Colm O'Rourke vs. the GPA

[orangeman]

Some of what he says is on the mark. If one of the biggest problems today is the preparation and dedication required to compete at Inter County, why is the GPA not trying to force the issue there? That is the ultimate player welfare topic.

I hate to say it, and I know I'll be accused of paranoia or whatever, but does it suit the GPA to have these crazy demands? If the demands continue to escalate, then the logical progression is that the GAA will have to pay players, which will lead to, in my opinion, a 'paid' A championship in Football and Hurling, of maybe 10-12 teams and 8 -10 teams respectively, and a feeder 'B' championship which will be unpaid.

If that is not the endgame as far as they are concerned, then why not attack these concerns of commitment. Even their proposal for the championship restructuring were aimed at increasing the number of games most teams played.

I think you're on the money.

At some point we need to press reset, have a fully enforced shorter season (if you're a county team found training in club jersies in the defined break in a diffierent county you get a meaningful fine), a cap put on spending, a cap put on how often you can train collectively, train individually etc.

Probably but who is who is going to police that ?. Impossible and sure it doesn't happen anyways ! 

[heffo]

Some of what he says is on the mark. If one of the biggest problems today is the preparation and dedication required to compete at Inter County, why is the GPA not trying to force the issue there? That is the ultimate player welfare topic.

I hate to say it, and I know I'll be accused of paranoia or whatever, but does it suit the GPA to have these crazy demands? If the demands continue to escalate, then the logical progression is that the GAA will have to pay players, which will lead to, in my opinion, a 'paid' A championship in Football and Hurling, of maybe 10-12 teams and 8 -10 teams respectively, and a feeder 'B' championship which will be unpaid.

If that is not the endgame as far as they are concerned, then why not attack these concerns of commitment. Even their proposal for the championship restructuring were aimed at increasing the number of games most teams played.

I think you're on the money.

At some point we need to press reset, have a fully enforced shorter season (if you're a county team found training in club jersies in the defined break in a diffierent county you get a meaningful fine), a cap put on spending, a cap put on how often you can train collectively, train individually etc.

Probably blew is who is going to police that ?. Impossible and sure it doesn't happen anyways ! 

Easier said than done of course but it needs to happen

[Hardy]

Some of what he says is on the mark. If one of the biggest problems today is the preparation and dedication required to compete at Inter County, why is the GPA not trying to force the issue there? That is the ultimate player welfare topic.

I hate to say it, and I know I'll be accused of paranoia or whatever, but does it suit the GPA to have these crazy demands? If the demands continue to escalate, then the logical progression is that the GAA will have to pay players, which will lead to, in my opinion, a 'paid' A championship in Football and Hurling, of maybe 10-12 teams and 8 -10 teams respectively, and a feeder 'B' championship which will be unpaid.

If that is not the endgame as far as they are concerned, then why not attack these concerns of commitment. Even their proposal for the championship restructuring were aimed at increasing the number of games most teams played.

Spot on, AZ. That's been the agenda from day 1. It's also been policy to conceal this agenda, as inadvertently confirmed by Dessie Farrell himself.

[manfromdelmonte]

The NCAA should be brought in.

They are ruthless.

[Catch and Kick]

Some of what he says is on the mark. If one of the biggest problems today is the preparation and dedication required to compete at Inter County, why is the GPA not trying to force the issue there? That is the ultimate player welfare topic.

I hate to say it, and I know I'll be accused of paranoia or whatever, but does it suit the GPA to have these crazy demands? If the demands continue to escalate, then the logical progression is that the GAA will have to pay players, which will lead to, in my opinion, a 'paid' A championship in Football and Hurling, of maybe 10-12 teams and 8 -10 teams respectively, and a feeder 'B' championship which will be unpaid.

If that is not the endgame as far as they are concerned, then why not attack these concerns of commitment. Even their proposal for the championship restructuring were aimed at increasing the number of games most teams played.

100% agree

[Hound]

People say the GPA have done great work in sorting out food after dinner, mileage rates, physio etc. Surely this is no big boast ?.

Surely there's plenty more things that need sorted out so that inter county players can lead some sort of normal existence and that club players can get a fair crack of the whip as well ?.

In fairness I think that is a boast. When I was knocking around, we had to buy our own socks and togs! The County Secretary took jerseys off us after we finished a championship year, and subs tracksuits were all shared and reused. Gear bags were a luxury. We got sandwiches in the GAA Centre if we were lucky, and a bowl of soup before a championship game.

Yep, if the GAA had looked after players properly, there would never have been any need for the GPA.

O'Rourke lets himself down by having a go at the mental health and addiction services that the GPA help players out with.

[Rossfan]

Paranoia about the GPA still alive and well round here I see.
Will it be the end of the GAA as we know it I wonder?

[AZOffaly]

Paranoia about the GPA still alive and well round here I see.
Will it be the end of the GAA as we know it I wonder?

What is the GAA as we know it, now? It's different to the GAA I used to know already

[Dinny Breen]

What is the GAA?

[Hardy]

What is the GAA?

A funding mechanism that exists to keep the GPA in the luxury to which it has become accustomed.

[brokencrossbar1]

People say the GPA have done great work in sorting out food after dinner, mileage rates, physio etc. Surely this is no big boast ?.

Surely there's plenty more things that need sorted out so that inter county players can lead some sort of normal existence and that club players can get a fair crack of the whip as well ?.

In fairness I think that is a boast. When I was knocking around, we had to buy our own socks and togs! The County Secretary took jerseys off us after we finished a championship year, and subs tracksuits were all shared and reused. Gear bags were a luxury. We got sandwiches in the GAA Centre if we were lucky, and a bowl of soup before a championship game.

But you are right in that it suits some within the GPA to see the demands that are being made on players as that will push the 'pay' agenda.  One problem I foresee is that certain top end clubs are training/committing as much as some lower level counties.  Before anyone thinks I am going all Indiana, I'm not suggesting the likes of this years 4  AI club semi finalists are capable of beating, say a D 4 team but with the same level of funding they could.  Should they be paid?

[joemamas]

What is the GAA?

A funding mechanism that exists to keep the GPA in the luxury to which it has become accustomed.

+1

i would not be inclined to agree with Colm o Rourke on everything, but feel his is on the correct side of this one.


Why do the GPA go to NY raise money, how much do they raise and how much go to actual player welfare, if there is such a thing.

[seafoid]

He had a good article on Sunday which pointed out that there are many organisations catering to people in trouble and that the GPa doesn't have any special expertise in this regard.

[Hound]

He had a good article on Sunday which pointed out that there are many organisations catering to people in trouble and that the GPa doesn't have any special expertise in this regard.

No, but the GPA are increasing awareness among the players and helping facilitate faster access for those in need to see the right people. O'Rourke painted that as a negative!

It was just another load of bluster, carrying on his anti-GPA agenda.

[Rossfan]

He had a good article on Sunday which pointed out that there are many organisations catering to people in trouble and that the GPa doesn't have any special expertise in this regard.

No, but the GPA are increasing awareness among the players and helping facilitate faster access for those in need to see the right people. O'Rourke painted that as a negative!

It was just another load of bluster, carrying on his anti-GPA agenda.

Indeed.
Only for that oul GPA ....sure the GAA world would be a great place altogether.