“Tell Us What YOU Think”

A root and branch Football review is now being carried out by Roscommon County Board. A

report on the review will be presented to the clubs. Any adaptions that emerge from this

review will be presented for adoption to club delegates and will be implemented for the 2018

season.

Our guidelines are as follows ;

i. To assess current competitions.

ii. Examine combination/independent units within the county.

iii. Examine best practice in relation to other counties.

iv. Assess have we enough/too many competitions

v. Investigate aligning underage categories within the county in line with national age

category changes.

To formulate the review report a consultation process, of which this questionnaire is part of,

will commence over the next couple of months getting as wide an input as possible, from all the

stakeholders and interested parties, into the development of the next Club Competitions

Structures Plan for Roscommon.

The questionnaire is eliciting responses from different perspectives, club officials,

Mentors/Coach, Players (both past and present) and members. Your responses will determine

the direction of Roscommon club football until the next review -2020.

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The following survey is being used to formulate the base for this very important discussion.

It is extensive without being exhaustive, If you feel there is something missing that you think is

pertinent –please add it in.

Not all questions are going to apply to all participants of the survey, i.e some

may be more specific to players while other are specific to officers etc.

How do you return the survey?

a) Post to Tomas Gilleran, Kellybrook, Knockcroghery Co.Roscommon

b) Email Tomasgilleran24@hotmail.com

(If working directly onto Word file/doc . -Type in RED and use an ‘x’ as

appropriate for multiple choice questions. )

c) Submit it at one of the regional meetings

i. 5th September ,Culleen Hall ,Lecarrow at 9pm,

ii. 6th September ,Strokestown GAA club , at 9pm

iii. 7th September, The Creamery, Croghan at 8pm

Final Deadline is Thursday 14 th of September.

Name ; ________________________________

Club Name: ________________________________

Email: ________________________________

(Optional - if you would like a copy of the final published plan)

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Q 1. I am over 18 Years of age. Yes ⃝ No ⃝

“If you are not 18 years old or older, then our ethical approval conditions prevent us from using your questionnaire data for our research. If you wish to complete the survey you are required to get approval from a guardian/parent and return a signed copy with the survey. Thank you.”

Q 2. Is your club a dual club or do you share player resources with another club? Yes ⃝ No ⃝

Player Q 3. Are you a dual player?

Yes ⃝ No ⃝

Q.4. Where you’re coming from- are you a;

a. Member. b. Player. c. Coach. d. Officer. e. Schools. f. Other. Comment;

Q.5. How long have you been associated with the club?

a.0-2 years. b.2-5 years. c. 6-10 years. d.11-15 years. e.16-20 years. f. More than 21 years.

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Q.6. Please indicate the sports that your club provides;

a. Men’s Football. b. Ladies Football. c. Hurling. d. Camogie. e. Handball. f. Rounders.

Q.7. Please indicate the number of coaching qualifications in your club.a. Award 3. b. Award 2 (Level 2). c. Award 1 (Level 1). d. Foundation. e. Number of coaches in club.

Q.8. Please indicate the facilities (and number of) available at your club;a. Playing pitches. b. Training pitch. c. Astroturf. d. Floodlights. Yes No

e. Hurling/football wall. Yes No

f. Gym/Hall (indoor training facility). Yes No

Comment;

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Q.9. Please indicate the number of teams at your club;a. Men’s Football. _________

b. Men’s juvenile football. _________

c. Ladies football. _________

d. Ladies juvenile football. _________

e. Hurling. _________

f. Juvenile hurling. _________

g. Camogie. _________

h. Juvenile camogie. _________

Q.10. Please indicate the number games per season per men’s team;Total

a. Senior Football:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

b. Intermediate Football:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

c. Junior Football:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

d. U 12’s football:Spring League Summer League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

e. U 14’s football:League Championship Other_______ _______ _______ _________

f. U 16’s football:League Championship Other_______ _______ _______ _________

g. Minor football:League Championship Other_______ _________ _______ _________

h. U20/21 football:Championship Other_______ _______ _________

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Q.11. Please indicate the number games per season per men’s team;Total

a. Senior Hurling:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

b. Junior Hurling:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

c. U 12’s Hurling:Championship League Other_______ _______ _______ _________

d. U 14’s Hurling:League Championship Other_______ _______ _______ _________

e. U 16’s Hurling:League Championship Other_______ _______ _______ _________

f. Minor Hurling:League Championship Other_______ _______ _______ _________

g. U20/21 Hurling:Championship Other_______ _______ _________

Q.12. Please indicate the length of playing season for each team;

Total(weeks)

a. Senior Football. _________

b. Intermediate Football. _________

c. Junior Football. _________

d. U 12’s football. _________

e. U 14’s football. _________

f. U 16’s football. _________

g. Minor football. _________h.

i. U20/21 football. _________

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Q.13. Please indicate the length of playing season for each team;

