Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra

An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2014 5 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra Camogie Rising in our 110th year, it is encouraging to report a decade of buoyancy. Croke Park, Sunday 15th September 2013. The final whistle is blown. The first part of my report below captures key Therese Maher falls to her knees. Lorraine Ryan elements of this experience of Camogie Rising becomes only the second Galway player ever to from 2003-2013. walk up the Hogan Stand steps to collect the ‘‘ O’Duffy Cup. Iconic images are captured forever. Part B provides an account of the key activities undertaken at national level of the Camogie Therese’s story is remarkable and Association during 2013. compelling for: Part C provides an overview of • Her endurance in maintaining our performance in relation to a top flight inter-county career In an era when our five year National over 16 years; women’s sport is Development Plan Our Game • Overcoming the pain of five All- ‘‘ Our Passion 2010-2015 . Ireland Final defeats to claim a progressing, and in first All-Ireland senior victory; our 110th year, it is Significant club growth • Pride in club, county and encouraging to Ten years on from our Centenary province; report a decade of is a useful benchmark to reflect • A commitment to the highest buoyancy on the direction of the standards of skill, athleticism, Association, and to do so teamwork and leadership. drawing on and analysing the data we collect each year. Therese’s story is also compelling because it tells us about ourselves. It symbolises the passion we Using 2003 data as a baseline, there was a 23 per all share for our game. cent growth in club registration within the Camogie Association over the past decade. That passion has brought us together as an Association for the past 110 years. Leinster, with the highest national population, witnessed the highest actual growth in club Today, that passion is shared across a growing numbers while the higher percentage growth was number of clubs at home and abroad; and across in Connacht (see Table 1 and Figure 1). countless volunteers, coaches, mentors, referees, administrators and supporters. Table 1: Trend in club growth by Province 2003-2013 But passion on its own doesn’t win All-Ireland 2003 2013 % medals or create a vibrant, dynamic and clubs clubs increase progressive Association. Connacht 38 51 34% It takes vision, planning, organisation, know-how, Leinster 162 206 27% experience, collaboration and resources. Munster 145 177 22% Ulster 102 113 11% In an era when women’s sport is progressing, and Overall 447 547 23% 6 An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2014 Clubs by County 2003-2013 Munster 145 177 22% Ulster 102 113 11% Overall 447 547 23% An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2014 7 Post primary schools’ growth the qualifying structures for the Ashbourne and Purcell Cup competitions. Growth in the number of post primary schools playing camogie from 176 schools to 230 is also Going international very encouraging. This is particularly so in the context of national concerns about teenage health Camogie is also enjoying steady growth and well-being. Leinster and Dublin were the internationally. strongest performers here with the highest increase in schools participation (see Table 2). New camogie activity in Europe, Australia, Asia, the introduction of competition structures in the Table 2: Trend in post primary schools growth US for American-born players, the introduction of by Province 2003-2013 underage camogie in North America and Britain are all green shoots that suggest, in the longer 2003 2013 term, a sustainable international dimension to the number of number of sport (see Fig. 2). schools schools Connacht 13 17 Looking at these patterns globally, across clubs, Leinster 28 47 the education sector and internationally, the level (excl Dublin) of opportunities to play Camogie has grown by Dublin 29* 40 almost a third. Munster 64 78 Ulster 42 48 Untapped potential Overall (excl. Dublin) 147 190 This growth is a huge affirmation of the appeal of Overall our game and is a simple message that there is (incl. Dublin) 176 230 untapped potential to extend the game. *Includes number of Kildare and Meath schools It clearly demonstrates that a strategy of waiting for people to discover the game is bettered by a Camogie participation at primary level is managed strategy of creating the opportunity to play the by Cumann na mBunscoil. game. The growth of Camogie shows that when people are given the chance to learn the game, Participation within the third level sector remains backed up by appropriate coach education and stable at 27 institutions. At third level, there was other supports, new roots are established. an increase in the number of competitions with the introduction of shield competitions and lower The game breaks out of the confinement of its grade competitions. There