SIDELINE VIEW: Does your team cater for everyone?

When it got past the 15th name on the squad list, positions didn’t matter.  From then, until the last panel member, they were all subs.  All of them.

Compiling pen-pics is an important element of preparation for a final.  It adds to the exposure.  Enabling those on the outside to get a feel for the personalities involved.  Some are funny, others are serious.

This set was shocking.  It stopped me in my tracks.  That people can actually think like this.

Name.  Age. Club.  Earliest sporting memory.  Biggest influence on your career…..and of course, position.

For half the panel, the players’ positions were labelled as subs.  Technically, in one sense, they were.  They didn’t start the semi final.  But they all trained, they were all asked to join the panel at some point.  They had to play somewhere on the pitch.

The fact that it was an underage team made it 10 times worse.  But with gentle prodding, the final version that hit the press was different.

Seeing sub beside your name wouldn’t do much for the self-esteem.

This is one present and real life example of elitism.  But there are so many examples of it.  In every corner of the land.

With club AGM season about to soar into action and underage management meetings cropping up all over the place, clubs really need to address the elephant in the room.  The issue of inclusion.

The star players will lead the charge but there is a duty to cater for everyone and strive for a wider base.  A bigger playing population.

The GAA is a mind-boggling organisation that pulls communities together but, in so many quarters, it is fighting to keep their people engaged.

Emigration is one thing, but too many underage players, who don’t get a chance, are drifting off into the sunset and dwindling numbers of senior/reserve panels are the result.

And clubs begin to struggle.

How many clubs arrange challenge games or tournaments to ensure everyone gets ample playing time?  And not just the token five minutes at the end.

Young people know the story.  They know how many games they started.  They know how much the coach values them.  And yes, some are more talented than others but everyone needs to get a chance.

It might be a challenge but where possible, clubs need to field a second team to make sure everyone gets a game.  It will give the club a headache with more mentors required.

Clubs should introduce a new barometer for underage success.

They should chart their U14 team.  How many games each player starts in, comes on as a sub in and how long they play.

Do the same at minor level.  How many of the U14s push on to make the minor team four years later?  What is the difference in the panel size?  And who goes on to become regular senior and reserve players.

Winning underage trophies and the feeling it generates is unrivalled.  The buzz after the final whistle makes all the hours of practice worthwhile.

But how many people do you actually bring along with you?

Underage coaches need to be spreading the net wider.  And clubs need to be leading the directive.

Dungiven Celtic were recently honoured by the IFA for their policy of providing football for everyone.

At the end of the day, getting players through to the senior team should be the main objective of any club committee.  To create an environment where a senior and reserve team can be fielded on a regular basis.

On the way, there is a duty to provide a regular programme of games and in the proper manner.  Players need to play. They won’t develop without games.

However, the building blocks need laid early on.  The basic skills of movement.  Being able to kick the ball or strike the sliotar.  Without that, underage coaches up the ladder will just leave the player to one side.

So getting the best people involved at the youngest age groups is of paramount importance.  And building a link with the local schools.

With your club AGM just around the corner, it is time to put the plans in place that will see your club reap the long term harvest.