Laois footballers and hurler take on roles in new GPA initiative

The Gaelic Players Association and Women’s Gaelic Players Association, who voted to merge together last month, have launched details of a new initiative

The GPA Programme NextGEN Leaders was launched yesterday – with serious Laois involvement.

NextGEN Leaders is a developmental platform that aims to engage and connect passionate young GPA and WGPA members with the people and resources to influence positive change within the games and society.

The NextGEN Leaders programme will be chaired by Laois Footballer Ross Munnelly, who recently committed to his 19th season of inter-county football, and vice-chaired by Mayo footballer Fiona McHale.

There are three project co-ordinators and another Laois footballer can be found here.

Colm Begley, who will also play with Laois in 2021, has been appointed as GPA Project Coordinator alongside former Tyrone footballer Gemma Begley (WGPA Project Manager) and Ian Reeves (GPA Player Development Officer).

After great interest during the programmes application process, the GPA also announced their inaugural 12 NextGEN Leaders.

These are described as a top-class team of champions, who will embrace the current and future challenges in Player Development, Player Welfare and Social Change Initiatives, and provide innovative actions to improve the landscape for future generations.

And among the 12 are Park-Ratheniska Ladies footballer Anna Healy and Castletown’s Conor Phelan.

Speaking about the new initiative, Arles-Kilcruise forward Munnelly hopes it will provide those involved with the chance to shape strategy for player welfare, representation and development.

He said: “This is an exciting new programme for the next generation of leaders from many career areas and sport.

“Working with talented and focussed athletes from the GPA and WGPA will be very enjoyable and it provides an opportunity to impact strategy for player welfare, representation and development.

“Looking forward to this journey with such a strong Laois representation.”

Ian Reeves, Player Development Officer at the GPA said: “Next Gen Leaders is all about identifying, developing and giving a voice to young players within both the GPA and WGPA who will in time become the leaders of our associations.

“Both players’ bodies have got a large proportion of our members under the age of twenty-five and we’re going to ensure their voices are heard on some of the key issues and opportunities facing us in the years ahead.

“This is another step in that direction.”

SEE ALSO – Tributes paid following sad passing of young Laois man who was a member of the Defence Forces

The post Laois footballers and hurler take on roles in new GPA initiative appeared first on Laois Today.

source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/01/15/laois-footballers-and-hurler-take-on-roles-in-new-gpa-initiative/