A story on the front page of the Irish Examiner by Evelyn Ring highlighted how an Oireachtas committee heard where sports clubs are losing underage players due the "win-only" ethos which has become prevalent across the country.
The topic surfaced on Thursday's OTB AM with Ger highlighting the need for proper discussion around the issue before we do irreparable damage to participation numbers in this country.
"Colin Regan, the GAA's Community and Health manager was before the Oireachtas committee yesterday - Colin Regan is one of the best people you come across in sport - he has this ability to transmit that he is trying to do his very best for everybody he comes in contact with and that's a rare thing in Irish sport so when he talks - we should all listen.
Well said Ger. It's getting into all sports. Our u12s lgfa team played away last week and a parent asked our coach to have a fight in the car park. Another parent shouted to her daughter, you have elbows use them!!! Absolutely madness!!
— Keith. (@KeithCahill) June 14, 2018
"And he's saying that parents are being absolute, I don't want to put words in his mouth, but it's a major issue that parents are putting kids off sport by their antics on the sidelines and it's really something that we as a country should address.
"The suggestion is that it's being driven by the 'win-at-all-costs' mentality - it's also being driven by parents trying to live vicariously through their kids and it's also being driven by the ego of the coach who thinks that the under-10s is Real Madrid and the opposition is Man United and this is his time to be in the Champions League and have a 4-3-3 or have wing-backs and the only ones he can play are the ones in his system as opposed to the kids who show up every week and don't get any game time so this is a trauma in Irish sport which we keep talking about but nothing ever really happens about it.
"I'm wondering how much ye want this?..... I'M F*CKING SICK OF LOOKING AT YE!" This is what was heard from a mentor of a camogie team at the Féile in Athlone last weekend. My daughter was playing on an adjacent pitch. It was during half time and everyone in the venue could hear.
— Pat Coady (@Bahanaman75) June 14, 2018
"And, I'm not sure parents are really looking at themselves and going 'Am I one of those dickhead parents on the sideline shouting'?"
Catch Thursday's OTB AM Pod here:
