'It's a voluntary organisation - you must give back'

GAA news

The chairman of Cavan county GAA board has called for more volunteers to get involved in the association, asking that people “make time” despite how busy they may be.

It has been well documented in recent years that some clubs are struggling to fill officer positions and while he stopped short of calling this a crisis, Kieran Callaghan, speaking at last Thursday night’s annual convention, issued a rallying cry for more people to step forward.

“This year we honoured our three Jubilee championship teams from the 1998 Junior champions Swanlinbar, Intermediate champions Killygarry and senior champions Mullahoran,” Callaghan said.

“When I looked at all these players, it really got me thinking of how these groups of players have given so much back, from representing their county with pride , coaching at club and county level, refereeing, acting as officers at club and county level and also stewarding in their own club or in Kingspan Breffni. The jubilee teams honoured this year totally get the ethos of the GAA.

“It's a voluntary organisation, you must give back,” he said.

Callaghan stated that there has been a change in recent years, with the spirit of volunteerism eroded to some degree.

“So what has this age group got that seems to be missing over the last few years when every club and county board are struggling for volunteers? They have a positive attitude, positive thinking , ability to bring people with them, are not afraid of a challenge, not afraid to give up their time.

“They are the lifeblood of the GAA club, they are the ones who ensure that our games are organised, our facilities are maintained, and our young athletes are nurtured.

“If everyone in this room decided not to give their time to the GAA, what would the GAA in club and county look like ?

“hat the GAA does in every community is unbelievable, from all the coaching at every level, no matter the circumstances that arrive - the GAA is central to the community.

“So why are people not volunteering their time?”

Callaghan addressed the perceived barriers to entry for potential volunteers in the GAA and the reasons put forward for not getting involved.

“The first excuse is ‘I haven't got time’. For the record, none of us have - but we make time,” he said.

“Other excuses include health and safety courses, child protection courses, online abuse, critics who do no volunteering, hiding behind a phone or laptop criticising every volunteer, parents who think they have a sense of entitlement, that their son or daughter should be playing even though they only turn up to training when it suits.

“Children have to learn from losing as well as winning, from setbacks, not being picked for the team, a coach explaining what they did wrong and how they can improve, and then accused of bullying or singling the child out - political correctness gone mad.

“Coaches give up so much of their time to educate themselves first, through different courses and then the time they put in down at the training fields. Our coaches make unbelievable sacrifices for so many.

“We need to protect our coaches.

“Life is full of challenges - my personal opinion is when parents keep interfering and trying to fix the problem for the child, the child does not know how to problem solve for themselves, this feeds into numerous issues including mental health, lack of confidence, drugs and gambling etc.

“Remember, in three or four years’ time, these same children who are not fit for challenges or setbacks are going to third level college, apprenticeship or the work force and they are struggling to take instructions or criticism. Welcome to the real world.

“It's recognised that if young children are taught early, given the tools for confident decision making they are in better control of their choices, to mitigate against a lot of bad choices as young adults.”

Callaghan stressed the need for positivity and encouraged everyone who may be reluctant to give of their time.

“We need positive people who are willing to give up a few hours every week, share their skills, their knowledge and their enthusiasm to help drive the success of our club and county .

“Volunteering is a rewarding experience. It allows you to give back to your community and make a difference in the lives of others.

“It gives you a sense of purpose and fulfilment that cannot be replicated by any other activity. Volunteering provides you with an opportunity to learn and grow.

“You can develop new skills, such as event planning, coaching, or team management. You can gain valuable leadership experience and build a network of like-minded individuals who share your passion for Gaelic games.

“So how are we going to get more volunteers involved in the GAA?

“Have a new volunteer evening in the club. Ask people to get involved. Ask parents to get involved. Ask them what area of the GAA are they interested in.

“Tell them what areas you require help in. Explain all the different roles briefly.

“Have individuals there that are involved in every different aspect of the GAA so they can give their views and answer any questions.

“There is a role for everyone in the GAA – let’s find one for you.”