GAA Dads & Lads
‘GAA Dads & Lads’ is a social hurling and football programme for those keen to enjoy Gaelic Games outside the traditional competitive structures of the GAA.
For males aged 40ish and older the emphasis is on the social interaction and enjoyment that only team sports can provide.
It offers games opportunities for retired players, lapsed players looking to reconnect with playing Gaelic games and those who never played and just want to give it a go. GAA Dads & Lads participants should not be registered members of a squad competing in official GAA club, league or championship games structures.
‘GAA Dads & Lads’ focuses on fun and participation. Games are not competition based and there are no winners trophies or awards presented. The emphasis is on skills and playing over physicality and winning and encourages a 'just turn up and play' approach.
General playing rules apply but GAA Dads & Lads games must apply the principles listed below:
- No formal competition structures.
- Respect & fair play observed at all times.
- Equal playing time for all players.
- Incidental contact only – NO aggressive tackling.
- Self-governing games – NO referees required.
- NO management teams/captains required.
If you think there is enthusiasm for a social hurling or football group in your club or county, take a look at the information below.
- Register your team using the form in the Registration Section below
- Use the resources below to help set up GAA Dads & Lads
- Download and use the promotional material to help recruit some players in your club/community
- Run an initial 4 - 6 week programme to gauge interest
Connecting with other GAA Dads & Lads teams has many benefits and there are a number of ways to create connections.
- Many teams use social media platforms to share their information and activities - keeping an eye on platforms helps identify teams, get ideas and reach out to connect.
- Making contact with other GAA clubs - many have established Dads & Lads teams.
- Following registration with GAA Community & Health a list of GAA Dads & Lads teams and email contacts are with team Coordinators.
- Challenge games & blitzes - organised locally by teams - details & registration info is usually shared on social media platforms.
- National Blitz organised by by GAA (September -annually) details and registration form is shared via email to Coordinators of all teams registered with GAA Community & Health.
- Play Us GAA App - a challenge games organisation platform (see info in section below)
It's important to remember the GAA Dads & Lads ethos, playing for the love of it and keeping fun and enjoyment to the fore. The emphasis is on providing an opportunity for males aged 40ish to play games where the focus is social interaction and respect and fair play is encouraged at all times.
Meet Up Games Sessions should embody:
- Equal playing time for all players.
- Incidental contact only – NO aggressive tackling.
- Self-governing games – NO referees required.
- Footballers must wear gumsheilds; Hurlers must wear helmets.
- A record of scores shouldn't be kept.
- GAA Dads & Lads Club Checklist must be completed and held on file.
- All participants must complete Player Registration Form Meet Up Games Sessions. (form[s] must be held on file for 24 months)
Clicking on the tabs below will automatically download the checklist/Reg Form into the downloads folder on your device.
Many GAA Dads & Lads teams enjoy participating in challenge games with other clubs, it's a great way to create connections.
It's important to remember the GAA Dads & Lads ethos, playing for the love of it and keeping fun and enjoyment to the fore. The emphasis is on providing an opportunity for males aged 40ish to play games where the focus is social interaction and respect and fair play is encouraged at all times.
If planning to host a GAA Dads & Lads challenge game please follow the steps below:
(Clicking on the tabs below will automatically download the checklist/Reg Form into the downloads folder on your device. Completed documents must be held on file by the club for 24 months)
- Confirm venue, date and time of challenge game with other team
- Complete Club GAA Dads & Lads Checklist
- Notify GAA of challenge game details - form below must be used
- Ensure participating players complete Team Registration Form Challenge Game/Blitz
GAA Dads & Lads Blitzes aim to give teams the opportunity to meet and connect with a greater number of other teams, play a number of shorter games in one day and to try out their skills in a fun environment.
GAA Dads & Lads Blitzes are organised at local level by established GAA Dads & Lads teams - information on these blitzes are usually hared on social media platforms by the hosting teams. The GAA host one National Football & Hurling Blitz annually (September).
It's important to remember the GAA Dads & Lads ethos, playing for the love of it and keeping fun and enjoyment to the fore. The emphasis is on providing an opportunity for males aged 40ish to play games where the focus is social interaction and respect and fair play is encouraged at all times.
A lot of time and effort is required for planning and organising a GAA Dads & Lads Blitz - If your Dads & Lads team are considering hosting a blitz see an outline of the steps required below and for additional information the Guidelines for Organising a Blitz document.
(Clicking on the tabs below will automatically download the checklist/Reg Form into the downloads folder on your device. Completed documents must be held on file by the club for 24 months)
Steps to Organising GAA Dads & Lads Blitz
- Step 1: Form a Dads & Lads Blitz Organising Group
- Step 2: Contact other Dads & Lads teams to gauge interest in participating in a blitz
- Step 3: Develop a Blitz Plan with clear actions & milestones - Games schedule etc.
- Step 4: Identify & confirm venue booking (If GAA Club grounds - Club Executive must approve use & complete Club Checklist)
- Step 5: Notify GAA Community & Health Department of intention to host GAA Dads & Lads Blitz
- Step 6: Advertise blitz and share team registration information
- Step 7: Confirm participating teams and share blitz games information (Schedule & Playing Rules etc.)
- Step 8: Promote blitz across media platforms - before and after blitz
To help create connections with other GAA dads & Lads teams, organise challenge games and blitzes teams can register to use the PlayUs GAA App.
The PlayUs GAA app is a system that has been designed, in collaboration with GAA Games Development, to facilitate all teams to search for and arrange challenge games and blitzes.
GAA Dads & Lads team Coordinators seeking to organise challenge games can use the PlayUs GAA app to enter the proposed game details, the app then sends out invites to appropriate teams within a designated distance and teams can organise a challenge game with other interested teams all through the app.
Important - GAA Dads & Lads teams choosing to use the PlayUs GAA app should register as a GAA Dads & Lads team. There is an annual registration fee per team of €10.
Play Us GAA app is operated by an external organisation for more information on team registration and using the app click on tab below.
GAA Property & Liability Insurance
- Club has a current Health & Safety Statement with risk assessments completed in place.
- GAA Dads & Lads inter-team games and/or blitzes are notified in advance (using the GAA Dads & Lads Games Notification Form located in - Organising Game/Blitz sections).
- Team composition is not more than 9-a-side.
- Games are played on smaller than regulation size pitches.
- Games/Blitzes are not competition based, scores not recorded, no semi finals or finals are played and a winners trophy is not be presented.
- All GAA Dads & Lads games and/or blitz participants have completed a Player Registration Form.
- Games should be no longer than 20mins in total.
- Organisation of the blitz adheres to the eight steps to organising a blitz (See GAA Dads & Lads Blitz section).
GAA Injury Benefit Fund
GAA Dads & Lads sits outside the competitive games structures of the Association, participants in GAA Dads & Lads activities (including - sessions/games/blitzes) are not covered by the scope of the GAA Injury Benefit Fund.
Participants taking part in GAA Dads & Lads blitzes, do so entirely of their own choice and at their own risk. Neither the GAA Dads & Lads Team they are part of or Cumann Luthchleas Gael are in any way liable for any accident or injury that may incur during the duration of their participation in GAA Dads & Lads blitzes, games or activities.
Clubs/Teams hosting GAA Dads & Lads games and/or blitzes must inform All participating players that this activity is not covered under the scope of GAA Injury Benefit Fund and advise them to have in place Personal Health Insurance (or other appropriate Insurance Policies) which should be used in the event of any accident or injury being incurred.