Jun 27, 2013
Four out of five Irish children do not partake in enough physical activity each week to meet the minimum amount of physical activity set out by the Department of Health for maintaining and improving their current and future health. Summer presents a perfect opportunity to get children more active. With over 70 different sports on offer throughout Ireland there really is something for everyone.
Summer camp gives children an opportunity to give activities ago without the level of commitment involved with club membership. A step along the way to ensure children receive the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity required each day to ensure their current and future health. Involvement in sport not only delivers health benefits but also gives children opportunities to develop social and emotional competencies.
Federation members both National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships are running camps over the summer months aimed at giving children the opportunity to learn and/or hone their skills different sporting activities.
The Federation of Irish Sport has compiled a list of some of the camps available to try.
Athletics Ireland– Athlone IT, July 8th-12th and July 15th-19th. Sligo, July 22nd-26th and July 29th-Aug 2nd.
Athletics Ireland Summer Camps
Badminton Ireland- Badminton Ireland Summer Camp in Wicklow for 9-11 year olds
Badminton Ireland Wicklow Summer Camp
Badminton Ireland Teicnic Talent Camp:
Badminton Ireland Teicnic Summer Camp
Ballaghadeen Badminton Club hosting a July Summer Camp in St. Nathy’s College sports complex:
Ballaghadeen Badminton Summer Camp
Basketball Ireland- Basketball Ireland are running two weeks of summer camps at Gormanston College from July 7th – 12th and 14th – 19th.
The attached link below should give you any details you need:
Basketball Ireland Gormanstown Summer Camp
Week 1: Booked Out*
*Limited Girls Places Available
Week 2: Remains available for booking, July 14th-19th, Residential Camper: 375 Euro, Non-residential Camper: 200 Euro
Camogie Association- GAA Cul Camps are being run around the country.
Kelloggs Cul Camps
In some areas, Camogie Specific and Lifestyle Camps are also available:
Clare Teenage lifestyle camp- August 7-9th Watty Grahams, Maghera, Co. Derry on July 8th-10th Time: 10am-2.30pm
Contact Ross for more info: ross@camogie.ie
Falls Park, Belfast, Co. Antrim from July 17th-19th Time: 10am-2.30pm
Contact Ross for more info: ross@camogie.ie
Ballyvary Mayo Hurling and Camogie camp- Ballyvary community pitch-July 8th-10th Time: 11am-2pm
Contact Deirdre for more info: deirdre@camogie.ie
Tipperary Teenage Lifestyle camp- July 23rd -25th
Contact Deirdre for more info: deirdre@camogie.ie
Limerick Teenage Lifestyle camp- Aug 13-15th
Contact Deirdre for more info: deirdre@camogie.ie
Laois camp- 6th 7th and 8th August
Contact Patrick for more info: patrick@camogie.ie
Wexford camp- 6th, 7th and 8th August
Contact Patrick for more info: patrick@camogie.ie
Dublin Lifestyle camp 1: Mon 22nd – Wed 24th July – Thomas Davis GAA Club
Dublin Lifestyle camp 2: Mon22nd – Wed 24th July – Fingallians GAA Club
Contact Eve for more info: eve@camogie.ie
Kildare Lifestyle Camp: July 30th – Aug 1st
Contact Eve for more info: eve@camogie.ie
Canoeing Ireland- Canoeing Ireland is holding Summer Adventure Kayak Camps. The camps are aimed at juniors between the ages of 8 and 16 and will run consecutively for 10 weeks throughout July and August. Camps started on the 17th or June and will run until the 23rd of August.
Canoeing Ireland Kayaking Summer Camps
Cricket Ireland- Wacky Summer Camp and Master Classes: July
Dublin Cricket Summer Camp
Summer Camp 2013 at North County Cricket Club
North County Cricket Club
Malahide Summer Cricket Camp: Monday 15th July- Friday 19th July: Ages 6-8 @ 10am-12pm, Ages 9-13 @ 2pm-4pm.
