A Cavan GAA manager says it's important to not eradicate the competitiveness of sport among younger players.
Damien Donohue's comments follow recent concerns voiced in the media from parents that winning is more important to local GAA clubs and managers than including children of all abilities when it comes to those who are selected to take part in a competitive match.
According to the U-20 Cavan manager, "competitiveness" is instilled in human-beings from birth, and so is the "natural instinct to succeed."
Damien said sport is supposed to "replicate life" and give young people an idea about what life is really like, adding that sport teaches children the important message that in life "you get what you put in."
"I also take a team of kids who are under the age of five in Cavan. Even when I ask them to do something.. when you put two kids at a training cone say and tell them to run to the wall and back, even if I haven't mentioned the word race they will still naturally try to beat the person beside them," Damien explained, when asked if GAA clubs and managers are the ones who pressurise children into being competitive in the first instance, as apposed to the game being solely based on taking part and having fun.
"There comes a point when you have to introduce the competitive side of GAA, or else players will get bored without the reward at the end of the day. Players want to see rewards for the effort they put in," he said.
"I don't think the competitive side of GAA should be taken away, perhaps part of the problem is that we maybe emphasise too much on the winning."
