their support.

Kevin McManamon quote - "It's great to see the lads working on transferable skills. I've always been interested in basketball. I think peripheral vision is an under-utilised tool in the GAA and getting your ball-handling right from an early age is really important too."

"The goal for us going forward is to make this a national programme for Basketball Ireland. We want to promote basketball as a fun and skilful sport as well as build relationships between the two sports," stated Ciaran.

"A big thanks must also go to Kevin O Callaghan who is county games manager here in Cork. Kevin has done plenty of work in developing links between GAA clubs and the development officer."

Up to 20 courses will be run over the autumn and Winter by Basketball Ireland Development Officers across the country. The updated format involves clubs committing to four one-hour sessions over a period of four weeks. Basketball Ireland coaches committee and the National development officers have put together a coaching manual specifically for the GAA Crossover programme.  The manual will be left with the clubs along with a pack consisting of five Basketballs and a set of bibs. (Subway sponsorship)

For further information have a look at Web:
www.corksports.ie
www.basketballireland.ie

Contact Information:
Basketball Ireland National Development Officer (Cork)
Ciaran O Sullivan [email protected]

Basketball Ireland National Development Officer (Galway)
Mike [email protected]

Basketball Ireland National Development Officer (Dublin)
Jason Killeen [email protected]

More info provided here in BI press release: http://www.basketballireland.ie

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