Clontarf Cricket Club Summer Camp: July 8th-11th. There are two camps, one for 6-10 year olds (10am-1pm) and one for 11-15 year olds (2pm-5pm). 50 euro per person. Contact Andrew Poynter at 0873208125 or apsports25@gmail.com for more information.
Phoenix Cricket Club Summer Camp: Week 1- Monday 22nd-Friday 26th July, Week 2- Monday 29th-Friday 2nd August. 10am-2pm, 80 euro per child (Boys and Girls, 13-17 year olds). Taking place in Phoenix Cricket Club, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Phoenix Cricket Club Summer Camp
Gymnastics Ireland- Irish Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Three different plans: Summer Camp morning fun (10am-2pm, Mon-Fri, weekly from 1st July until 30th August) , RG Daily Classes (Baby RG-Mon-Friday-10am-4pm, beginners/ beginners advanced-2pm-4pm-Mon-Fri, advanced/elite, 2pm-6pm, Mon-Fri), Summer Fun Daily Classes (Camp + Beginner, Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm/ Camp + Advanced, Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm).
Janz Gymnastics Club, Sandyford Industrial Estate, 8th July-23rd August (weekly), 10am-2.30pm.
Fingal County Council- Fingal Sports Office is running the following camps:
Fingal County Council Summer Camps
Football Association Ireland- eFlow FAI Summer Soccer Schools
The FAI’s largest grassroots programme, the eFlow FAI Summer Soccer Schools are back for 2013 and are better value than ever before! Prices are 65 euro or 50 euro for a spot in the Goalkeeper Camp. Kids will receive a super Umbro Kit, Umbro ball and an Umbro backpack; along with great coaching delivered by Garda vetted FAI accredited coaches. Not only that, early online bookings will also receive an adult and child ticket to a Senior International game at Aviva Stadium!
The camps will be held in 290 venues nationwide. Beginning on the first July and running right through to the end of August, each week-long school provides children – between the ages of 6 and 14 – with a fun filled week of activity during the summer holidays. The camps are designed to cater for all players, regardless of ability. It doesn’t matter if you’re just a beginner or if you have your sights set on Robbie Keane’s number 10 shirt, you will get a lot out of the Summer Soccer Schools: for more information, terms & conditions or to simply book your place go to:
Summer Soccer Schools
FAI Summer Camps for Kids
Gaelic Athletic Association- Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps provide boys and girls – between the ages of 6 and 13 – with an action-packed and fun-filled week of activity during the summer holidays which revolves around maximising enjoyment and sustaining participant involvement in Gaelic Games. Activities are Game-Based with a strong emphasis placed on skill acquisition and are organised in an age appropriate manner with a view to: optimising learning, enhancing friendships, improving physical & psychological well–being and promoting school and club links.
Kelloggs Cul Camps
Golfing Union of Ireland- Junior summer camps running throughout the summer months, 10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm.
Play to Learn Golf
Killeen Golf Club Summer Camp
Killeen Summer Camp
Celbridge Driving Range Summer Camps
Celbridge Driving Range Summer Camp
Hockey Association- Camps are based on the ethos of fun and development, catering from beginners right up to our future international stars. Any child attending our camps will have fun whilst participating in a physically active week developing their technical and tactical hockey skills. For full details, follow the link below:
Hockey Camps
Irish Judo Association– Pro Judo Camp, DCU, Dublin- 21st-25th August, 2013.
Open to cadets (minimum age 10), Juniors and Seniors. Weekend Option (Sat/ Sun) or 5 day camp
Pro Judo Camp
Irish Marshall Arts Commission- Wicklow Martial Arts: 8th-12th July, 15th-19th July, 10am-1pm, 65 euro per child, 5-12 year olds.
Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)- Summer Rugby Camps are a great way for your child to learn about rugby in a safe and controlled manner. Boys and girls aged 6 and upwards can take part in week long camps throughout Ireland. The Camps are managed and run by fully accredited IRFU coaches. Children the chance to make new friends, meet professional players, learn more about rugby values such as team work, commitment and integrity, and also become more aware of the importance of physical fitness. All this while learning to develop the basic rugby skills of passing, tackling (in a controlled environment), evasion and kicking. Most of all we guarantee lots of fun!
Irish Rugby Camps
Connacht Rugby Summer Camps
Connacht Rugby Excellence Camps
Ulster Rugby Summer Camps
Leinster Rugby Summer Camps
Munster Rugby Summer Camps
Irish Sailing Association- They have 125 accredited training centres that will all be offering courses and summer camps throughout the summer in sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and jetskiing. More information can be found at:
Irish Sailing Association
Irish Surf Association- Our Kids & Junior surf camps offer a gentle, safe and exciting introduction to the world of surfing aswell as the beach environment. Safety first as out kids learn about – tides, rips, dangers, hazards, weather, water saftey, surf etiquette and of course surfing!
Irish Surf Summer Camps
Irish Taekwondo Association- The 2013 ITA Summer camp will take place in Mt Melleray Scout Centre, Co. Waterford.
July 12th-15th (Kids, Teens and Adults). Class divided according to experience and age.
Irish Taekwondo Association Summer Camp
Irish Table Tennis Association-
Dundrum Table Tennis Club- http://www.dundrumtabletennis.org/juniors
15 June 2013, Saturday starting at 12:30 until end of August 2013; 4 hours of trainings per month.
Trainings in June: 15th, 22nd, 29th – 12:30-2:00pm
Trainings in July & August: all Saturdays except 03/08 (Bank Holiday weekend) – 12:30-1:30pm
For more information go to ITTA website- http://www.irishtabletennis.com/
Irish Water Safety- Courses in swimming and lifesaving nationwide. Full details here:
Irish Water Safety Summer Courses
Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport
Members Summer camp; IWA-Sport are running their annual Junior members Summer Sports Camp from 23rd – 25th July in Clontarf, Dublin. The camp will be based at the IWA Sports Centre in Clontarf and will offer many different sports and activities including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, archery, athletics, table tennis, tennis and Handcycling. This camp is suitable for junior athletes from 5 – 17 years of age. For more information contact Auveen.wilson@iwa.ie
Public Summer Camp; IWA-Sport is once again running its annual public summer camp during the months of July and August. The camp will be based at the IWA Sports Centre in Clontarf, Dublin and will offer many different sports and activities including a variety of wheelchair sports and fun games and activities. This camp is suitable for children from 5 – 12 years of age. For more information follow this link http://www.iwasport.com/iwa-sport-events/camp
Laois Sports Partnership- Multi-Sport Camps from 1st July-9th August. All Activities, Laois area. Parks Tennis camps, 1st July till 26th July. For full details, click on the link below:
Laois Sports Partnership: Summer Camps
Mayo Sports Partnership- Inclusive Summer Camp for Children with intellectual or physical disability and their friends. Takes place in An Sportslann Castlebar (beside Mchale Park) from 22nd-26th July from 10am-2pm.
Mayo Local Sports Partnership: Summer Camps
Offaly Sports Partnership- Details of a range of different summer camps being held in Offaly available through their website and Facebook page.
Offaly Sports Partnership
Republic of Ireland Snooker and Billiards Association- 2 day Summer Camp in Carlow, 30-31st July, 11am-4pm being run by Pj Nolan who is the National Coach, at a cost of 15 euro per day.
Tel: 05991 37714
Squash Ireland Summer Camps
DUBLIN:
Old Belvedere SC,
28a Anglesea Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Wednesday 07 August – Friday 09 August 2013,
Time: 10 – 2 pm,
Boys & Girls, Aged 7 – 13 Years (Primary School).
