Registration for Scholastic Middle School Gaelic Football (Grades 6-8)
The Essex Shillelaghs GAA is excited to invite your school to be part of our newest initiative—the Essex Shillelaghs Scholastic Middle School Program—a dynamic opportunity to introduce Gaelic Football to your school as part of their physical education curriculum or after-school sports offerings!
Why Gaelic Football?
Gaelic Football is one of the fastest, most engaging team sports in the world, combining the best elements of soccer, basketball, and rugby. It develops agility, endurance, teamwork, and hand-eye coordination while offering a fresh and exciting athletic experience for middle schoolers (grades 6-8).
Together with other players from your school, registrants will participate in a school sponsored programs, supported by the ESGAA. Games will be organized by the ESGAA with other scholastic programs or with the Shillelaghs in-house teams. Scholastic players are welcome to join in with the ESGAA at practices or in tournaments organized by the New York GAA Minor Board in Spring and Fall.
Participation fees are paid by your schools for all of the activities. The ESGAA requires your registration and complete waiver for participation.
Essex Shillelaghs Program Overview (included in Scholastic Program)
Our Gaelic Football program is open to children aged 5 to 16 and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn and enjoy the unique sport of Gaelic games. Our progam is in association with the Town of West Orange Recreation Department and the New York Minor Board of the GAA (NYMB).
Here’s what you can expect:
Spring Season
Our primary season is in the Spring, with weekly practices in West Orange beginning in mid-March and running through early June for all age groups. Our practice fields include Stagg Field and Minish Field in West Orange. U8s though U16s will practice on Wednesdays at 6pm with some additional practices on Saturday afternoons at the coach's discretion. U6s will practice on Saturday mornings at 11am.
All practice times are subject to change.
The focus of practice is to develop player skills through fun-filled drills, games and scrimmages for all levels. Our hope is that the young players will enjoy the game as much as we do and become interested in "playing up" in competitive travel games with the NYMB.
All players are encouraged to participate in the competitive travel games with the NYMB at the U8 and older age levels. The is no additional fee for this activity. The NYMB games are played on Saturday afternoons beginning in mid-April and conclude with playoffs by mid-June. The NYMB league features many as 20 teams from across the Tri-State area including Long Island and Connecticut. The games are hosted on the NYMB home field, Redmond Park in Yonkers, NY, but there may be games in Rockland (NY), Dutchess (NY) or Queens (NY). Typically, the season includes 5-6 game days, plus the one-day championship tournament.
Our season officially ends at the Irish Sports Expo on June 22, 2025. The Irish Sports Expo is a fun-filled day of games, picnic, and awards at the Shillelagh Club in West Orange.
Fall Season
A short season is held in the fall for interested players and is included in your registration fee. Weekday practices begin after Labor Day and conclude with the shorter daylight hours in early October. The NYMB will hold 4-5 Saturday afternoon game days at Redmond Park between September and November. Schedules will be available in September.
Uniforms
NYMB travel players will receive team uniform shirt at the field on game day. They must be returned at the end of each games.
All players receive a practice T-shirt which are yours to keep.
Communications
Our coaches use WhatsApp to communicate with parents for practice updates and game RSVPs. Your coaches will invite you to join the Team Group before the start of the season. Parents may also use it to communicate with each other for team related messaging (ride-sharing, etc.).
Our executive committee uses Facebook and Constant Contact for communicating to club members and the general and public. The frequency of the emails is about 2-3 per month. Please make sure that you are not blocking messages from us.
After you submit this registration, we will ask you to kindly make sure you are registered on FOIREANN, the Global GAA registration portal. The website keep us connected to the global GAA community and is used by coaches for official team rosters which we are required to submit. You will recieve a link with your registration confirmation.
Registration Details
You may register up to four children using this form.
You must sign & accept the Player/Parent Code of Conduct form.
Upon receiving your completed registration and payment:
1. You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join Foireann, for GAA rgistration.
2. A Waiver Form will be provided, which must be completed prior to the start of play.
Thank you for choosing to be part of the Essex Shillelaghs GAA! We are excited to welcome you and your family to our vibrant community of players and supporters.
By signing you agree that you have read the program description and accept the Essex Shillelaghs GAA Code of Conduct.
Essex Shillelaghs GAA Code of Conduct
The Essex Shillelaghs Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members, players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators. As members of the GAA community, we adhere to the following code of conduct:
Respect and Fair Play:
1. Treat all individuals with dignity, respect, and fairness, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.
2. Respect the decisions of coaches, officials, and administrators, and refrain from engaging in disrespectful or abusive behavior towards them.
3. Play by the rules of the game and demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times, both on and off the field.
4. Celebrate success with humility and show respect towards opponents, teammates, and supporters.
Safe Environment:
5. Prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants by following guidelines and protocols established for training, matches, and events.
6. Report any incidents of harassment, discrimination, bullying, or misconduct to the appropriate club officials or safeguarding officers promptly.
7. Avoid the use of foul language, violence, or aggressive behavior that may jeopardize the safety or welfare of others.
Positive Communication:
8. Communicate constructively and respectfully with teammates, coaches, officials, and opponents, fostering a supportive and positive team environment.
9. Resolve conflicts and disagreements through peaceful and respectful means, promoting open dialogue and understanding.
10. Use social media responsibly, refraining from posting derogatory, offensive, or inappropriate content that reflects poorly on the club or its members.
Commitment and Integrity:
11. Demonstrate commitment to training, competitions, and club activities by attending regularly and punctually, and giving your best effort in all endeavors.
12. Uphold the values of honesty, integrity, and fair play in all interactions, both on and off the field.
13. Represent the Essex Shillelaghs GAA with pride and dignity, maintaining a positive image of the club within the community.
Parents and Guardians:
14. Encourage and support your child's participation in GAA activities, emphasizing the importance of respect, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
15. Respect the authority of coaches, officials, and club administrators, and address any concerns or grievances through appropriate channels in a constructive manner.
Consequences of Violations:
16. Any breach of this code of conduct may result in disciplinary action, including warnings, suspension, or expulsion from the club, as determined by the club's executive committee or disciplinary board.
The club reserves the right to take appropriate action in response to any behavior that is deemed detrimental to the club's values, reputation, or the well-being of its members.
By adhering to this code of conduct, we demonstrate our commitment to upholding the principles of respect, integrity, and inclusivity within the Essex Shillelaghs GAA community.
Date of Adoption: MAY 1, 2024
James T. McGuire, Chairman
