The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association have come together to launch a 'Gaelic Games Player Pathway' that they hope will help to encourage and retain players at all levels of their sports.
For the first time, all three associations with responsibility for the promotion of Gaelic Football, Hurling, Ladies Football and Camogie will have an aligned pathway and vision for player development.
A joint statement said that the pathway aims to "address elitism in underage development, make quality coaching within clubs a lynchpin and to provide an opportunity for lifelong participation in our games for every boy and girl, regardless of their ability".
The pathway has three main phases: Foundation, Talent and Elite/High Performance, and has the overriding aim of providing all players with positive experiences, thereby increasing the retention rate of lifelong participants.
Camogie president Kathleen Woods said: "The Camogie Association is delighted to be part of this historical and ground breaking collaboration.
"The core and heart of this new pathway is that it is player-centred and club-centred.
"This new pathway facilitates the development of all players at all levels from participation to performance.
"The underpinning philosophy of the Gaelic Games Player Pathway is to support players with the right environment, at the right time of development through coaching, education and developing their athletic and personal capacities as they grow.
"This will ensure that the experience of playing our games is always appropriate for the developmental stage of the player involved and will assist players, parents, coaches, teachers officials and administrators to make informed decisions about player development so that every child youth and adult can reach their desired potential and enjoy our games throughout their lifetime."
GAA president Larry McCarthy said: "The Gaelic Games Player Pathway is the result of several years of careful work and planning that is designed to give every player the chance to have the best experience possible from their involvement in Gaelic games.
"All of our players are club players; and so it is vital that we put the club at the heart of our player development pathway and ensure that whatever road your playing career takes, that it is something positive and that the club in turn benefits. Aligning this work across the GAA, LGFA and Camogie will embed this philosophy throughout Gaelic games coaching with a culture that nurtures the Person as much as the Player."
LGFA president Mícheál Naughton commented: "This exciting programme will help greatly to foster and enhance a culture of participation and enjoyment for all of our players.
"Our wish is that our players get involved in our Association and stay involved for life.
"You may be a player who is fortunate to line out for your county on All-Ireland final day – or you may be a player who’s in our sport simply for participation and enjoyment.
"There is no distinction to be made here – it’s about playing our sport because you enjoy it, and being encouraged to play."