Mount Pleasant LTC,
Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Ages 6 – 12 years,
July 22nd- 26th, Monday – Friday, 10AM – 3PM, Aug., 5th – 9th, Monday – Friday, 10AM – 3PM.
Sutton Summer Camp- Sutton LTC
All details found here
BELFAST: Queen Squash Club, 1-5th July (Belfast) – Performance level
CORK: Highfield Squash Club in Cork.
It is being run by Munster Squash and is aimed at our under 15’s- 19’s – 12 players
It is a 3 day camp from 29th – 31st July and the cost will be in the region of 60 euro per Junior.
CARLOW: Carlow LTC, Camp runs July 1st – 5th, Beginners 11am-12.45, Experienced 2pm-4pm
Sligo Sports and Recreation- A Summer Camp Brochure, this lists all the sports and activity camps taking place in Sligo. Full details found in the link below:
Sligo Sports and Recreation Summer Camps
Swim Ireland- 3 camps, all to be run in the Limerick Performance Centre at the University Arena;
- July 1st-5th (attachment 1)
- July 8th-12th (attachment 1)
- August 19th-23rd (attachment 2)
Full details available below @:
Swim Ireland- July Camps
Swim Ireland- August Camp
Volleyball Ireland- Tallaght Rockets are holding a Summer Camp for the next 6 weeks , starting on Sat 22nd June for 11-16 year olds in Collinstown Park Community College. Boys and Girls welcome. 10.30am-12pm each day.
More details found below @:
Volleyball Ireland
Jun 27, 2013
On Wednesday 26th June, GUINNESS & Co. launched a major new initiative, Arthur Guinness Projects, designed to champion and celebrate people whose ideas, passion and spirit are enhancing and shaping our culture and identity.
Arthur Guinness Projects is a major new initiative designed to champion the best of our creators, thinkers, doers and makers in the areas of Arts, Music, Sport and Food by offering support and funding to the winning entries.
Together with our panel of 16 experts including Dylan McGrath, Jim McGuinness, Chris O’Dowd and The Script, we’re looking for your ideas – this is your chance to turn something you dream about into something you actually do. The Arthur Guinness Projects panel has been created to choose the overall winning projects, but also to provide mentoring and support to the overall winners.
Entries will be accepted from the 26th of June until 9th August, but even if you don’t have a project to put forward, we still want you to get involved – anyone can vote and this could be the difference between your favorites making it into the top 10%. The general public will vote online for the projects that they would most like to see come to life during the application period and up until the 23rd of August, 2013. Additionally, there will be a wild card element to the process. The projects panel can choose from the pool of projects that did not make up the top 10% in their respective categories, and award up to four wild card projects.
In determining successful applicants, the expert panel will be looking for projects that will inspire everyone across the Island of Ireland; those that deliver on innovation, creativity, achievability, as well as cultural and social good.
Speaking at the launch, Stephen O’Kelly, Marketing Director, GUINNESS said, “Arthur Guinness Projects has been inspired by our founder, Arthur Guinness. He was a true visionary, one of the original innovators who, along with many generations of the GUINNESS family, made many varied philanthropic gestures. We are continuing this tradition with the launch of Arthur Guinness Projects”.
The Arthur Guinness Projects winners 2013, a reflection of Ireland’s spirit, culture and modern identity, will be revealed on 23rd September. Also, some of the winners and applicants will be showcased as part of this year’s Arthur’s Day celebrations.
Chris O’Dowd said, “Ireland has been waiting for an initiative like Arthur Guinness Projects. There are so many people with amazing ideas and coupled with an energy and passion that us Irish are renowned for, I have no doubt that this will help unearth some incredible talent”.
Dylan McGrath commented, “When i first heard about Arthur Guinness Projects, I instantly knew that this was something i wanted to get involved in. It will create a brilliant platform for those within the food sector, in whatever aspect, to come forward and grab the opportunity to turn aspirations into ideas and ideas into reality. Ireland’s reputation in food is rapidly growing, but we constantly need to be innovating and raising the bar. I am very much looking forward to seeing the projects come through”.