were also changes to so-called traditional boundaries. The rekindling of Fig. 2: International clubs 2003 2013 by region Europe 05 2003 2013 2003 2013 North 10 10 adult America + 13 Britain 69 2003 2013 underage Asia/ 02 Gulf Region 2003 2013 Australia – 13 8 An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2014 a much earlier tradition of Camogie in Donegal, Kerry and Mayo is testament to this along with It clearly demonstrates that a strategy of new growth in urban communities and amongst waiting for people to discover the game is players of different abilities and social ‘‘ bettered by a strategy of creating the backgrounds including children with disabilities. opportunity to play the game. The growth of ‘‘ Camogie shows that when people are given The right to play, leisure, education and cultural activities, enshrined in the United Nations the chance to learn the game, backed up by Covenant on the Rights of the Child, is realised for appropriate coach education and other thousands of young people through Camogie. supports, new roots are established. The sport’s growth is also a huge affirmation of term ambition for Camogie to be played in every the voluntary input and of the input of the GAA club. Association’s staff team and their collaboration. To support this, we need better information about It is, however, not a reason to be complacent. the profile of our playing membership and our broader membership. The international trend of more girls dropping out of sport than boys, and, of an established fall-off In 2014, with the support of the GAA, the in team sports as females make the transition Camogie Association introduces its first electronic from adolescence to adulthood, are definite membership registration system. This system will challenges. generate new information on the geographical spread and gender composition of our We must make it easy for teenagers to stay in membership; its underage profile; transitions Camogie by putting on an attractive games from underage Camogie to adult Camogie and the programme to meet their needs and by putting composition of the membership e.g. number of their child welfare needs first. players, coaches, administrators, referees. The changing profile of the game A child’s welfare need and a club’s need to field a minor team or an adult team are not the same. Players, teams and competitions are at the heart The child’s welfare need has to come first. of the Association. Since 2003, the higher skill and fitness levels of We need to come up with new solutions to players and the changed profile of our national provide a regular programme of age-appropriate competitions have been critically positive factors games for players in their mid to late teens. By in enhancing the game’s profile. being imaginative and patient we will continue to try out new ways to keep teenagers playing until The speed, strategy and playing skills of Camogie we find the best way. players were never better. Effective coach education initiatives, greater sports science There are over 2,500 affiliated GAA clubs, inputs, greater professionalism of players and signifying almost four times more GAA clubs than backroom team‘‘ s, modifications to playing rules Camogie units. So, there is undoubtedly untapped and greater finances have all contributed to potential to grow the game within the Gaelic making this happen. games family and to extend that family by reaching out to people who are High standard competitive unfamiliar with the Gaelic games games are enjoyed by players and tradition. the public alike and the changed I believe we can competition structure is an We now know that the Camogie important underpinning of these. Association has a proven model of ‘‘now be confident creating opportunities, structures about setting a Senior and Junior were the two and relationships to support medium to long primary grades for All-Ireland people to learn to take up and inter-county and club participate in our game. term ambition for championships in 2003. Camogie to be played I believe we can now be confident in every GAA Club There is now a much more about setting a medium to long graduated structure that creates a An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2014 9 pathway for a county to enter inter-county competition at Junior It is wonderful and right that every B level and to progress to senior ‘‘ county and every club playing Camogie level over time. has a reasonable expectation to progress There is a similar pathway at club to the final stages of an All-Ireland series level from Junior to Intermediate ‘‘ with the added opportunity to play that to Senior. final in Croke Park. Some of the strongest images of camogie over the past 10 years Castlegar (Galway) with debutants Ballyhale came from competitive games where the skill Shamrocks (Kilkenny) and Lismore (Waterford) ranged and/or from occasions when counties contesting the 2013/14 Final.

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