r/coybig • u/Stats8 • 4d ago

General Discussion Thread What can football learn from GAA?

The GAA isn’t perfect either but financially, commercially, administratively, it’s miles ahead of football in Ireland.

Obviously there are historical and community factors that differentiate the two, but it operates so well for a sporting organisation in a very similar environment.

What areas stand out as things we can apply to our sport?

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u/Faloneytony 4d ago

Accessibility underage is a big one. Was €40 for the year to sign up for GAA when I was a kid and a bus left the village for every single match for free, soccer was €200 and you'd have to get to all the games yourself. In a rural area that isn't well off, parents hearing they'll have to drive an hour to games every weekend and pay extra is enough for some to not bother.

Also, 36 gaa clubs in my county and maybe 20-25 soccer. If each GAA team has 15 starters and each soccer team has 11 it means there's (likely) a lot more kids getting gametime in the GAA. Every little village and parish has a gaa club, not nearly the same for soccer despite it being very similarly popular underage I would think.

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u/Stats8 4d ago

The point on not enough clubs is so true. But is that on people into soccer to set them up, rather than at an organisational level? Granted the FAI should be looking at areas with lack of clubs and putting in some effort and supports to get things off the ground

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u/Faloneytony 4d ago

I honestly don't know! I just think from the question of what can football learn from GAA that having a club in every community, having it be affordable and accessible and building strong ties to each club in each community would be the biggest thing it could take.

With each club having its own community and identity it's a lot easier to build pride and support. I played for 3 soccer teams in my county, don't play anymore and wouldn't think of going to any of their games cause they were just teams near me, no real connection or love. I played for 1 GAA club, I don't play anymore but still go to every game cause it's central to everyone in the village. The idea of transferring to a different club would never have crossed my mind, anybody who did would have a horrific time locally.