GAA Youth Forum in Croke Park this Saturday

Over 180 young players from all across Ireland will travel to Croke Park on Saturday next, to participate in the 2015 #GAAyouth Forum, which is organised by the GAA’s National Youth Committee The young male and female players, aged 12 – 21, were selected after an online application process.

The theme of the 2015 #GAAyouth Forum is ‘Your Voice, Your Lifestyle, Your GAA’ and its aim is to educate and empower young people around Player Welfare issues that are important to them. The theme and issues were decided after a Consultation Day that was held with 100 young members in June 2014 at which the participants recommended that young players need more information and education around health, nutrition, injury prevention and burn-out,

The #GAAyouth Forum will be opened by Páraic Duffy, GAA Director General. Throughout the event attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a number of interactive sessions. Dr. Brendan Egan (Lecturer in UCD and Sligo Footballer) will deliver a workshop on Food & Nutrition. The Medical, Scientific & Welfare Committee will host an interactive discussion around a range of topics that young people have sought more information on i.e. Concussion and Anti-Doping Rules. A discussion on injury prevention and rehabilitation will be hosted by Michael Fennelly (Lecturer in Setanta College and Kilkenny Hurler) and Julie Davis (S&C Coach with the Armagh Footballers). They will also discuss the myths around Strength & Conditioning before leading a practical demonstration of the GAA’s Gaelic 15 Warm Up in the Hogan Stand Dressing Rooms.

The Forum will conclude with a Q&A Panel session hosted by JOE.ie’s Paddy McKenna. The panellists will include Niall O’Meara (Tipperary Hurler), Ross Munnelly (Laois Footballer), Ashling Thompson (Cork Camogie), Noelle Healy (Dublin Ladies Footballer), and experts in Sport Science including Dr. Brendan Egan, Julie Davis, Michael Fennelly and Ronan Carolan. The panel will also discuss a range of different issues including: managing a good balance between education, work and GAA; communicating effectively with adult coaches; preventing burnout and injury prevention.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to apply to become part of a sub-group of eight young people who will review the #GAAyouth Forum and prepare a report on the Forum to GAA Congress in 2016. This group will also be responsible for carrying out a project on one of the key issues raised at the Forum as well as selecting the theme of the next Forum in 2016.

The #GAAyouth Forum is organised by the National Youth Committee in partnership with An Cumann Camógaíochta, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs. The Medical, Scientific & Welfare Committee and the Games Development Committee have also played a key role in ensuring that all of the activities and information provided at the Forum reflect GAA policy and best practice.

For further information on the activities of the National Youth Committee and a report on the 2015 #GAAyouth Forum check out www.gaa.ie/youth-zone.