We are from "club A" and have moved 10 minutes away to a neighbouring parish "club B" in the same county. Our kids go to school in club A parish as we work there and hope to move back there in the future so our 6 Yr old plays with club A as all his school mates plays with that club. Is this allowed or will there be issues with him playing there as he gets older until we move back there (if we ever get the chance too). Any advice be greatly appreciated.

Fergie062 (Sligo) - Posts: 3 - 23/09/2021 18:52:31    2382626

Don't worry Fergie. Most kids play with the club that is affiliated with their primary school which is proper order. Kids should be allowed play with their friends and not be forced join a club due to their temporary location or due to the their great great grandad was a club legend in 1905. Let them have fun with their friends

updafaughs (Monaghan) - Posts: 56 - 24/09/2021 10:18:02    2382706

99.9% sure he's okay to continue playing with Club A according to the rulebook too.

He was entitled to join Club A in the first place because it was the family's permanent place of residence at the time he joined it ("permanent" in this context meaning the main family home, rather than the fact that they'd be there forever). Also entitled to join it if that club's catchment area includes the school he attends.

Club A thus becomes his official "First Club" and he's entitled to continue playing there for the rest of his days if he wants to, even if he moves much further away, under the "Other Relevant Connection" rule. Acceptable "other relevant connections" include if the parents' permanent (main) residence was there at the time of his birth.

The small 0.1% doubt actually comes from two things, but I wouldn't unduly worry about either:
1 - If you were living somewhere else when he was born, then moved to the place where he joined Club A, before then moving again. But unless somebody ever digs deep into your family history, it's unlikely this would ever come to light.

2 - Counties do have the power to make bye-laws to amend eligibility rules for clubs, so might be worth checking in your own county if you really do want to remove this small bit of doubt. Your club secretary should easily be able to get a list of all county bye-laws from your County Board, if he/she doesn't have that list already. But would have to think it unlikely that any county would have bye-laws to prohibit the sort of circumstance you're in here.

Overall then, I'd say you're grand. Keep him playing. And make sure he enjoys it!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2621 - 24/09/2021 14:32:19    2382755

Fergie062 (Sligo) - Posts: 3 - 24/09/2021 18:52:59    2382793

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2654 - 25/09/2021 11:26:03    2382840

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7651 - 25/09/2021 12:04:58    2382846

Getting a bit like a riddle all right. :)

I thought it was just about one lad (the six-year-old). Now it seems it's about two.

Anyway, the younger lad should be okay as well. Even though he was born in parish of Club B, his school is in the parish of Club A, and so he's entitled to join the club there.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2621 - 25/09/2021 12:20:45    2382848

Thanks lads. Sorry never mentioned the second lad but by time he gets to u16 and minor where it may start to matter we will hopefully be back in he parish

Fergie062 (Sligo) - Posts: 3 - 25/09/2021 16:48:39    2382884

To be quite honest, none of it is ever likely to be an issue unless either or both of your lads grow up to be superstars. And I'm satisfied myself that you'll be well able to stand 100% over their membership of Club A even if that happens.

Wouldn't be a bad problem to have, though. :)

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2621 - 25/09/2021 20:43:33    2382921

A child 's first club is determined by playing in a U12/( now U13) league or championship match. You kids can play for their 'home' parish , even though they live outside of it .

DelganyUpper (Tyrone) - Posts: 20 - 26/09/2021 09:10:45    2382941

scubydu (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 12/07/2024 04:10:40    2558478

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3118 - 12/07/2024 08:45:29    2558486

There is no rule whereby a child can play for the club if they go to the school in the catchment area. If a child lives in parish A but goes to school in parish B the club from parish A can object when they get to competitive age groups i.e U13/U14. A child can play go games (U12 down) with club A and then play competitive ages with Club B without transfer but if a child plays competitive age with a club it locks them into that club and they will need to transfer to go to another club.

journeyman (Limerick) - Posts: 141 - 17/07/2024 14:32:48    2559757

Yeah, the thing about officially being allowed to join the club in the area where he attends school is actually just a bye-law here in Wexford.

I thought when I wrote those original answers three years ago that it was a general rule which applies everywhere, but have found out in the meantime that it's not. It would vary from county to county.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2621 - 17/07/2024 16:55:57    2559778

It does not matter as posters have said. Try being from a parish with two clubs. I know roads where one side of the road plays for club A and the other side for club B. Others will play for the club their father/uncles played for etc.

When I was in primary school we had players from four different local clubs playing for the school.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11407 - 17/07/2024 18:32:46    2559790