One of the often unspoken challenges of being a volunteer led organisation is getting the right quality of people to commit to the right roles of leadership at every level.
The GAA is seeking to meet that challenge through a newly developed Club Leadership Development Programme which will commence this year providing skills and additional learning around leadership to fifty individuals from clubs in 20 counties spread from Antrim to Wexford and Kerry to Donegal.
The programme will give an opportunity for the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and PRO to attend a series of workshops to acquire the key knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles in a confident and competent manner.
“This much needed initiative which will significantly help club officers who require training, education and continuous support to carry out their roles effectively,” said GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail.
Commencing from the end of January, new and continuing GAA Club Officers will get the opportunity to complete the free programme which has been developed internally by the GAA.
“Leadership development will give officers the knowledge and skills to sustain them in their roles, and will also create greater capacity within the GAA to address the many opportunities and challenges facing clubs,” added Paddy Flood from Trugh Gaels Club in Monaghan who Chairs the National Club Development Committee within the Association.
The programme is a direct response to the challenges of recruiting and training of officers which Ard-Stiúrthóir, Páraic Duffy noted in his Annual Report for 2015. At that time he felt that it was imperative for a major programme of officer training to be launched.
Waterford Hurler and current GAA/GPA All-Star, Noel Connors is doing a PhD on the topic of club leadership and was also at the launch of the programme highlighting how leadership skills will not only strengthen the clubs of those completing the programme but also help them develop in everyday life.
The GAA has a clear focus on leadership at present with the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Programme also being rolled out across the country to assist young people still in school develop themselves as Leaders of the future.
Over 50 students received their certificates for the 2015/16 course at a special ceremony in Croke Park last November.
