Club Nuachtlitir Aibreán 2010

The Association's new website at gaa.ie was officially launched by the GAA President and Dublin hurler Alan McCrabbe on March 24 last. The launch comes after the completion of phase one of the site overhaul and already a number of stand out features will be apparent to users of the site. There is and will continue to be an increased level of video content on the site, both in the news and coaching and games development sections. A new comprehensive archive results section has also been added to the site. The site also includes a Google map search facility containing details of Clubs across the island and which will be added to in the weeks and months ahead. Once again feed back is most welcome and this can be sent through queries@gaa.ie.

Club Wall Launched

During the 125 Anniversary Celebrations and following on from the events organised to mark this occasion, the GAA has made a concerted effort to re-evaluate and re-position the club at the very heart of the Association.

An tUachtarán has visited more than 100 Clubs - more than a quarter of them as part of his Ag Éisteacht Programme.

One noteworthy development has been the installation of a new Falla na gClub featuring the club crests of our all units both in Ireland and overseas.

The wall, located at the entrance to the GAA museum, on the Cusack Stand side of Croke Park has been constructed in an effort to create a tangible link between our Club units and the Association's headquarters in recognition of the incalculable voluntary work undertaken by generations of Club members since the establishment of the GAA in 1884.

Next time you are in the Cusack Stand attending a match or visiting the museum, look out for your club crest.

Club Focus - Edenderry (Uíbh Fhailí / Offaly)

The Club is the heart of the Association's activities. Our Clubs train and foster the players that eventually go on to represent their respective counties at the highest level and in addition to those who play for their clubs at various different grades. This has been as evident in Edenderry GAA Club in North Offaly as anywhere else.

The Club recently launched a five year (2010-2015) Strategic Plan which took over 600 hours of preparation and will be used as a 'roadmap' for the future direction of the club.

A significant emphasis has been placed on Coach Education with members and coaches of all underage teams having completed a Foundation Award which is the introductory award for coaches of Gaelic Games. Plans are also underway to develop current dressing rooms and a second pitch at the local Vocational School to further enable the Club develop additional playing facilities in what are exciting times for the Edenderry GAA Club! For more information, please visit www.edenderrygaa.com.

GAA Museum Events & Offers - April

The GAA Museum has a number of initiatives and offers available in April. Please visit www.crokepark.ie/gaa-museum for further information.

Kidzone Gallery Talk - The GAA Invasion Tour of the USA

Saturday March 27, 13.30

The GAA Museum Eggstravaganza sponsored by Cadbury

Monday March 29 - April 4, 14.30 Daily (except Friday April 2)

SENIOR CITIZENS MONDAYS

Visit in April for just €5

50% Off for Clubs- The Croke Park Stadium Tour

Instil the pride and passion of representing Club and County into your players by taking advantage of this great discount and visiting Croke Park Stadium and the GAA Museum this March. Trophy & Medal presentations at Hogan Stand Presentation Area available on request.

IRISH SPORT PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHITITION

The GAA Museum, in conjunction with The Irish Times, presents a photographic exhibition featuring 150 iconic newsworthy moments in Irish sport over the last 30 years.

This special exhibition will open daily from 9.30-17.00* and will run from Tuesday March 23 2010 for a limited time only.

Entry costs €5 for adults and €4 for seniors and students. Please note that last admission is at 16.30 (*except match days).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Primary & Secondary Schools Essay Competitions running until May 1

Team List Books available to purchase from GAA Museum

Check out www.crokepark.ie/gaa-museum for more details and prices, or contact:

Maria Gorman, Bookings Executive

Tel- 01 8192374/01 8192323 or email gaamuseum@crokepark.ie.

GAA Unveils New Sponsors as SuperValu and Centra come on board

The 2010 GAA Championships will have new partners within the multi-sponsor model with SuperValu and Centra confirmed in recent weeks as new sponsors of the football and hurling championships respectively.

As two of the most instantly recognisable retail brands in the country, both have a wide-reaching network of outlets which should further enhance the profile and promotion of two of our most important competitions.

Both companies are already engaged in the sponsorship of numerous Club teams across the country and GAA members should look out for in-store initiatives and offers over the course of championship 2010.

Special Olympics Ireland attend Limerick v Cork NHL Match

Special Olympics Ireland CEO, Matt English was in attendance at the Allianz GAA National Hurling League match between Limerick v Cork on Saturday February 27. He was at the Gaelic Grounds with Special Olympics athletes, to promote the upcoming 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games, which are to be held in Limerick from June 9-13th.

The 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games will be one of the biggest sporting events to take place in Ireland this year and also promises to be one of the most exciting. 1,900 Special Olympics athletes from throughout the island of Ireland will travel to Limerick to compete in 13 sports. They will be accompanied by 650 coaches and official delegates as well as a contingent of over 4,000 family members.

Limerick County Board Chairman, Liam Lenihan, urged all Limerick GAA people to get behind the June event and where possible, offer their services as volunteers during it.

It is envisaged that the Games will need over 3,500 volunteers. So far a huge number of people have attended volunteer information sessions and registered to volunteer at the Games. However, due to an unprecedented number of calls and requests in the last week, Special Olympics Ireland have decided to run two more information sessions for people who want to volunteer for the Games. Further details about volunteering opportunities and the 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games are available at www.specialolympics.ie

Developing a GAA Games Programme for Children - Go Games and Mini Leagues

A motion to this month's GAA congress proposes to ensure a "child centred" Games programme for children in the Under 12 and younger age grades. If accepted the Go Games model in conjunction with mini league competitions would be adopted as best practice up to and including 12 years of age. Go Games blitzes with emphasis on full participation, fun, fair play and skill development would be organised at Under 8 and Under 10 level while at Under 12 level a mini league competition which follows the ethos of Go Games, whereby games are small sided and provision is made for all participants to play, can also be organised in conjunction with Go Games blitzes.

Research conducted at DCU, under the guidance of Professor Niall Moyna and Dublin football coach Mickey Whelan was crucial in the development of Go Games. By tracking the same 7 players in a 15 a-side and a small sided game (each of 30 minute duration) the data indicated the following benefits of the small sided game:

-Players worked harder therefore increasing fitness levels

-Players had more contact with the ball leading to increased opportunities to score, make decisions, develop skills

-The children, when questioned afterwards, reported a greater level of enjoyment and had higher levels of perceived competence

For more information on Go Games visit http://www.gaa.ie/youth-zone/gaa-go-games/

Club Coaching Officers

All Clubs are asked to ensure that they elect a Club Coaching Officer for 2010. The Club Coaching Officer is a key role within ambitious and progressive GAA Clubs and serves to co-ordinate the activities of the club coaches and managers to provide a safe, smooth and rewarding progression for all players from Juvenile through to U-21, Junior and Senior and through the various grades and developmental stages of their playing careers. Key responsibilities for the Club Coaching Officer are in the areas of the Club School Link, Player Welfare, Camps, Coach Education and Best Practice, and Facilities and Resource Management. The Club Coaching Officer will have at least an Award 1 Coaching Qualification. For a full description of the role of the Club Coaching Officer visit the Coaching & Games Development Section of GAA.ie