Continental Youth Championship

The CYC logo showing part of an American flag, Canadian maple leaf and the GAA logo

The Continental Youth Championships (CYC) is an annual weekend tournament of Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is contested by teams from the USA and Canada, and is a separate competition from the existing youth championships in the New York, Canadian, and NACB areas. It began in 2004, and its location rotates around various cities from year to year. The age of players ranges from Under 8 to Under 18.

Hosts:

• 2004 - New York GAA
• 2005 - San Francisco GAA
• 2006 - Boston GAA
• 2007 - Chicago GAA^[1]
• 2008 - Philadelphia GAA^[2]
• 2009 - San Francisco GAA^[3]
• 2010 - New York GAA
• 2011 - Boston GAA
• 2012 - Chicago GAA
• 2013 - Philadelphia GAA
• 2014 - New York GAA

Growth

The CYC has grown at a rapid rate since its inception. In 2006 it consisted of over 200 games played in three days. In 2014, 640 games were played in the four days. Reasons given for its popularity compared to the existing youth tournaments are:

• Scheduling games at a time when children are not at school and when it is convenient and economical for kids and parents to travel
• The whole weekend is focussed exclusively on the children rather than youth games being played alongside adult games that draw more attention
• The atmosphere is a lot different from events such as the NACB play-offs because of the focus on underage games

The popularity of the CYC has led to a decline in the number teams participating in the North American Youth playoffs that run alongside the NACB adult play-offs on the Labor Day weekend. Teams from the US, Canada and Britain take part.^[4][5]

Management

The CYC was developed by the GAA's Overseas Development Committee under Gene Duffy, and is managed directly from Croke Park by the CYC Steering Committee that consists of officials at Croke Park as well as members of the GAA in North America. At local level, the event is planned by the CYC Hosting Committee whose membership changes from year to year as the tournament moves from city to city.

International Play

The tournament is highlighted by international games which take place before the rest of the tournament starts. This showcase highlights the USGAA Team (Formerly the NACB Team), the London All-Stars, and the New York All-Stars representing the NYGAA.

References

External links

• Continental Youth Championships official website
• GAA official website
• North American Board official website
• New York Board official website
• 2005 CYC video