Caltra GAA Gameathon

Player Athletic Development Centre

Background

The community of Caltra and much further afield are well aware of the excellent new facilities which have been built over the past decade. As players (male and female) we are very lucky to have the use of such top-class facilities. We also owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone involved in the delivery of the project to date and we the players now want to add what we believe is a very important last piece to this jigsaw. We want to build our own Player Athletic Development Centre.

Reasons To Build

Preparation techniques for all sports have changed dramatically over the past twenty years with youth and adult athletic development programs now a key element in the development pathway for both male and female players. As players we want to reach our maximum potential and we view the proposed new facility as an essential ingredient in achieving those goals. The most common name used for this type of facility is a gym and yes there will be weights equipment in it, but it is important to us that people understand that our facility will be for player athletic development of all ages.

Integration

There is a large emphasis being placed on integration and equality at the moment by our parent GAA organisations and the government is also very supportive of a move in this direction. Mary McAlese has been appointed to oversee a working group nationally on this. We believe that this project is an excellent actual example of integration and equality at grass roots level. 

* The project is being run by a steering group of our ladies and mens adult players. 

* Our proposed fundraiser “Caltra's 24-hour Gameathon” will involve all players male and female of all age grades right through to adult.

* When built, both male and female players will have access to the facility.

Player Benefits

As part of the club’s player pathway the inclusion of a long-term athletic development program (LTAD) is now a key component to meet the requirements of playing the sport of Gaelic football at both underage and adult club level. The LTAD program is broken down within the club to youth players and adult players. This development is based on individual athletic and physical improvements driven mainly in a sports centre type setting, the new facility is planned to allow players across our juvenile and adult club avail of these needs. 

Our current Youth Athletic Development Program (YADT) accommodating players aged 13 to 17, the program exposes players to functional movement skills matching the requirements of the sport while also working on mobility, running mechanics, speed development, resistance training, force absorption training, motor skills and core strength development. These physical and athletic progressions are individually focused, controlled and monitored while that player develops through their adolescent’s years. The main benefits of the new facility to the youth player include: 

* Reduced risk of injury while training and playing the sport allowing for on-going participation in their LTAD.

* Continual functional movement screening to improve mobility and posture.

* Improved motor skills to match the sport – jumping, landing, kicking, passing, soloing etc. 

* Improved running and speed mechanics – reducing injury and improving speed & acceleration.

* Increased muscular & Core strength – including tendon and ligament strength allowing for a more solid robust player.

* Alternative type physical activity in a group setting allowing for increased social interaction and improved fitness and wellness. 

* Allows youth players an easier transition to meet the physical demands of playing adult sport.

* Exposure to indoor based physical and fitness training, which the players can carry into adulthood. 

For our adult players the Player Athletic Development Centre is to allow individual player to continue on their LTAD pathway. Adult players can avail of strength and resistance training, power development, plyometrics training, core strength, mobility, speed development, running mechanics development and fitness work. The main benefits of the new facility to the adult player includes: 

* Meet the ever-increasing physical demand to play adult club football at the highest level.

* Stronger more robust players with less risk to injury.

* Faster, more agile and powerful players to meet the demands of the game.

* Allow players developed a physical base that can be aerobically/anaerobically conditioned as part of pitch training.

* Continual functional movement screening to improve mobility and posture.

* Continual testing/monitoring availability to improve strength, power and speed outputs of individual players.

*  The facility can be used as an Injury rehab location for players when required while also allowing for off-season individual fitness improvement and management.

* The facility can also allow for general health and wellness improvement for all active players within the club.

Targets and Fundraising Model

The spatial requirements to facilitate all our needs means that the building is 20 metres long x 10 metres wide which is quite a large building, but we have to ensure that it can facilitate group and individual sessions concurrently. Based on budget costings our target is to raise €100,000 to conclude this project. 

As a fundraiser we are going to involve all players of all ages from both codes in a non-stop 24-hour festival of football (Caltra's 24-hour Gameathon). This event is planned to take place early in 2024. All players and even non-playing members will be seeking sponsorship for the project with Idonate being used as the main income stream. Sponsorship cards will also be used by our younger members and donations will be gratefully accepted in all formats.

We thank you for taking the time to understand our project. This is our “Field of Dreams” and we hope that you can help us make it happen. We hope that this brochure has addressed many of your queries. As adult players we want to ensure that we have the opportunity to reach our individual and team ceiling potential. The real benefits from this will be gained by those players who are only just starting their careers.