Donegal’s Jim McGuinness, “My initial thoughts were that what a great idea, how exciting the project was and how much good could potentially come from it. I feel in the current economic climate this initiative will give great support to many people in the sport arena so I am really looking forward to being involved”.
This is about you now, Ireland – the Arthur Guinness Projects are yours. We can’t wait to see what you do with them.
For more on the Arthur Guinness Projects cultural initiative click here
Watch Video of launch here
Arthur Guinness Projects (Press Release) (1)
Arthur Guinness Projects (Press Release) (2)
Jun 27, 2013
Location:
Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Date:
19th June , 
2013
Attendees:
Approximately 100 Key stakeholders of Paralympics Ireland including athletes, Team officials, Board Members, NGB Representatives, Staff, Sponsors and partners.
About ParaIympics Ireland:
Paralympics Ireland is the National Paralympic Committee for Ireland with responsibility for preparing and coordinating the participation of Irish athletes at Paralympic Games and World/European Championships.
Our mission is:
“To lead elite Irish Paralympic Athletes with a disability to sustained competitive excellence and to inspire the nation of Ireland”
Paralympcis Ireland is an umbrella organisation with 20 consituent member NGB’s and sports. These include disability specific multisport NGB’s (the founding members) such as Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland, Irish Blind Sports and Irish Wheelchair Association. Sport Specific NGB’s with sports on the Paralympic Games programme have joined the organisation over the last 10-15 years in growing numbers. Our current membership includes Cycling Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Canoeing Ireland, Irish Sailing Association, Rowing Ireland, Triathlon Ireland, Irish Table Tennis Association and Tennis Ireland.
Event Background:
The Open Evening was aimed to officially open our new permanent home at the National Sports Campus. We also wished to bring our stakeholders onto the site to view our specially commissioned wall graphics in the new building as well launch our preparation plans for the Irish Team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The event was timed to coincide with an EGM to elect the positions of President, Vice Presidents and Finance Officer to the Board for a four year term.
Event Preparation:
The event was coordinated by the staff team and with support from the NSCDA and Reach. The 3 main components of the event included a tour of Irish Sport HQ and our offices in particular, a reception, and the formal piece in the main conference room of the building.
The Event:
The response to the wall graphics in our office was overwhelmingly positive. A timeline of Irish involvement in the Paralympic Games since 1960 adorns the main wall and is really the first initiative of the organisation to record the fine history and tradition of Irish Paralympic Sport. Other features of the wall graphics include member branding and a host of competitive imagery, particularly of the medal winners from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The reception provided an opportunity for our many stakeholders to catch-up since the highs of London 2012 and begin preparations for Rio 2016. We were delighted to welcome representatives from the Dept. of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Irish Sports Council and current sponsors including Allianz, Cadbury, Moran Bewleys Hotel Group, McInerney Saunders and Expd8.
The formalities were led by President, James Gradwell, and was followed by a presentation on the future developments of the National Sports Campus by NSCDA Director of Operations, Dave Conway. The event concluded with CEO, Liam Harbison, outlining the extensive work carried out by the organisation in laying the foundations for sustained success of the Irish Team at Rio 2016. He highlighted the importance of reviewing all aspects of the organisation in year one of the cycle to ensure we remain fit for purpose to deliver optimum services to our member NGB’s, and ultimately Paralympic athletes. He completed his presentation with a stirring video on the development of the Games plan by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.
The formalities concluded with a special recognition presentation to the outgoing Board members for outstanding service over their four year term.
What next for PI in 2013?
The focus for the Summer months returns to supporting athletes in competition as we begin the qualification journey to Rio 2016. Irish teams will compete at major Championships in a range of sports in the coming months. As the IPC are the International Federation for the Paralympic sports of athletics and swimming, Paralympics Ireland are responsible for the development, selection and coordination of the Irish teams at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon in July and the IPC Swimming World Championships in Montreal in August. The teams for these events will be announced at a special event with team sponsor Allianz in mid July.
