GAA Launches Codes of Best Practice and Behaviour

PRESS RELEASE

24.07.09

GAA Launches Codes of Best Practice and Behaviour

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana yesterday unveiled the Association’s Codes of Best Practice in Youth Sport and Behaviour in the company of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Mr Barry Andrews TD at Croke Park. The purpose of the two codes is to provide realistic and achievable guidance for all units and branches of the GAA family in their work with children and young people.

With more than 14,000 active juvenile teams, the GAA will liaise with its Children’s Officers – at club and county level, Games and Coaching personnel, County Boards and Provincial Councils in addition to team Managers, Coaches, Mentors, Parents/Guardians and other Club personnel who work with teams to assist in a comprehensive roll out of the programmes. Praising those involved with the initiative, the GAA President said: “We speak a lot about our commitment to the youth of the country and we take that responsibility seriously.

“Today’s initiative could hardly be more significant and it underlines our desire to put in place the best possible structures and supports. The purpose of the two Codes is quite simply to provide realistic and achievable guidance for all units of the GAA in our work with children and young people. “Of course the publication and roll out of these guides represents the start of this project, not the end. We in the GAA will rely on the commitment and hard work of so many of our members to ensure that the highest standards are reached in an area of utmost importance.”

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs stated that “The GAA is to be complimented on its excellent work in ensuring that all persons working with young people develop a greater awareness of their responsibilities, including those relating to child protection”. The GAA also confirmed that Dublin has become the first county to complete the distribution of vetting forms for mentors to all of its clubs.

More than 2,000 members have been vetted in recent weeks bringing the total figure to 5,500 across all sections of the Association.