Rounders Presentation  (AGM 28/2/04 in Tralee)          Primary Schools' Championships May 2004

HOMEPAGE

Rounders Presentation

AGM 28/2/04 in Tralee

To download a (PDF) copy of this Please click here

By Margaret Delaney

Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, Officers, Fellow Guests, Delegates.  It is with trepidation and pleasure that I address you today.  I spent quite a while deliberating on how best to approach this address and what topics I should speak on to get the message across clearly and try not to bore you all to tears in the process.

Rounders is a game, which we would consider as a “Sport for All”.  It can be played by young and old alike from 9 to 90.

This is a field game of the Gaelic Athletic Association which can provide superb team experience and enjoyment for “less able” players as well as for fit athletes.  Physical and medical problems curtail enjoyment and participation for many youngsters.  Rounders can fill the gap for many such individuals.

Individual Rounders skills are less linked than in the other team games.  A player need only be good at one or two of the several skills involved, and still be a useful team member.

Some details on The Game itself – rules are simple, equipment expenses are minimal, fun is endemic, skills are basic and children learn the game fast.

Fair play is a winner; Skills carry over to Hurling and Camogie.

Hand/Eye coordination is very fine-tuned.

Rounders offers all youngsters a fun experience with and against their own peers and against older players.

Male and female players can participate on equal terms.  Our mixed matches demonstrate the equality in the game, and in many cases the mixed competitions will field the greatest number of teams as the mix is 5/4 either way.  In units where the numbers are down in either male or female it is often easy to field for the underage, minor or senior events.  There are no physical or one to one tackles in the game.

The game of Rounders has long been the Cinderella game of the Association.  However we have been working extremely hard to get the recognition the game deserves.  The organisation has over the past 3-4 years received some recognition and support for the work, which many have put in over the past  34 years.

We are currently working on a Strategic Plan for submission to Croke Park by the end of 2004.  As part of our Plan we will be looking to work hand in hand with your good selves.  We would perhaps like to have representatives on your committees who would liase on our behalf and work to further the game and reap the benefits in terms of affiliations to the Rounders Council.  We would also support the relevant coisde in terms of coaching materials, assistance with rules etc.  We would be in a position to set up coaching courses for teachers or coaching in schools, whichever would be desirable.

I was interested to note from your website that all counties are promoting all the games of the Association and that many counties are involved in inter-county matches at primary school level in conjunction with senior inter-county championship matches at provincial level.  Are the inter-county matches confined to Football and Hurling?  We would welcome the opportunity to promote the game of Rounders at an inter-county level with Cumann na mBunscol.

Following on this and in conjunction with approaches to Croke Park (which have recently been made) regarding curtain raiser matches for the Senior and Minor Games, we would love to see the situation whereby our underage players would get the opportunity to play in the Mini Sevens “Rounders” in Croke Park at the Semi–Finals and Finals of the Championships.

The other initiative, which is also highlighted on the web, is the McDonalds Skills Competition.  We again would live to be involved in this.  We would have no problem in providing the pack.  I know our Secretary has spoken to Pat Daly, Development Officer in Croke Park and he advised him to submit a pack with a view to looking at the prospects for the future perhaps for 2005.

We are also looking to tie in with Coaching and Refereeing Courses within the GAA.  We would like to have our game included in Summer Camps (Cumann na mBunscol and GAA) throughout the country.

We have great plans for the future but little finances to advance them at any quicker pace than previous.  However, we would be hopeful that the Strategic Plan would be instrumental in convincing the Association that we are very serious about our game and that we need more financial backing to assist with the Development Programme, which we are embarking on.

We introduced the inaugural All Stars in 2002.  Following on our Awards night this year, we have had quite a number of queries regarding the game and the extent to which it is played in the country.  While it is played in a number of counties through Cumann na mBunscol and through Community Games, the units are not all affiliating to the Rounders Council; hence it is difficult to put a figure on the total number of players in the country.

The highlight of the Underage Season is the Feile which is held in Kings Hospital College, Palmerstown and this is open at present to all clubs in all ages, U/13 B&G, U/13 novice, U/14 mixed, U/15 B&G and U/16 mixed.  I note from your clár to-day that Margaret has researched the counties who are currently playing Rounders in Cumann na mBunscol.  I would look forward to making contact in the future.

I would again like to say that the game of Rounders is one, which can be played by all, irrespective of age, level of fitness, gender, etc.

I would like to thank the governing committee for their invitation to speak to you today and I would like to thank you the delegates for your attention and patience.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go Leir.

Margaret Delaney ( Chairperson of Rounders Council, Ireland )