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Maybe ill be shot down in flames for this but wanted to ask a question, my 3 lads are all juvenile, u13, u11, very strong for their age, they play for local club who struggle badly at senior level and also at juvenile, be it level of coaching etc my young lads have great hopes of playing county and i firmly believe they can achieve it, but having doubts due to level of the club.

Has anyone ever left their club in similar circumstances to go to a club playing higher level? Weve no ties through family past or history etc, was simply the closest club.

I know will probably be strongly frowned upon but i just want the best for my young lads, i may sound selfish in saying that.

Ill stick the helmet on for replies lol.

Pearse85 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 23/08/2023 20:49:05    2501996

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Replying To Pearse85:  "Maybe ill be shot down in flames for this but wanted to ask a question, my 3 lads are all juvenile, u13, u11, very strong for their age, they play for local club who struggle badly at senior level and also at juvenile, be it level of coaching etc my young lads have great hopes of playing county and i firmly believe they can achieve it, but having doubts due to level of the club.

Has anyone ever left their club in similar circumstances to go to a club playing higher level? Weve no ties through family past or history etc, was simply the closest club.

I know will probably be strongly frowned upon but i just want the best for my young lads, i may sound selfish in saying that.

Ill stick the helmet on for replies lol."
If they're good enough to play county, they'll play county, regardless of their club.

Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 24/08/2023 10:12:47    2502022

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Replying To Pearse85:  "Maybe ill be shot down in flames for this but wanted to ask a question, my 3 lads are all juvenile, u13, u11, very strong for their age, they play for local club who struggle badly at senior level and also at juvenile, be it level of coaching etc my young lads have great hopes of playing county and i firmly believe they can achieve it, but having doubts due to level of the club.

Has anyone ever left their club in similar circumstances to go to a club playing higher level? Weve no ties through family past or history etc, was simply the closest club.

I know will probably be strongly frowned upon but i just want the best for my young lads, i may sound selfish in saying that.

Ill stick the helmet on for replies lol."
So ye think they're too good for your local club at age 11 and 13. They might be good and strong for their age now but by the time they get to minor and U21 the rest will have caught up. Size and strenght doesn't make you a county player at any age. Let your lads enjoy their football and pretend you never mentioned this and come back when they are 20.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2289 - 24/08/2023 10:25:37    2502024

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Replying To Pearse85:  "Maybe ill be shot down in flames for this but wanted to ask a question, my 3 lads are all juvenile, u13, u11, very strong for their age, they play for local club who struggle badly at senior level and also at juvenile, be it level of coaching etc my young lads have great hopes of playing county and i firmly believe they can achieve it, but having doubts due to level of the club.

Has anyone ever left their club in similar circumstances to go to a club playing higher level? Weve no ties through family past or history etc, was simply the closest club.

I know will probably be strongly frowned upon but i just want the best for my young lads, i may sound selfish in saying that.

Ill stick the helmet on for replies lol."
Talk to county board and coaching officers about getting them to come to club and help with improving level of coaching
Very nice to think your kids have great hopes of playing inter county but its only ever a tiny tiny percentage of players who get near to doing it
Do you coach in your club. If not then do as if you think coaching isnt good enough then you should try do what you can and get others who you believe are strong coaches to help.
Your kids are also u11 and u13. far too early to be thinking much about inter county anyway.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 24/08/2023 10:28:44    2502026

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Agreed with Trump, they'll make it anyway if they've the talent and application. They could spur on the Club your with over the years ahead. Once they get a crack at County academy / development squads, their talent will be well monitored and honed anyway.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1048 - 24/08/2023 10:31:33    2502028

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Replying To Pearse85:  "Maybe ill be shot down in flames for this but wanted to ask a question, my 3 lads are all juvenile, u13, u11, very strong for their age, they play for local club who struggle badly at senior level and also at juvenile, be it level of coaching etc my young lads have great hopes of playing county and i firmly believe they can achieve it, but having doubts due to level of the club.

