Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly: April
by Vincent Beach
Adults.
The adult coed indoor Gaelic Football sessions are in full swing Fridays in March and Thursdays in April at the Soccer Sportsplex in North Olmsted.
The sessions start with the mixed group of new and experienced players cycling through skills stations, before putting the recently learned rules to action in a scrimmage.
On March 8, thirty-seven men and women players took the field. The Club is looking for more players as each session will begin with the same skills-learning geared towards newbies to the game. It’s fun, it’s active, it’s fast-paced, and it’s competitive in club atmosphere.
The introductory night continued next door at Fuzzy’s, where the social aspects of the Club were practiced. Did we mention the Adult Coed is Free? Anyone wanting to try out the sport and meet some new people are welcome to come to any of the sessions, Thursday nights (7-8PM) in April. Missing the first one will not preclude you from participating in the second one. Come May, both men’s and ladies’ teams will be outside training.
Cleveland GAA is also excited to announce that they will be hosting a Gaelic Football 7-A-Side Tournament on Saturday, May 11th, at the West Side Irish American Club. Two fields will be live with Men’s and Ladies teams from 10AM to 6PM, while the craic will be had in the pavilion.
Come out to see the action and join in the Gaelic fun. Teams from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Chicago have confirmed. Corporate promotions are available, and volunteers are needed for this 501-3c event. Contact [email protected].
Youth.
March 9thwas the first weekly indoor session of the year. The 5-6-year-olds continued to learn the game and have fun. The 7-8’s picked up the pace and played a full field match at the end of the training. The second hour belonged to the 9-12-year-olds.
The boys and girls were pre-divided into teams, met their coaches, and performed pregame warm-ups before going toe-to-toe for 40 minutes. The action was non-stop. In the end the Thorny Roses (Red Team) beat the Incredible Hulks (Green Team) by two kicks of the boot.
Parents – there are still some spots available if you are interested in alternatives to spring time lacrosse, American football, or outdoor waterlogged soccer. Gaelic is a non-impact sport similar in contact to basketball. The game flows like soccer, but faster, with more scores.
Skills include aerial catches, kicking, basketball dribbling, and volleyball passing. Fitness and fun are the major components each week. If you are interested in getting involved in Youth Gaelic Sports, contact [email protected].
Minors.
Players under eighteen years of age on January 1, 2019 are welcome to join the Cleveland Minors squad this spring and summer. Are you or someone you know still wanting to compete in meaningful games? Do you want to represent Cleveland? The Gaelic Athletic Association is looking for players of ages between the youth and adult programs to compete regionally and nationally. Contact [email protected] if interested.
The Midwest GAA will be bringing other Minors to town from Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo to train with high level coaches before the national championships. Three sessions are currently planned for May 18, June 15, and July 13 before select squads will head to the Continental Championships in Philadelphia on July 25.
New Players Wanted.
Cleveland GAA is open to all who want to play competitive sports, meet new people, and join an athletic, fitness minded club. Consider getting involved at any level. Fáilte (welcome) to all.
The Gaelic Athletic Association is Ireland’s largest sporting organization and a bit of home for the Irish abroad here in the US. Beyond sports, the Association also promotes Irish music, song and dance, and the Irish language as an integral part of its objectives. Go raibh míle maith agaibh(thanks y’all) to our readers and supporters.
Follow @ClevelandGaelic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the 2019 activities for Men, Women, and Youth. Or, visit ClevelandGAA.com.
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael i gCleveland. Tá an scéal ag scaipeadh faoi CLG i gCleveland. Tá cairde agus colanna ceathracha ag teacht anseo as Éirinn sa samhradh. Fáilteoimid rompu leis obair agus cairdeas. Ba mhaith linn níos mó daoine a fheiceáil ag teacht agus a roinnt cultúir le chéile.
Foghlaim níos mó agus níos mó daoine faoi peil i gCleveland fosta. Deanann mílte Clevelanders maíomh Éirreanach a bheaith, ach níor chuala siad riamh faoi peil Ghaelach nó an Ghaeilge. Agus táimid ag iarraidh é a dheisiú. Tá gach leibhéal sa chlub ag fás – na daoine óga, na tuismitheoirí, na oiliúnóirí, na mrá, na fir. An tréimhse iontach atá anseo. Bí linn.
Feicfimid arís go luath sibh.
*Vincent Thomas Francis Xavier Beach is a proud Greater Clevelander and emigrant of Michigan. He joined the St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club in 1999 and, with much help, is the current caretaker of the Cleveland GAA. His Irish is a cross of dialects from the University of Cincinnati and An Cheathrú Rua. With his wife, Michelle, he enjoys watching time absolutely fly by as their children, Ambrose (9), Bernadette (8), and Cedric (5), grow. His other hustles are teaching Irish at PJs, coaching CYO basketball at St. Mary of Berea, coaching soccer in Olmsted TWP, and slanging some engineering skills on local concrete and pipe projects.