Total(Weeks)

a. Senior Hurling. _________

b. Junior Hurling. _________

c. U 12’s Hurling. _________

d. U 14’s Hurling. _________

e. U 16’s Hurling. _________

f. Minor Hurling. _________

g. U20/21 Hurling. _________

Comment;

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Q.14. Please indicate the training sessions to games ratio for each team;

Total Games TotalTraining sessions

a. Senior Football. _________ _________

b. Intermediate Football. _________ _________

c. Junior Football. _________ _________

d. U 12’s football. _________ _________

e. U 14’s football. _________ _________

f. U 16’s football. _________ _________

g. Minor football. _________ _________

h. U20/21 football. _________ _________Comment;

Q.15. How many football teams are you presently playing with (including school/college teams)?1 2 3 4

Q.16. How many hurling teams are you presently playing with (including schools/college teams?1 2 3 4

Q.17. How many teams in total, football/hurling/soccer/rugby are you presently playing with (including schools and colleges)?

1 2 3 4 5 6

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Q.18. Why are players dropping out (tick all that are appropriate)?a. Emigration. b. Financial reasons. c. Family. d. Available facilities. e. Working/living away from home. f. Injuries/health reasons. g. Poor Coaching/mentoring. h. Didn’t make the team. i. Lack of playing opportunities. j. Lack of game time. k. Competitive game scheduling. l. Other sports. m. Social Life. n. Length of playing season. o. Other. Comment;

Q.19. Reasons for players continued participation (tick all that are appropriate)?

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a. Peer pressure. b. Financial reasons. c. Family influences. d. Available facilities. e. Responsibility towards the club. f. Health and fitness purposes. g. Self fulfilment. h. Commitment to the team. i. Playing opportunities. j. Appropriate game time. k. Competitive game scheduling. l. Other. Comment;

Q.20. How many Boys /Girls of the parish are in national school? (If breakdown unknown ,just fill in totals ) Boys Girls

a. Junior infants. _____ _____b. Senior infants. _____ _____c. 1st Class. _____ _____d. 2nd Class. _____ _____e. 3rd Class. _____ _____f. 4th Class. _____ _____g. 5th Class. _____ _____h. 6th Class. _____ _____i. Total. _____ _____

Q.21. How many Boys /Girls of the parish are in national school who are participating in club

games?Boys Girls

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a. Junior infants. _____ _____b. Senior infants. _____ _____c. 1st Class. _____ _____d. 2nd Class. _____ _____e. 3rd Class. _____ _____f. 4th Class. _____ _____g. 5th Class. _____ _____h. 6th Class. _____ _____i. Total. _____ _____

Q.22. What are the biggest challenges your club is facing into the future?

Q.23. How is your club addressing these challenges?

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Q.24. In the context of the ADULT playing season and the fixture schedule please

indicate the club’s response to the following statements.

Adult football teams;

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Competitions are fine as they are no need for any change.

b. The fixture schedule is adhered to and provides a clear schedule of games.

c. The divisions for league and championship are competitive, no dead rubber games.

d. There are sufficient teams available to facilitate five divisions in the league.

e. There are too many games. f. There are too few game.

Comment;

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Q.25. In the context of the JUVENILE playing season and the fixture schedule please indicate the club’s response to the following statements.

Juvenile football teams;

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Competitions are fine as they are no need for any change.

b. The fixture schedule is adhered to and provides a clear schedule of games.

c. The divisions for league and championship are competitive, no dead rubber games.

d. There are sufficient teams available to facilitate Four divisions in league & Championship

e. There are too many games. f. There are too few game.

Comment;

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Q.26. Number all in importance the following improvements you would like to see implemented (1 most important, three least important). 1 2 3

a. Regular games through the summer. b. A defined holiday period. c. An unchangeable and predictable fixtures

schedule. d. A calendar year fixture list. e. Regular and meaningful Games. f. A defined closed season. g. More availability of county players. h. Less training more games. i. Playing opportunities. j. Appropriate game time. k. Competitive game scheduling. l. Dual players available for both codes. m. The club playing season does not drag on. n. Even spread of games through the year. o. Shorter intercounty season.

Comments;

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Q.27. In relation to underage combination teams.

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Combination teams can only play in the first division.

b. Combination teams may play in the second division if agreed at senior county board fixtures meeting.

c. Combination teams are graded by the minor committee of county board and allocated divisional status accordingly.

d. Teams sheets will have all the clubs that constitute the combination listed.

e. Clubs combining for the new playing season at whatever grade, must inform county board of their intention one month before the first fixtures meeting of the year.

Comments;

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Q.28. In relation to grading of underage teams.

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Grading is based on the performance of the team in the two years previous competition, such finishing position at U12 for the upcoming U14, and U14 for U16, U16 for minor.

b. Grading is based on the second competition of the year i.e. the summer leagues or championship only.

c. Winner of the league and championship are both promoted to the higher division two years later (exception division one winners).

d. Relegation is based on the second competition of the year i.e. the summer leagues or championship (exception last placed team in division four).

e. Relegated clubs in the league and championship are both placed in the lower division two years later (exception last placed team in division four).