Has anyone ever left their club in similar circumstances to go to a club playing higher level? Weve no ties through family past or history etc, was simply the closest club.

I know will probably be strongly frowned upon but i just want the best for my young lads, i may sound selfish in saying that.

Ill stick the helmet on for replies lol."
I don't know how it works in Antrim, but in most counties all clubs will get the opportunity to send young players for trials for the County development squads, usually from U14 upwards, regardless of club grading. I know several players from junior clubs who have been, and are currently, actively involved in the county development squads. Check with your Bord na nOg chairperson or secretary for details

JohnWayne1 (Limerick) - Posts: 29 - 24/08/2023 10:55:20    2502037

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Replying To Donaldtrump:  "If they're good enough to play county, they'll play county, regardless of their club."
I Wouldn't agree, If the posters club is Division Three/Four you are not going to experience the same level of training and intensity of matches which will affect your development. Obviously, many players represent their county from lower divisions but it does make the task much more difficult.

Itown1234 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 49 - 24/08/2023 10:58:48    2502038

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Replying To Itown1234:  "I Wouldn't agree, If the posters club is Division Three/Four you are not going to experience the same level of training and intensity of matches which will affect your development. Obviously, many players represent their county from lower divisions but it does make the task much more difficult."
Two sided coin on that.

If you're a decent player with a big club, if only 4/5 players per club are sent for county trials / development panels, a player that might develop later could miss out.

I think the point stands however. If a player is really good enough to play county, and has the desire and application to do so, then that player will play county.

Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 24/08/2023 11:11:21    2502043

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I'm glad you are wearing your helmet.....
Big and strong at that age group is excellent but it doesn't mean that down the line they will play for the county. Do you coach them at home ?. Can they use both feet, hand pass off both hands? Catch a ball over their head. You can perfect all those skills in your own garden. As for playing for the County , it's great to hear that but realistically every kid has that dream. I knew a father who said that his lad would play for the county because he was excellent in his eyes. The lad had no skills at all and can't make the Junior B team. The perfect example of playing with a weak team has to be the Clifford's. They won a senior All Ireland with Kerry as junior players with Fossa. Before that David had medals won as a Kerry minor. Leave them in their club with their friends.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2096 - 24/08/2023 11:28:45    2502046

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Replying To eoinog:  "I'm glad you are wearing your helmet.....
Big and strong at that age group is excellent but it doesn't mean that down the line they will play for the county. Do you coach them at home ?. Can they use both feet, hand pass off both hands? Catch a ball over their head. You can perfect all those skills in your own garden. As for playing for the County , it's great to hear that but realistically every kid has that dream. I knew a father who said that his lad would play for the county because he was excellent in his eyes. The lad had no skills at all and can't make the Junior B team. The perfect example of playing with a weak team has to be the Clifford's. They won a senior All Ireland with Kerry as junior players with Fossa. Before that David had medals won as a Kerry minor. Leave them in their club with their friends."
Geroid Hegarty another example. As another poster said all counties have coaches that will take underage sessions at clubs as far as I know. And coach coaches. Get more involved yourself with the coaching side it's very rewarding. At the age the lads are it's impossible to say if they will be good enough for county at minor, never mind adult.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15675 - 24/08/2023 12:08:29    2502047

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Replying To eoinog:  "I'm glad you are wearing your helmet.....
Big and strong at that age group is excellent but it doesn't mean that down the line they will play for the county. Do you coach them at home ?. Can they use both feet, hand pass off both hands? Catch a ball over their head. You can perfect all those skills in your own garden. As for playing for the County , it's great to hear that but realistically every kid has that dream. I knew a father who said that his lad would play for the county because he was excellent in his eyes. The lad had no skills at all and can't make the Junior B team. The perfect example of playing with a weak team has to be the Clifford's. They won a senior All Ireland with Kerry as junior players with Fossa. Before that David had medals won as a Kerry minor. Leave them in their club with their friends."
The lads hurl, dont play football.
Train 7 days a week, can strike equally well both left and right, have honed the skills at home and away from the 1 hour training thats provided per week.

