ULSTER GAA, in conjunction with the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), are calling on all units of the Association to take part in Anti-Bullying Week between Monday 11th – Friday 15th November 2024.

This year’s theme for the campaign is ‘Choose Respect.’

We want our underage players to benefit from and participate in our Gaelic games in a safe and enjoyable environment where our games are conducted in a spirit of fair play. The GAA Respect Initiative seeks to ensure that Gaelic games are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable manner where players, coaches, parents, spectators and referees Give Respect and Get Respect from one another.

In a world that can sometimes feel like it’s filled with negativity, Ulster GAA hope to empower children and young people to not engage in bullying behaviour and encourage adults to lead by example as Choose Respect Role Models, breaking the cycle of bullying.

It is vital that the GAA Zero Tolerance Approach towards bullying is implemented within every club.

Managers, coaches and mentors can be instrumental in ensuring such behaviour does not occur by nipping it in the bud as soon as they see or hear it happening on the field of play, by addressing in an informal way, to let those involved know it will not be tolerated and that if it continues it will be addressed.

Unchallenged behaviour becomes acceptable and normal, and therefore it is important that it is not allowed to continue unchecked or not dealt with.

The GAA Tackling Bullying Programme is a resource developed by the GAA to provide assistance at club level in dealing with incidents of bullying.

It consists of a two-hour training workshop suitable for coaches, parents and other club personnel and also includes publicity materials for clubs.

During the workshop, participants will be equipped with tools that will enable them to identify, prevent and resolve incidents of bullying that may occur in their clubs. Bullying is an issue that causes many problems within our clubs and communities, and Ulster GAA encourages all clubs to formally adopt the Anti Bullying Policy at club executive, and to help create a culture within the association where this type of behaviour is not acceptable, and is regarded as serious breaches of the Code of Behaviour and shall be dealt with accordingly.

Cyber Bullying – This is bullying behaviour that takes place via mobile phone or through the internet via email/instant messaging/social networking sites/texts/messages or images that are sent or posted on sites, which hurt, intimidate or embarrass another person.

Cyber Bullying is no different from any other forms of bullying in that the behaviour is the same and the impact no less devastating, and therefore incidents of cyber bullying should be treated as though they happened in real time.

If you are aware of someone being cyberbullied, please consider the following:

– Listen and learn about what has been going on, for how long, where it has been taking place and what exactly has been happening. If you are not their parent/guardian ensure you make them aware of the situation.

– Suggest that they do not open messages from the addresses/numbers but allow you/parent/guardian to open them instead.

– Consider changing their mobile number and restrict access to the number.

– Changing online profile log in and passwords, and using the ‘reporting’ feature that is available on most social media sites asking for offending messages and photos to be removed. Ensure that online profiles are made private and only shared with friends. Restrict what can be posted to your profile until after you have given permission.

– Involve other agencies if necessary, including PSNI/Childline or NSPCC.

– Support the young person, your initial reaction is vital – Listen, Learn, Involve and Resolve.

GAA Code of Behaviour, Maintaining Appropriate Levels of Behaviour within the GAA includes the Anti-Bullying Policy, which aims to adopt a whole organisational approach to addressing bullying and provides advice and support to clubs in the area of safeguarding.

Ulster GAA reminds all clubs to implement the Code of Behaviour with all relevant personnel in your club including players/coaches/committee members/parents/referees and supporters at the start of each season.

It is also appropriate at this time of year to remind you to make sure that all those working with children and young people in your club have been appropriately trained and adequately vetted prior to commencing work in the club.

For more information or to organise a workshop in your area or club, please contact Ciara.mccrory.ulster@gaa.ie.

Finally, Ulster GAA takes this opportunity to thank you for helping us to achieve our aim of creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for young people and children in the Association.