Streaming - A Topic Worth Thinking About
Coaching Corner – ‘Streaming’: A Topic Worth Thinking About
I’m always looking for ideas that can help us develop every player in our club to their fullest potential. Recently, I came across this article on streaming and it provides much food for thought.
The piece draws on the experience and research of Dr. David Moran, who spent eight years as a Games Promotion Officer in Dublin. In that time,
the question he was asked most often was: Should clubs stream their teams? And if so, how and when should they do it?
What Is Streaming?
Streaming is the practice of grouping players in the same age grade into teams based on ability, rather than mixing all abilities together. It’s most relevant to larger clubs with enough numbers to field multiple teams in the same age group.
Supporters say it allows players to train and compete with others of similar ability, making the experience more enjoyable and developmentally positive for everyone. Critics worry it can feel elitist, damage confidence, and separate friends.
Potential Benefits
From Moran’s research and club experiences:
•Sense of Belonging – Players get to know their teammates better and feel part of a consistent group.
•Appropriate Challenge – High-ability players are stretched, while developing players get more touches and influence in games.
•Increased Involvement – Fringe players in mixed-ability teams often become more engaged when playing at their own level.
•Clearer Development Pathways– With regular reviews, players can move up or down as needed.
Common Pitfalls
However, streaming can go wrong when:
•Resources Are Uneven – ‘A’ teams get the best coaches, training slots, and equipment.
•Teams Become Isolated – No shared philosophy, language, or interaction between streams.
•No Flexibility – Players are “locked” into a stream for years, affecting motivation.
•Misunderstood Motivation – Particularly with lower-ability female players, whose competitive drive is often underestimated.
What Works Best
Moran’s research highlights that streaming works best when:
•All streams share a common coaching philosophy, language, and training plans.
•Coaches rotate between groups, so all players benefit from the same expertise.
•There is regular movement between streams based on development needs.
•Communication with players and parents is open and consistent.
When done this way, the club feels like one club across multiple levels rather than separate, competing teams.
Looking Ahead to the planned coaches meeting on September 17:
Streaming – its benefits and challenges – will be one of the discussion points at our upcoming Coaches & Mentors Meeting on Tuesday,
September 17th in Hogan’s Deck, Raheny GAA Clubhouse at 8pm. It’s not the only topic on the agenda, but it’s one we’d like you to start
thinking about now.
Consider:
•Could streaming help us get the best out of every player?
•How would we ensure fairness, flexibility, and inclusion?
•What safeguards would prevent the pitfalls seen elsewhere?
Your insights, experiences, and even your concerns will be vital in shaping any approach we take. Let’s use the meeting to explore the concept
fully and decide if, and how, it could work for our club.
See you on the 17th – ready for an open, constructive conversation.
Brian
Coaching Officer
