By Cian O’Connell

Ulster GAA’s inclusive GAA for All programme continues to generate praise and interest.

Last Thursday’s gathering at Croke Park was the latest instalment in a growing collection of encouraging stories. Ultimately 263 young participants were afforded an opportunity to play at the Jones Road venue.

Clubs from across the province were involved with Ulster GAA’s Regional Officer (East), Shane McCann, delighted with the progress being made. “In the last five or six years we have used a slot for the disability participants,” McCann explains.

“We have a slot in there for the disability groups, it is in the calendar for us. We have a structured calendar, we start off with regional blitzes, club activity, the half-time games at the two Ulster SFC Semi-Finals. So Ulster GAA management have sanctioned that off for a long time, that the two Semi-Finals are specifically for the participants with disability.

“We have the Activity Day, there just has been a massive growth with the GAA For All since Covid. It was picking up a bit before Covid, but whatever has happened during Covid, maybe people were struggling at home and are just glad to be back out again. It has just exploded in the last year and a half.”

That clubs are increasingly interested in the GAA For All offering is a most welcome development for McCann. “The clubs identify a need in their club, whether it is through the coaches, the club itself, or maybe some parents have picked up on a situation,” he explains.

“Perhaps their child has been involved with the GO Games and are progressing out of that into U13 and U14 and a child with some form of disability the game starts to get away from them a bit. It might be more tactical, physical or skilful.

“So that can be where the need comes from. Yes, you have the younger participants, who may have certain conditions that will always need the help.

“Some can integrate into mainstream, but at stages it can become difficult. Clubs might decide to have their own outlet so players can play with their peers at the same level.”

Significant support and assistance is offered by Ulster GAA staff. “We go out to the clubs, we do a range of workshops,” McCann adds. “Last week we did two new clubs, who are starting off. Basically I go out to the clubs to have a chat with the coaches, who are looking after it, along with officers of the club and parents.

“Sometimes the participants are in the room, we have a chat, it is very informal. We show them how to get it started, we show them best practice examples of clubs, who have got up and running. We show them too not what to do at the early stages and not to be overloading themselves. Just start off really small.”

Volunteers are assisted. “The initial workshops are to build confidence in the people, who have thought of the idea of doing it,” he says. “So that they aren't feeling overwhelmed. Once they send out the notification to the community that it is happening, they invite members and people of the community who wish to join.

“Once they come in the club assess the needs of what age groups they might be dealing with and the numbers, what parents and coaches are available to help. Then we can come in to do more workshops with the coaches, to upskill them a bit because there might be a fear factor. Coaches might be coaching a long time, but they mightn't have coached anybody with autism, for example.

“They might be fearful about doing something wrong or offending somebody really. So it is just trying to boost their confidence a bit. We obviously provide support, if needed, at the sessions initially. Only a couple of members of staff are dedicated in this role so it is just really supporting them.

“The people in the clubs drive it, the volunteers, they are the drivers. We can't be at all of the sessions, even if we wanted to. It really is club volunteer driven, we support them. We create the opportunities.”

Ultimately McCann acknowledges how rewarding it can be for everyone involved. “It is absolutely fantastic,” McCann replies. “My sister is autistic, she came through the same process.

“She has played in the half-time games, she has played in Croke Park, she has done all of those things. She wouldn't normally be very physically active, it is something we would have struggled with.

“Getting her those experiences, it was absolutely fantastic for her. She still has the medals in her room, to hang on to those experiences forever.”

Families and clubs thoroughly enjoy the occasions. “Some of the emails and messages I've received just after Thursday, it is brilliant for the families,” McCann states.

“There was a lot of people at the event on Thursday, who had never been in Croke Park before. Even for a match - they had never been. Just that experience, in a more controlled environment without the big crowd. Normally at a match some of the participants just wouldn't be able to cope with the noise and the amount of people.

“Just to get there in a more chilled out environment, they have a bit more time to be relaxed with their families and get out on to the pitch with their regular coaches. The way we work it is they are all allocated a space on the pitch.

“They can play games, they can do skills, or they have parachutes or a different array of sensory equipment. Some of the coaches liaise with others if they fancy a little game. There is no pressure on anybody to play an actual match.

“We do run those blitzes in Ulster, where you could say it is a bit more competitive, but it is more game based, trying to get participants to pass, move, and score.

“We have one coming up on October 7, one of the All-Star teams will host it in Donaghmore in County Tyrone. It will be opened, but there will also be a section where they can just do their skills, parachutes, and sensory stuff. It is open to everyone.”

The positive approach enables clubs to collaborate. Learning from others is crucial. Ulster GAA simply attempt to act as facilitators and organisers.

“We have met with the clubs on Teams calls, we have all decided at the start of the year deciding how many events do people actually want,” McCann says.

“At the end of the day it costs money to travel, but we have a nice network. Next year coming into the winter it will probably be even more structured.

"At the minute we all bounce ideas off each other. Paul (Callaghan) and myself do all of the organisation of the events, but in the background some of the newer clubs have been contacting the more established clubs.

“We tell them in the initial workshops to go out to the sessions of the other clubs to see how it is run.”

Monitoring others in action is vital according to McCann. “Sometimes coaches are unsure about how they should be setting stuff up,” he adds.

“They have learned over time, everybody learns of somebody in some way. Even ourselves, when we go out we pick up some new idea.

“They are all bouncing ideas off each other. In terms of competition and events it is totally led by the provincial council and staff. Warrenpoint GAA held a blitz in April, it was run perfectly. It was structured the same as any blitz would be - the fixtures, pitches, co-ordinators, referees - it was absolutely fantastic.

“They didn't want to make any difference - just because it was a blitz for people with a disability. It was ran exactly the same as any blitz would be run. That is the template we will be using.

“You take into consideration your sensory areas, the equipment, and obviously the rules aren't always stuck to in the games.

“Somebody might bounce the ball four or five times and then throw it. So it is all about encouragement, constantly encouraging to kick and pass. You just keep the game going. There is a good support network, the volunteers are all very good.”

The GAA For All initiative in Ulster is working smoothly.

Aghagallon All-Stars, Beragh All-Stars, Greencastle All-Stars, Armagh Harps All-Stars, Oakleaf Lions Derry, Naomh Éanna All-Stars, Clan na Gael Lurgan All-Stars, Rehab Care Cavan, Antrim All-Stars, Derry All-Stars, Fermanagh All-Stars, Warrenpoint All-Stars, Cavan All-Stars and Crossmaglen All-Stars all took part at Croke Park on Thursday, August 17.