The 2013 GAA season has begun with the seven clubs of the Boston/Northeast Divisional Minor Board commencing their competitive schedule in June.

Most clubs are hosting a “blitz” event, a gathering where players from the Minor Board clubs travel to a host club’s venue and play multiple games of hurling, football, and camogie over the course of an afternoon. These serve many purposes including but not limited to qualifying teams from Under 6 to Under 16 for the New England championships in August.

Just as important is the chance for the players, coaches, parents, and supporters of each club to visit the other communities and strengthen the ties that their mutual love of Gaelic games has helped to create.

There are GAA Youth clubs in Canton, Dorchester, Milton, Springfield, and Worcester, MA as well as Portland, ME and Hartford, CT. Most clubs offer boys, girls, and in many cases co-ed hurling, Gaelic football and camogie. The games are fun, fast, and safe.

The traditional hub of Gaelic games in Greater Boston now extends north to Maine, South to Hartford, and West to Worcester and Springfield, with all the GAA clubs experiencing significant growth in numbers and opportunities for kids to play. The GAA’s new programs, including the ‘Go Games’ and ‘Give Respect-Get Respect’ initiatives have fostered an atmosphere where fun, safety, and meaningful competition have made an already solid community of clubs that much stronger.

If you haven’t had a chance to see Gaelic games in person, or you have a child interested in learning these “fastest games on grass”, contact your local club or check out the Northeast Minor Board on the web (www.bostonminorgaa.com) or on Facebook under Boston/Northeast Youth Gaelic Games.

Schedule:

Hartford June 15th

St. Brendan’s June 22nd

Maine June 29th

Springfield July 13th

ISYL/Canton July 20th

CYC in Philadelphia July 25-27th

NE Championship August 24th

Additionally, there are “display games” during the Boston Senior games on Sundays in Canton, MA on several dates during the summer. Minor board teams will be playing short friendlies between games. Dates are June 16, 30, July 14 and August 11.

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