Former GAA president Liam O’Neill has launched a robust defence of the Go Games model in light of recent controversy.
Go Games have been in existence for the last 13 years and are typically run on a blitz basis from under-12 down with no competitive or knockout element. The matches are small-sided with all players guaranteed game time and scores not to be published, while trophies should not be presented.
However, with the rule being flouted in places, the GAA sent a notification to clubs recently reminding them that there had been no change to existing policy as well as the sanctions for a breach of rule.
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The matter was discussed on RTE 1’s current affairs show Upfront with Katie Hannon on Monday night with speakers for and against, though former inter-county football referee Rory Hickey was among those who spoke strongly in favour of Go Games, citing the abuse that teenage referees suffer from over-zealous coaches during underage games that have a competitive element to them.
O’Neill, who was president from 2012-15, then weighed in, saying: “I was proud to be part of this. I think it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
“The history of it is, people used to play these sort of games years ago before clubs were as widespread as they are now.
“No referee, they went down to the field, they didn’t keep the score - they did keep the score but it didn’t go anywhere.
“So we then had juvenile teams formed, we had 15-aside games for children and adults started getting really involved in it and behaving inappropriately. So the Go Games was a move to make underage games child-centric. The child was at the centre of it.”
He continued: “We had a situation, a 15-aside game where you have three or four good players, a person could be playing corner-back or corner-forward and never get a touch of the ball.
“In this, because it’s short-sided, because it’s conditioned, because there are rules like one solo, one hop, you can’t go from one end of the field to the other, everybody gets involved.
“My own daughter is involved in Go Games in Dublin, she’s with Na Gaeil Og in Lucan
“Someone asked her one day about winning and losing and she said, ‘When you’re playing with your friends and learning new skills, you’re winning’. And I think that’s the message that we’re trying to give in this.”
The point was made that children need to develop coping mechanisms for winning and losing and that the non-competitive element shielded them too much.
O’Neill cited his experience as a school teacher over a 40-year period.
He added: “Any Monday morning that I come in and there’d be games at the weekend, if a child got a goal, that’s what they talked about, not the result.
“We know they can keep the score, we know they can count but the point we’re making is, that doesn’t decide your status in life, whether you win or lose. It’s the fact that you played the game and you enjoy it.”
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