'Watch your child learn a new skill and play': Meath GAA club bans mobile phones from sidelines
A top Meath GAA club has banned parents of their youngest players from using their mobile phones on the sideline and is urging them to watch their children as they learn a new skill.
Navan O'Mahony's GAA club's stance on the use of mobile phones during underage training has already received such positive acclaim from all coaches that it's widely expected the ban will now be extended to cover sidelines of all age groups.
The club hopes that outlawing the phones will allow parents to notice how their kids progress their skills in football, hurling and camoige.
The initiative was started this weekend but with strong winds forcing the cancellation of the nursery, it will be next week before any parents are present to kick to touch their smartphones.
A notice at the Brews Hill pitch reads: "Navan O'Mahony's 'Pride of Cubs' nursery is a phone-free zone. During this one hour, please put your phone away, watch your child learn a new skill and play."
The club hopes that by encouraging active participation from the sidelines at the youngest age, it will filter through the club as the teams age and it will become the norm by parents to turn off their phones.
"The decision was taken after trainers noticed that parents were constantly looking at their phones instead of watching and encouraging their child to develop and share in the whole excitement of improving their skills," said club PRO Jackie Murray.
"The nursery teaches girls and boys from four to six years of age camoige, hurling and football and sometimes kids just want to look up after catching a ball or using a hurl to see their parents cheering them on.
"Sometimes parents miss this memory because they are looking at a phone and this can lead to a disappointed child. At this age, it's all about catching a ball, kicking a ball and running with it or holding a hurl and we have to cheer them on.
"The club decided that if we get parents used to not using their phones now and encouraging their children to learn new skills then it will progress through the age groups.
"Navan O'Mahony's want to bring back the mentality that we are a family club and get everyone involved.
"In today's society, people are constantly on their phones in restaurants, bars and everywhere public and the sidelines is no different. We want to change this.
"Navan O'Mahony's was founded long before phones and we want to remind parents of the essence of the community club and get them to live in the moment with their children."
