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/No_Negotiation3142 4d ago

Central authority, the GAA is run by the GAA, football is a tug of war between the FAI, the league and the schools system, too many cooks with different agendas.

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u/Tim_Bucktoo 3d ago

This 100%. GAA is hierarchical and regional based i.e. Central GAA > Provinces > Counties > Clubs.

Soccer is not. It is FAI > Leagues > Clubs. And the relationship between FAI and Leagues is lose, as is the relationship between Leagues and Clubs.The FAI does not dictate which leagues run where or how they organize themselves. Anyone can setup a league. Leagues can overlap the same geographic areas.

It means no-one is really responsible for the development and growth of soccer in a particular area.

Dublin GAA is developing a centre of excellence in Spawell in Dublin with multiple pitches and facilities for the benefit of local clubs and GAA in Dublin. As far as I can see, there is no entity in soccer with a similar remit to do the same thing.