Irish Teams will also compete under the auspices of their own NGB at the following major events over the coming months:
- CPISRA Football 7-a-side Intercontinental Cup (Barcelona)
- UCI Paracycling Road World Championships (Canada)
- FEI Paraequestrian European Championships (Herning, Denmark)
- IPTTC Table Tennis European Championships (Lignano, Italy)
- IFDS World Sailing Championships (Kinsale, Cork)
- IPC Shooting European Championships (Alicante, Spain)
Paralympics Ireland will in early October be hosting the European Paralympic Committee General Assembly and Confernence in Dublin. It is a biennial event with representatives from approximately 50 European Paralympic Committees expected to attend.
….and for Rio 2016?
Planning for Rio 2016 is progressing ahead of schedule. Our first visit to Rio in March with the OCI has successfully identified a suitable holding camp base for the Irish teams and negotiations are on-going to formalise this with the local state government, the Irish Sports Council and the OCI.
Our planning for Rio is shaped by our Quadrennial Plan which has identified the key development areas for the organisation to develop and support Irish athletes looking to qualify and perform at the Games. In terms of direct preparation of athletes, this will commence with the announcement of our Paralympic panels in early 2014 and the commencement of our multisport team development camps programme in April next year. We will also announce key team appointments in 2014, including that of the Chef de Mission.
How the event went:
Overall, we were very pleased with the event. We wanted it to be an enjoyable evening without too much formality and allowing time for stakeholders to network. The feedback from our stakeholders has been very positive and highly complimentary to the set up of the new Irish Sport HQ.
Jun 24, 2013
Job Title: Talent Identification and Development Officer
Reports To: Designated Member of Ulster Badminton Council
JobBased: National Badminton Centre, Lisburn. Northern Ireland
Salary: £12,800 per annum (20 hours per week)
Contract Duration: This job will be offered on a fixed term basis to 31st March 2017, and will be subject to continuation of funding by Sport Northern Ireland.
Reporting to the Designated Member of Ulster Badminton Council, the Talent Identification and Development Officer (TIDO) will be responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership to develop and link the “Player Pathway” from schools/clubs through to regional and up to National level
Key Responsibilities
- To maintain and improve all areas within the Ulster Badminton Talent System in cooperation with Sport NI staff and the Ulster Badminton Team.
- To manage in cooperation with the Ulster Badminton Team the “Performance Pathway” up to provincial level
- To lead and manage the processes of talent identification and talent selection from “Grassroots” to national level
- To develop and implement a “Grassroots” talent identification strategy
- To ensure that the current Club Development Programme is linked to the “PerformancePathway”
- To develop and introduce a talent identification education programme to be delivered to relevant partners including clubs, schools and regional structures
- To continue to evaluate and adapt TID and Talent Development activities to maintain the highest standards
- To continue the development and implement the use of “Profile Tools” at each stage of the “Performance Pathway”
- To develop the regional performance training network that increases the quality and quantity of training for identified talent
- To establish a strategy that links regional performance training to the national training centre
- To identify and manage coaches at each stage of the “Performance Pathway” and in conjunction with the High Performance Coach implement a population specific CPD and coach education programme
- Initiate and conduct meetings with key stakeholders, and communicate performance outcomes with key internal and external stakeholders
- To ensure that the Child Protection policy of Ulster Badminton is adhered to in delivery of this programme
- Any other duties that may from time to time be reasonably requested
This job description is not exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation.
GUIDANCE NOTES ON COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM
Please read these notes carefully. Your application form plays an important part in our selection process. (The most important thing to remember is to tell us everything that you think is relevant to your application. We will not make assumptions).
Applicants must clearly demonstrate how they meet each criteria throughout the application form. It is not acceptable to simply restate the criteria. Applicants must give examples to demonstrate their experience under each criterion.
