With no end in sight of returning to training, now may be the time for the GAA to consider allowing individual outdoor training on GAA property. GAA players at all levels are finding this 3rd lockdown in many cases much more difficult than previous lockdowns not only in relation to their physical well-being but also taking a toll on mental well being. The GAA itself allowed Individual training up until January 5th, which was well into Level 5 Government restrictions. Individual training was allowed in GAA gyms for elite inter county players. I can understand why individual training in a gym (Indoors) could lead to the spread of the virus but what are the risks involved if a player goes down to the pitch with a few balls and practices shooting on their own? In a recent survey by the Mental Heath Foundation 49% of Adults say their mental health has got worse during lockdown due to not been able to play sport or exercise. Covid 19 has created has increased the vulnerability in the general population to Mental Health Symptoms and the latest evidence is showing that Covid 19 has created new strains of Mental Health vulnerability particularly among elite athletes. Based on the Mental Health Wellbeing the GAA Covid advisory committee should urgently revisit the decision of January 5th 2021 and make a decision based on science and medical evidence on whether to allow individual outdoor training on a limited and controlled basis on club or county property. There is no scientific or medical evidence to show that allowing individual outdoor training on GAA property leads to any increase in the transmission of the virus and at the moment all the evidence is to the contrary and would be of the view that Mental health wellbeing of athletes and particularly elite athletes is improved. If it is found that there is a minuscule chance of contracting the virus while doing individual outdoor training and that mental health benefits are far greater from participating in individual training (ie. on a GAA pitch practising shooting in front of a goals, practising kickouts from goals, practising skills etc) then the GAA should urgently look at how to implement individual training in a safe manner on GAA property and issue guidelines accordingly. The GAA are in the enviable position of having fantastic facilities in almost every community in the country and although in many cases GAA clubs are doing fantastic work assisting the vulnerable in their communities, the GAA must also seriously look at how they can assist vulnerable people within their own membership. The GAA pitch in some areas is the only open space available for members to exercise and to have all GAA properties across the country locked up when they could be places that could be used help the mental wellbeing of their membership during very tough times is something the GAA urgently need to investigate. It appears the present lockdown will continue for some time I would urge people to contact the GAA Covid advisory committee (which there doesn't seem an email address) or the GAA high echelon to make a recommendation that individual outdoor training be allowed (for aged 15 and above) in a controlled setting on GAA properties which would greatly assist the wellbeing of some members and at the same time not increase the risk of contracting or passing on the virus. Of course some clubs have turned a blind eye to individual training especially if pitches are not visible from a road. As the days get longer this practice will increase and the GAA need put a plan in place where individual training can take place in a safe manner, it breaks my heart to see the rut and misery young players are going through, when all they want is just to go down to the local pitch to kick/puck a ball even on their own. I know such suffering is small compared to some of the hardships others are going through at this time and we all must play our part to get rid of this truly awful virus. As someone who fortunately has not caught the virus (so far) which had been helped by practising safety at all times I would not be advocating individual training if I thought it would lead to spread of the virus.
Replying To Bon: "Sure you let one lad down the pitch on his own it wouldn't take long for groups of two's or three's to develop or more."
There lies the problem. Once you let one player in, one becomes two , two becomes three etc. Then you have juvenile players, ladies etc. I agree 100 % with the original poster. I worry about the mental health of our young population at the moment. They have no focus , nothing to drive them on. For those younger persons who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health they have no escape outlet. I have no problem with the concept of individual training but how would one control it. There is no easy solution .
Replying To Bon: "Sure you let one lad down the pitch on his own it wouldn't take long for groups of two's or three's to develop or more."
I've seen individuals around the country with individuals on them. There are many GAA pitches around the country that are community fields and not GAA owned so as such are open to the community.
I see not problem with one or two on a big field but as you say the problem stats when more start gathering and I've seen that on my travels around Ireland too.
Replying To yew_tree: "I've seen individuals around the country with individuals on them. There are many GAA pitches around the country that are community fields and not GAA owned so as such are open to the community.
I see not problem with one or two on a big field but as you say the problem stats when more start gathering and I've seen that on my travels around Ireland too."
Yes ye are all right about controlling it, if there is no supervision it will most probably be abused, in our club we have we have more volunteers than we need doing home delivering for the vulnerable, so we have people offering to volunteer but are surplus to requirements, I am sure when the gates are open we could have a schedule in place, one or two players maximum at each goal, (we have 3 pitches all under supervision of Covid offIcers). Sure it won't be easy but I know loads of people willing to volunteer to make it work.
No GAA activity until at least Easter, really disappointing to hear that news, which means a kid or adult can't even go down to the local pitch to puck/kick a ball even on their own.
At least participants in sports up the north are coming together to try and get sports people back out on pitches outdoors.They are united in their opinion on the effect on kids who play sports and the impact of the absence due to the pandemic. "The impact on physical and mental health is pretty drastic,"
"There are no confirmed transmissions of Covid-19 through participation in outdoor sport never mind individual outdoor training. So the gates of our clubs will continue to be locked up until April at a time when there seems to be no one in the GAA who care about the mental health we'll being of their members especially when there is no risk involved in individual outdoor training and also there is no evidence of transmission of the virus in small pods of outdoor training. The GAA have done some good community work during the pandemic and also have made some poor decisions. Are all the decision makers in the GAA either that old or so far disconnected from the general playing adult and juvenile membership that they don't know the reality of the struggles and their mental health wellbeing ?