Antrim development team just announced and not a single player from club chosen to represent, this was u14 development team.

All very valid points provided, thank you for answering the question and offering your thoughts.

Pearse85 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 24/08/2023 13:11:18    2502066

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To answer the original question - yes, other people have moved clubs in the past in the hope of improving their inter-county prospects. Not sure it was ever the reason for a move by ones so young, though.

However, such moves don't always meet with general approval, and frequently, they're not completely in keeping with rules either. There's often a bit of "creative accounting" with the transfer application form and accompanying documents.

I don't know how any catchment area rule (i.e. what's often called the "parish rule") applies in Antrim hurling, but if you're genuinely thinking of such a move, your first port of call should look into that.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2856 - 24/08/2023 14:02:49    2502075

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "To answer the original question - yes, other people have moved clubs in the past in the hope of improving their inter-county prospects. Not sure it was ever the reason for a move by ones so young, though.

However, such moves don't always meet with general approval, and frequently, they're not completely in keeping with rules either. There's often a bit of "creative accounting" with the transfer application form and accompanying documents.

I don't know how any catchment area rule (i.e. what's often called the "parish rule") applies in Antrim hurling, but if you're genuinely thinking of such a move, your first port of call should look into that."
Cathal Dunbarr and Diarmuid Doyle being two in recent years.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 788 - 24/08/2023 14:09:04    2502076

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Replying To Pearse85:  "The lads hurl, dont play football.
Train 7 days a week, can strike equally well both left and right, have honed the skills at home and away from the 1 hour training thats provided per week.

Antrim development team just announced and not a single player from club chosen to represent, this was u14 development team.

All very valid points provided, thank you for answering the question and offering your thoughts."
Training 7 days a week is a bit much for anybody never mind children.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2289 - 24/08/2023 14:12:42    2502077

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Replying To Pearse85:  "The lads hurl, dont play football.
Train 7 days a week, can strike equally well both left and right, have honed the skills at home and away from the 1 hour training thats provided per week.

Antrim development team just announced and not a single player from club chosen to represent, this was u14 development team.

All very valid points provided, thank you for answering the question and offering your thoughts."
How good are your clubs u14s? Would any be good enough? Are any better than your lads?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15675 - 24/08/2023 14:23:30    2502080

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Nobody can tell at that age they are good enough to play county. Young lads develop physically and mentally at different stages. I assume all their friends play with the club? Stay with your club. As said if they are good enough they will make it. James Carr is on the Mayo team from a tiny north mayo junior club called Ardagh.

I'm not sure how it works in Antrim but they will likely be brought into the county academy if good enough.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11558 - 24/08/2023 14:39:27    2502087

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Replying To Viking66:  "How good are your clubs u14s? Would any be good enough? Are any better than your lads?"
Outwith 3 or 4 players they are struggling, id say the 3 or 4 defo good enough compared to others chosen but theyve been ignored.

Pearse85 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 24/08/2023 15:14:11    2502092

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Training 7 days a week is a bit much for anybody never mind children."
Sorry i didnt mean training as in actual training, they train 3 nights a week at hurling in various age groupings, but they have a hurl in their hands 7 days a week honing their skills.

Pearse85 (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 24/08/2023 15:15:30    2502093

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Training 7 days a week is a bit much for anybody never mind children."
Depends on the sport and what you are doing. Say triathletes who have 3 disciplines to train for and many top athletes often even at club level are doing 2 sessions a day most days of week

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 24/08/2023 15:28:06    2502099

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Replying To Pearse85:  "Outwith 3 or 4 players they are struggling, id say the 3 or 4 defo good enough compared to others chosen but theyve been ignored."
Ah I understand your concern. Are there many other clubs in your area? Are you in multiple clubs catchment areas? Think the u11 defo wouldn't need to get an official transfer but the u13 might and he would need grounds for a transfer. Pikeman would know he knows a great deal more than me!!!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15675 - 24/08/2023 15:53:34    2502104

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