Tyrone side Errigal Ciarán have emailed clubs around Ireland urging them to back a motion which would give counties autonomy to set their own age grades.
Errigal Ciarán, the club of Tyrone legends Peter Canavan and Mickey Harte, have jointly submitted motion 39 for consideration at this weekend's GAA congress in Mayo.
At the 2016 congress, a motion to change the inter-county minor grade from U18 to U17 narrowly passed. The same later followed at club level.
"The aim of this motion is to allow County Boards the choice to revert to U14, U16, U18 Competitions if they believe it best suits their County structures and provides an improved pathway from Underage to Adult level across both codes," the email reads.
"Our members believe that the step from U17 to adult is too great and will lead to greater dropout of players of our games.
"We understand that when the change was made to 15,17,19, that the intention was that it would improve player pathway with a meaningful Under 19 Competition key to that success.
"But, as was called out at the time, the overlap of U19 with senior/reserves is too great and it is almost impossible to play a prolonged competition at U19 club level.
"For many lads their underage club careers are now over by the end of their fifth Year at School. No club underage football or hurling by Lower Sixth/Year 13 — it seems a crazy position.
"We all know 2 or 3 lads who are physically developed at 17 years of Age, and who can compete at Adult level at that age, but what about the other 10 or 12 who can't?
"What's left for them in the year of 2022? A few U19 games in March or November if they're lucky?
"It will be a long year for that group and some will dropout.
"A particular concern are the perceived weaker lads, who may never enter an Adult Dressing Room in any event, but who enjoy the training and camaraderie during their underage career.
"At that critical age of 17, their networks are closed a year earlier, from 18 down to 17 years of age. Some of these lads will go on to be the best Administrators our Clubs ever had, others will drop out as they lose the connection with the Club.
"To summarise, we feel this issue needs to be tackled now, every year we wait, another group of lads miss out on a key year of development from 17 to 18 years of age.
"We believe the U18 Age range is a better bridge to Adult level — and will ensure more lads are available for senior and reserve competition for clubs into the future. We are asking Congress to provide Counties an opportunity to determine what works best for them."
The email concludes: "This is in our own hands, if we want change, we have one week to make it happen. Please ask your County to play [its] part and support the motion or at least set out the key reasons why they support the current 17 & 19 arrangement.
"It was the silent majority which allowed this situation to arise, please do not be silent in 2022."
Featured image: 15 October 2017; A general view of the Errigal Ciaran squad standing for the national anthem before the Tyrone County Senior Football Championship Final match between Errigal Ciaran and Omagh St Enda's at Healy Park in Tyrone. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
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