Introduction

Off the Booze and On the Ball

The GAA issued an exciting new health challenge to its members at the launch of “Off the Booze and On the Ball” in Croke Park on Tuesday, November 22.

This fun challenge with a healthy twist invites participants to abstain from alcohol for the month of January and in doing so seek sponsorship to go towards their local GAA club. Participants are also encouraged to engage in some new exercises that help them reach their recommended weekly activity levels during the month, and hopefully throughout 2012.

The challenge was extended personally by Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana, who launched the event with Minister of State at the Department of Health, Róisín Shortall. The initiative is being driven by the Association’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Programme – a joint initiative with the HSE that aims to reduce the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol and other substances.

Sign up for the challenge at www.gaa.ie/asap. For further information, contact your Club or County ASAP Officer. For county ASAP officer contact details, please click here.

GAA Club Support Programme

The Croke Park Conference Centre and The Croke Park Hotel have joined forces to launch an innovative new programme to generate funds for local GAA clubs. The GAA Club Support Programme offers GAA clubs from all over Ireland and overseas the opportunity to benefit from their supporters’ choice to select The Croke Park Hotel for accommodation and to choose the Croke Park Conference Centre for meetings, conferences, dining functions, receptions or exhibitions.

A rebate of 5% based on accommodation and food spend at The Croke Park Hotel and on room hire and pre-booked food spend at the Croke Park Conference Centre, will be made to the  GAA supporter’s chosen GAA club at no extra cost to that supporter. To ensure 5% of spend for the nominated club, all that is required is that the club’s name be quoted at the time of booking or selected on the hotel’s online booking page – it couldn’t be easier!

For further information and booking details, please see www.crokepark.ie/conference-centre/gaa-support-club.

GAA Master Fixture List for 2012

The GAA Master Fixture List for 2012 has been announced. Current GAA Football All-Senior Champions, Dublin open their Allianz League campaign against Kerry in Croke Park on February 4.

On February 26, Brian Cody's Kilkenny hurlers open their Allianz League campaign against Tipperary in a repeat of the 2011 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Final.

Download a full GAA Master Fixture list for 2012.

Property Insurance, Player Injury Scheme and Cash at Premises

Property Insurance
All clubs should have received the freeze prevention guidelines from Chartis. If not, please contact GAA Insurance and Risk Manager, Sineád Quinn by email at sinead.quinn@gaa.ie for a copy. All clubs are advised to put anti-freeze solution into all toilet cisterns to help in preventing freezing over the winter months. This will be a policy condition from renewal and losses will not be covered if this practice has not been undertaken.

Player Injury Scheme
Scheme benefits and team subscription rates will be unchanged for 2012.  All teams must be registered via the online system by March 31, 2012 and subscriptions due should be forwarded to Croke Park.

Cash at premises
Criminal gangs are targeting clubs where they perceive cash may be held. Please be extra vigilant with regard to funds you may have following a fundraiser or weekly Lotto. Cash should not where possible, be held on club premises or in the private dwelling of club officers.

GAA Games Development Conference

The GAA Games Development Conference, sponsored by Lucozade Sport, will take place in Croke Park on Saturday January 14, 2012.

This year’s conference theme will focus on providing coaches and teachers of Post Primary School aged players (age 13-18) with an in-depth perspective on “Coaching Youths: Meeting the Challenge; Raising Our Games”.

The GAA Games Development Conference will be a combination of keynote, parallel breakout sessions and practical demonstration sessions, involving noted speakers from Ireland and overseas as outlined in the Conference brochure. In line with recent years, there will be a number of presentations from overseas speakers, who will provide a unique perspective on Gaelic games. The Conference will also include a practical demonstration of games based coaching across Hurling/Camogie, Gaelic Football/Ladies Gaelic Football.

The cost of attending this years Conference is €50, which includes all meals and refreshments on the day as well as the Conference Delegate Pack featuring the Coaching Bag, Folder and Pen and access to all presentations.

Reserve your place online through the dedicated booking site at www.eventznet.com/295/ac/Gaa/gaagdc11/ or by downloading and returning the Conference Brochure.

For more information on the GAA Games Development Conference visit www.gaa.ie/coaching-and-games-development/games-development-conference-2011/ or call 01-8363222.

Club AGM

It is coming to that time of the year when clubs prepare for and hold the club AGM. This is the most important meeting of the year and should be held before the end of November (Rule 8.3 club constitution) so that it has taken place before the county convention.

Club members are entitled to at least 28 days notice of the meeting and the procedure for informing them is outlined in rules 8.5.2 and 8.5.3 of the club constitution. For further information, consult the section on club meetings in the club advice manual on the GAA website available at www.gaa.ie/clubzone/club-manual/club-meeting/.

For a copy of the club constitution, please click here.

Code of Behaviour when working with Underage Players

The GAA is pleased to announce the launch of the third edition of the Code of Behaviour when working with underage players.

