By John Harrington

A clever initiative by Walterstown GFC in Meath to keep their young players active has started a positive domino effect throughout the county.

They’re running a 100 Touch Challenge Video campaign which encourages their members to film themselves completing 100-touch football drills and then challenge others to do the same.

“The 100-touch challenge has been going on within Meath GAA for the past few weeks because Meath coaching and games ran a competition across 80 schools in the county,” Walterstown GGC PRO, Ruth Chambers, told GAA.ie

“Three of our players were actually in the Final in Pairc Tailteann, so there's been a lot of talk about it in the club.

“So, when the committee was talking about keeping our kids active we decided to set them this challenge to do at home and, then, if they wanted to send the videos to us they could and we'd put them up on our social media.

“In fairness, we've gotten a great response. Martin O'Connell, who is our intermediate manager, he did it first to launch it and then challenged Seneschalstown to do it and Skryne. And the kids have all been challenging their friends and other clubs as well.

“It's a way for them to keep active and give them something to do for a few minutes a day.

“Seneschalstown sent us on a great video. Skryne have done one too. I know Seneschalstown have challenged Wolfe Tones as well so I’m sure they’ll get around to it soon enough as well.”

This initiative by Walterstown GFC is just the latest by a GAA club to engage their community in a positive way at a time when no matches can be played.

In the face of the considerable challenge posed by Covid-19 Pandemic, GAA clubs up and down the country have rallied together to help in any way they can. In a strange way, it has helped bring clubs and communities even closer together.

“Definitely,” says Chambers. “Dunderry led the way in Meath in terms of offering to help vulnerable people in their community.

“We, like so many clubs around the county and across the country have done the same if any vulnerable or elderly people need supplies or prescriptions or stuff like that. Definitely everyone has pulled together, without a doubt.”

Walterstown GFC have more initiatives in the pipeline to keep their younger members busy in the coming days and weeks.

“Our Games Promotion Officer is in the process of setting out homework for our age-groups from u-5 up,” says Chambers. “We are going to get our coaches to send that out to the parents and we'll also put it on social media.

“We're also hoping to launch a colouring competition for five-year-olds up to 11-year-olds to draw a club-related picture.

“Get your parents to send it in and we'll put it up on social media. We'll then pick a winner and give them a nice prize like a half-zip or a jersey when everything returns to normal.”