National Forum

Do We Actually Need U20/U21 At Club Level?

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Replying To Viking66:  "Straight answer as in answering no? There are plenty of lads playing u21 that aren't ready physically for playing adult. There are a good few on our u21 teams. It's a great stepping stone for these lads. I think the grade has its merits and should be kept. Is that a straight enough answer? ;-)"
Yes, that's a straight answer too :) Albeit the opposite answer to what Tash gave!

My own club's U21s were in football action this weekend. A mix of minors and lads overage for minor. Obviously the minors couldn't play in the adult grades this year, but anyone over 18 was playing all year long with either our first or second football team.

We're out of the hurling, but it was the same with the teams we put out for that. Anyone old enough to be entitled in the adult grades was indeed playing in them.

Personally, I think that if you had bigger clubs with bigger "picks", such that you had maybe 10 or 12 lads aged 19 or 20 who weren't getting games at adult level, then yes, U20 or U21 would be important, and indeed needed.

But in a situation where most lads of that age are playing regularly anyway, I'm not sure it's needed at all.

Maybe your club just "needs" it more than we do!! :)

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2620 - 12/11/2023 21:00:50    2512599

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Yes, that's a straight answer too :) Albeit the opposite answer to what Tash gave!

My own club's U21s were in football action this weekend. A mix of minors and lads overage for minor. Obviously the minors couldn't play in the adult grades this year, but anyone over 18 was playing all year long with either our first or second football team.

We're out of the hurling, but it was the same with the teams we put out for that. Anyone old enough to be entitled in the adult grades was indeed playing in them.

Personally, I think that if you had bigger clubs with bigger "picks", such that you had maybe 10 or 12 lads aged 19 or 20 who weren't getting games at adult level, then yes, U20 or U21 would be important, and indeed needed.

But in a situation where most lads of that age are playing regularly anyway, I'm not sure it's needed at all.

Maybe your club just "needs" it more than we do!! :)"
I'm sure it's true for many clubs. We had a good few playing u21 that weren't up to adult physically, and were on the bench for the 2 adult teams at best. Some didn't even really get a game in the adult League, never mind championship. At the same time like many clubs we don't have the numbers to field 3 teams. Some of these aren't at college either, but have finished school. So they aren't getting winter hurling or football either.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13853 - 13/11/2023 11:28:30    2512657

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With the way the 21 hurling is being run in limerick,I'm changing my mind in the value of having the competition..some clubs being asked to play 3 matches in five days,another club asked to play Saturday and Sunday..it's making a complete mockery of playing,and obviously player welfare definitely doesn't enter the mind of fixture makers..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2378 - 14/11/2023 23:25:45    2513081

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When I was 18 i was on the 21s and starting on the seniors as were 3 or 4 others. That was similar in other clubs. That was in 2001 and we were a senior club. Back the the 21s was played in the summer and was given huge coverage and clubs took it very seriously. That just isn't the case at all now. Especially now when it only gets started when the season is over. Hard to keep players and supporters engaged.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8155 - 15/11/2023 10:04:27    2513088

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