Anti-Bullying week is running from 16-23 November and is part of an initiative developed under the auspices of the Ulster GAA child protection committee. It aims to draw more attention to any behaviour within our clubs which is deemed to be unfair or harmful to any individual who wishes to participate in our Gaelic games.

At County level this has been supported by Chairman Padraig Sherry, County manager Malachy O’Rourke and all our county players including our most recent All Star Conor McManus.

At Ulster GAA level, an anti-bullying course has been on offer to clubs for several years but clubs have been wary of undertaking such a course within their clubs. However this should be seen as a very progressive move which educates all those who deal with children on a regular basis. This is a course which sets out all of the best practice and some of the pitfalls and it would be a very proactive step for any club to run this course for all their coaches early in the new year.

Sports Studies have suggested that up to 50% of young people who engaged in sport were subjected to at least one episode of psychological or physical violence, with 3 people suffering emotional harm to every person who suffers physical harm. So in the GAA context, we need to examine whether we are making the environment safe enough for our children, whether our coaches are actively aware of the potential damage

This phenomenon is often emphasised to any even greater extent when we look at elite levels, so it is extremely important that we make sure that all of the safeguards are put in place at every level. And we need to look again at the culture that we establish within our club, making sure that we appreciate all those who participate, that we give everyone a fair chance to play our games, that we aim to win without trying to humiliate our opponents

One of the initiatives for 2016 from Monaghan GAA is that all names of managers, coaches and first aiders must be forwarded on in advance of the playing season for verification of completion of garda vetting and child protection courses. Anyone who cannot demonstrate that they have successfully completed both of these will be forced to remove themselves from any participation in our juvenile activities.

In relation to those who need to have their Garda Vetting, as it can often take several months to complete Garda vetting, for example, it is important that this process be started by the club in the near future to ensure that this is completed in advance of the 2016 season.

At Monday’s county committee meeting, a proposal was adopted from the County children’s officer that all clubs would put up signs on dressing rooms prohibiting the use of mobile phones within dressing rooms, as a measure to ensure that no inappropriate photos or other footage would be made accessible. It’s a small step but it might be an important statement about how a club sets out its core principles at the beginning of 2016