The code is targeted at all persons involved in our games and in Association events and activities. Through this code, the Association addresses the minimum appropriate levels of behaviour, practice and conduct required from our young players, coaches, mentors, supporters, parents/guardians, referees and clubs.
 
The safeguarding of our underage members will always be a key priority for the Association and is fundamental in ensuring that we provide and maintain an enjoyable, developmental and safe environment for all in the GAA.

This new and user friendly booklet has also been adopted by the Camogie Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, GAA Handball Ireland, and the Rounders Council of Ireland and is available from all County Boards or the National Children's Office in Croke Park or online at http://www.gaa.ie/clubzone/child-welfare-and-protection/gaa-code-of-behaviour.

Club Focus - Maynooth GAA

Like many other GAA Clubs around the county, Maynooth GAA Club is one of the driving forces behind its town and community. In 2009 after claiming both County and Leinster Intermediate Football titles, Maynooth also had another significant milestone to celebrate with the launch of their strategic plan. As the first club in Kildare to devise a strategic plan, 2010 saw the club launch the plan to their town and to members of Kildare county board and Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana.

The strategy entitled “Building our Future 2009-2015” outlines step by step how the club hopes to develop into the future. The club is developing new pitches (all weather), hurling wall, handball alley, clubhouse with club shop facilities, meeting rooms and social facilities for the youth. Detailed in the plan is a seven step/goal guide for what the club wants to achieve varying from catering for every player age bracket, to social factors and facilities, to the methods of fundraising used to fund the development. For further information on Maynooth GAA Club, visit www.maynoothgaa.com/.

Ireland Reaching Out and the GAA Team Up

Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) and the GAA will launch an innovative pilot programme aimed at attracting members of the Irish Diaspora to the GAA club network worldwide in San Francisco on Dec 4 next. The pilot project will be launched by Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana at a Special All-Stars Award brunch at Treasure Island GAA Fields held in honour of the visiting 2011 GAA GPA Hurling All-Stars.

The simple idea is that as parish communities around Ireland identify people connected with their parish through their genealogical research, they introduce them through the Ireland XO organization to the nearest international GAA club so that they can learn about, and possibly participate in Irish sporting culture, well away from Ireland.

Leading members of the Irish technology community in Silicon Valley will also attend the event.  It is hoped that should the project prove successful in San Francisco, it will be rolled out to all GAA clubs worldwide. Further information can be found at www.irelandxo.com.

2012 GAA Croke Park Annual and Official GAA Pocket Diary

The revamped all new 2012 GAA Croke Park Annual is now available providing perfect reading for the festive season at the end of another action packed season.

Combining what were previously two separate publications, this year’s offering includes interviews with Footballer of the Year Alan Brogan who looks back on a memorable year for the men in sky blue that ended in All-Ireland success.

Hurler of the year Michael Fennelly also takes a journey back through a season which saw Kilkenny bounce back from their final defeat of 12 months earlier to record a fifth Liam MacCarthy victory in six seasons.

GAA President Criostóir Ó Cuana also singles out his highlights from the year that was 2011 while Stadium Director and Commercial Manager Peter McKenna focuses in on what was another busy year for Croke Park.

Also included are interviews with pitch expert Richard Hayden who has worked on the famed Croke Park sod and the highlights of the year as seen through the eyes of personalities such as Séamus McEnaney and Liam Rushe.

The GAA Croke Park Annual is your only one stop shop for all things related to the Association and Croke Park Stadium and will be available in all major bookstores.

Official GAA Pocket Diaries
The official GAA pocket diaries are an ideal Christmas stocking filler that can be used throughout the year, providing essential contact information for all provinces and county boards in addition to the GAA’s Master Fixture List for 2012. The diary will be available in all major bookstores from early December.

Christmas Gift Ideas from the GAA Museum

Looking for a Christmas gift idea for a GAA-mad person in your life? Why not give them a gift voucher for a Croke Park stadium tour or a unique keepsake from the GAA Museum archive.

Gift Vouchers
Vouchers can be purchased for individuals or for families and include a visit to the GAA Museum as well as a guided tour of Croke Park. Gift Vouchers can now be purchased online at www.crokepark.ie/gaa-museum.

Vouchers can also be bought at the GAA Museum reception, or by phoning the GAA Museum on 01 819 2323. For further information, please email jmckeigue@crokepark.ie.
Gift voucher prices as follows:*

• Family voucher (2 adults and 2 children): €30
• Adult voucher: €11
• Children's voucher: €7.50
• Student voucher: €8.50
• Senior voucher: €8.50

*Voucher prices correct until December 31, 2011. Vouchers must be redeemed within 12 months of purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

Gifts from the Archive
Past All-Ireland and Provincial final match programme covers can now be purchased from the GAA Museum website and could also make a unique Christmas gift for any GAA fan. Programme covers can be purchased in a variety of sizes, framed or unframed, and can be delivered to your home.

For further information, visit www.crokepark.ie/gaa-museum/gaa-archive. If you can't find the match programme cover you're looking for, email gaaarchive@crokepark.ie.