Ladies Gaelic Football

A review of the U14 All Ireland Inter County Competition was conducted in 2019 with a view to move away from the traditional knockout championship structure in recent years. As a result in 2019, the LGFA adopted a series approach with the aim to provide more playing opportunities for ALL our players. The Provincial element of the newly revised structure was organised independently to the All-Ireland Series in that results from same did not determine grading for the All Ireland Series and no County was eliminated at this juncture like in previous years. The revised structure afforded each County at least seven games and the opportunity to be involved at the All Ireland Stages of their respective grade. Following the completion of the programme, an extensive independent review of this new approach was conducted by Dr Wesley O'Brien (UCC) and Irene Hogan (CIT) whereby key stakeholders of players, parents, coaches, county boards and female liaison officers (FLO's) were surveyed and/or interviewed during and after the series for their perceptions and experiences of the championship. The Players Voice 'I thought it was a great opportunity this year for both stage 1 and stage 2. As a coach, last year, the heart wrenching part for me was coming home on the bus and not being able to play all the players' Coach amount of Games 114 of Counties reach an All Ireland Quarter Final in each grade 100% Different Playing Grades 4 Counties reached grade- specific All Ireland Finals 8 stakeholders of players, parents, coaches, female liaison officer's (FLO) and County Boards from 32 counties represented 1031 of players ranked WINNING a title as the LEAST IMPORTANT aspect of playing Inter County football 82% ranked IMPROVING AND FURTHER DEVELOPING AS A PLAYER as the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of playing Inter County football 61% Focus of County Team 2019 All Ireland Series Evaluation 48 | AUTUMN 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie U14 ALL IRELAND SERIES 48 | AUTUMN 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie

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