Completing the Application Form:
u After reading the personnel specification and job description think carefully about your application and consider to what extent you have the skills and experience necessary for the post.
u Make a rough draft first, as this will avoid mistakes
u Make sure your application form is well presented – illegible or incomplete forms WILL be disregarded.
u Use a black ballpoint pen or type, black always shows up best when copied.
u Make sure you address all of the points on the personnel specification. We will not make assumptions.
u Take a copy of your form for your own record.
u Incomplete forms will be withdrawn
u Copies of all academic qualifications relevant to the post must be enclosed with your application form. (If copies are not available, please send original certificates and Ulster Badminton will copy these and return the originals to you)
u Please separate the monitoring form and the disclosure of criminal convictions form from the application form and place them in a separate envelope marked for the attention of the Monitoring Officer.
MAKE SURE YOUR APPLICATION FORM IS POSTED OR DELIVERED TO ENSURE DELIVERY TO THE NATIONAL BADMINTON CENTRE BEFORE 4.00pm on Monday 15th July 2013. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE PUBLISHED DEADLINE TIME AND DATE. IF HAND-DELIVERING THE APPLICATION FORM PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REQUEST A RECEIPT AS PROOF OF DELIVERY.
Application Form available here: Application Form
Jun 14, 2013
CIES is the International Centre for Sports Studies, located in Neuchatel, Switzerland. It was created in 1995 as a joint venture between the Federation Inernationale de Football Association (FIFA), the University of Neuchatel, the City and the State of Neuchatel.
The CIES Football Observatory was set up in 2005 under the name of the Professional Football Players Observatory. Since 2011, it is one of the cornerstones of the vast CIES observatory project, dedicated to the statistical analysis of sport in all of its diversity.
The CIES Football Observatory lauched the 2013 Annual Review on the 13th June, 2013 in Neuchatel-Switzerland. It presents a comparative analysis of clubs and players in the big-5 European Leagues at demographic, economic and pitch performance levels. Review notably reveals that Lionel Messi would largely break the 94 million euro transfer fee record. Estimated on the basis of an exclusive econometric model, his value is between 217 and 252 million euro. With estimated value between 102 and 118 million, Cristiano Ronaldo would probably break his own record also.
At club level, the analysis shows that Barcelona holds the greatest assests from a player economic value perspective: 658 million euro. This figure is 3x higher than that spent on signing the players used during the 2012/13 season. This reflects the extraordinary ability of the Catalan side to train, launch and add value to home-grown players.
Lionel Messi is not only the most expensive big-5 League player, but also the most decisive one for the 2012/13 season. The ranking is based on the performances for 5 key indicators: shooting, chance creation, take on, distribution and recovery. The Argentinian outranks Champions League winner Franck Ribery and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Most decisive young player was Mario Gotze. The new Bayern Munich signing is followed by two promising young Belgian players belonging to Chelsea: Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Performance Analysis at club level shows that Bayern Munich’s fantastic season was the result of the unmatched balance between attack, distribution and defence. The Champions League winner tops the German Bundesliga for the 3 key team performance indicators, covered by our analysis: defensive solidarity, grip on the game and attacking incisiveness. No other champion was able to do so.
The 2013 Annual Review also investigates the evolution in competitive balance within the leagues since 03/04. With the exception of Italy, point gaps between teams are on the increase. This trend is particularly marked in Spain and Germany. Over the last decade, 3 most successful clubs achieved more than 60% of podium ranks in all the leagues, up to 80% in Spain and England (24 out of 30).
In 2012/13, money spent in transfer fees to sign 1st team players was highly correlated to club results in all leagues. All the champions were among the 3 biggest spenders in their respective leagues. This confirms the strong influence of money on success.
Without new regulatory measures/mechanisms to improve income distribution, competitive balance will be further jeopardised by the transformation of top level clubs into global brands, their regular participation in the increasingly lucrative Champions League and investments made by wealthy owners.