Comments;

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Q.29. In relation to number of teams in a division for underage competitions.

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Six team divisional leagues are fine. b. All divisions must have a minimum

of six teams for all competitions. c. County fixtures committee should

have the flexibility to increase number of teams in any division to ensure no division will have less than six teams.

Comments;

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Q.30. In relation to clubs finishing in first position in both championship and league tables for underage competitions (U12, U14, U16 and minors).

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. The top team is decided by highest points gained.

b. If two teams have equal points then, the head to head result decides who is top.

c. If head to head is a draw, score difference decides who finishes first.

d. In the event that the teams still cannot be separated then a playoff will decide.

e. The top team qualifies directly for the final.

Comments;

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Q.31. In relation clubs finishing in second and third position in both championship and league tables for underage competitions (U12, U14, U16 and minors).

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. The second team is decided by highest points gained.

b. If two teams have equal points then, the head to head result decides who is top.

c. If head to head is a draw, score difference decides who finishes first.

d. In the event that the teams still cannot be separated then a coin toss will decide.

e. The team deemed second on the table will have a home semi-final

Comments;

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Q.32. In relation clubs finishing in the relegation position.

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. The bottom team is decided by lowest points gained.

b. If two or more teams have equal lowest points then playoffs are required.

Comments;

Q.33. In the event that, the competitions are changed from U12, U14, U16 and U18 to U11, U13, U15 and U17 respectively the finishing position as set out in Q34, Q35 and Q36 will apply.

Agree Disagree

Q.34. For national competitions, the age grades are changed. It is proposed to align the underage competitions in Roscommon to the new age grades. Do you agree with this proposal?

Yes No

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Q.35. Underage playing structure.Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Retain the present playing structure, U12, U14, U16, and U18.

b. Retain the present U20 grade. c. Replace all present grades with

U11, U13, U15 and U17. d. Remove the U20 grade and

replace with U19. e. Retain present even age grades but

add in odd age grades (creating eight age group competitions- All underage football would be

Championship. Odd age group in one part of year ,even at another .

f. Play an U19 and U20 championship.

g. Play even age categories from championship and uneven age categories for league.

Comments;

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Q.36. Underage playing structure.Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Play all U12 and U16 competitions synchronously.

b. Play all U14 and U18 competitions synchronously.

c. Play hurling and football on designated windows.

d. Play hurling U12 and U16 synchronous with U14 and U18 football.

e. Play hurling U14 and U18 synchronous with football U12 and U16.

Comments;

Q.37. In the event that the competitions are changed from U12, U14, U16 and U18 to U11, U13, U15 and U17 respectively the competition structure will apply as per options set out in Q40.

Agree Disagree

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Q.38. There are separate county committees looking after the underage competitions, player development, and U8/U10 blitzes as part of skills development and coaching, Bord na nÓg, the minor committee and the hurling committee.

Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. No need for change leave as is. b. Reduce to one controlling

committee with full responsibility for all fixtures.

c. Play hurling and football on designated windows.

d. Dispense with Bord na nÓg and return responsibility for U12 organization with the county minor committee.

Comments;

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Q.39. All underage competitions will be 15 aside.Yes No

Comments;

Q.40. Introduce an all-county competition in spring. This is to allow ordinary club players have games early in spring /early summer when county players are unavailable(Senior & U-20)

Groups would be seeded from championship groups. i.e. 1 team from senior A , 1 from Senior B,1 from intermediate A and so on . 4 groups of 6 teams . Team 1& 2 to cup QF team 3&4 to shield QF teams 5&6 to Plate QF

Agree Disagree

Q.41. Introduce a county competition allowing clubs to combine. The competition is comprised of the first divisions teams and combined intermediate and junior teams. This is to facilitate the club player during the summer months, giving them meaningful games in good weather. County players may not be available for this competition.

Agree Disagree

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Q.42. Proposed structure of county competitions WHERE CLUB COMBINE

Q44Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Comprised of all division one clubs plus combination teams composed of one intermediate and one junior club.

b. Maximum of 16 teams. c. Four groups of four, top two teams to

quarterfinals of county cup and bottom two teams enter a county shield competition.

d. Play weekly from early June to end July (no county players required). No replays, extra time and sudden death if required.

Comments;

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Q.43. Number of competitions. Strongly Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Strongly Agree

a. Number of adult competitions are fine, no need to change.

b. Juvenile players are getting sufficient competitions.

c. There are too many adult competitions. d. Player burnout is a concern at juvenile

level due to the number of competitions.

e. Too much training ,not enough games Comments;

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http://meath.gaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/StrategicReview2012.pdf

https://gaaclubplayers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CPA-April-Survey-results.pdf

http://www.sportireland.ie/Research/Ballpark_Figures_2008_/Ballpark_Figures.pdf

http://www.ulstergaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/coaching/articles/general/Examine-the-differences-in-GAA-player-drop-out-in-rural-and-urban-areas-St-John-Bosco-2012.pdf

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