Kerry GAA chiefs defend closed door training policy

[Fuzzman]

Do most other counties allow fans into watch their training sessions?

From the Irish Examiner
Kerry GAA chiefs do not expect a negative reaction to the decision to hold most of the county's senior football trainings behind closed doors.


Yesterday, Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice published an open letter on the county's website announcing the change to a long standing tradition of open sessions in the Kingdom.

County PRO John O'Leary has revealed that Fitzmaurice had the full support of the Kerry committee and revealed that sessions will no longer be made open to fans.

"The decision was taken in agreement with the county board and there were no problems," he said.

"I wouldn't expect there to be any backlash as a result of this. We have explained exactly what the changes are and why they are being made, and there is a lot of notice given.

"The open training policy will continue, albeit on a restricted basis, and it is hoped that on these nights that there can be more interaction between players and supporters.

"We'll be announcing these nights in advance and they'll be promoted heavily, so fans can come along and meet the players and get autographs and posters."

In his missive, Fitzmaurice acknowledged supporters enjoyed attending sessions, and pointed out there is not a blanket cessation of open sessions.

"This summer, in a departure from tradition, we are going to close some of our training sessions," he wrote.

"I want to explain the thinking behind this difficult decision. I understand that, for many, a trip to Fitzgerald Stadium on a summer evening to watch the senior team is a longstanding ritual and nothing more than a social gathering to watch the players being put through their paces.

"We will still have regular open training sessions to facilitate our supporters, both young and old and these will be flagged in advance on our Kerry GAA website. Our next open session will be on May 23."

Fears that opponents could gain information on Kerry tactics, as well as a desire to make things easier for players, informed the decision, however.

"As manager my job is to ensure that the team work in the best possible training environment," Fitzmaurice wrote.

"In recent years as the championship has become more and more competitive, the monitoring of training sessions has become very intense. It has, on occasions, become much more than harmless curiosity.

"The information that such scouting provides can make a difference. The new arrangements are designed to provide our players with the privacy and space to develop and improve over the coming months."

Fitzmaurice is also hopeful that the county's fans will accept the new method.

"I'm very conscious of Kerry's tradition of open training sessions and I hope that you, our supporters, will understand the reasoning behind these arrangements which will hopefully yield the best results.

"I appreciate your great support and patience through a rocky league campaign, particularly when we lost four matches in-a-row. I hope that you understand this decision and continue to support the team as loyally as always.

"It is important that we all stick together for the forthcoming championship and the team will need our supporters every step of the way."

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Barry John Keane has been left off the Kerry panel for the championship. The Kerins O'Rahillys man played in the county's first three league games but was absent from the final four.

[orangeman]

No big deal really- I'd say there will be closed door policy for intra squad games which is fair enough.


This summer, in a departure from tradition, we are going to close some of our training sessions.

We will still have regular open training sessions to facilitate our supporters.

[From the Bunker]

No big deal, often privacy is needed from even your own supporters. Kerry are volatile at the moment and it's probably a good idea for private sessions for the new lads.

[thejuice]

If we could also now keep Spillane behind closed doors for the summer it would be great altogether.

[heffo]

Dublin's sessions so far have been closed under Gavin

[AZOffaly]

The traditional Kerry skelping sessions must be going to be stepped up this year.

Most counties have open sessions I think, it's hard to enforce closed ones unless your in a county ground situation where there's fences and the like to keep people out.

In Offaly we struggled in the past to  get lads on the panel to come training, never mind fellas wanting to look at them

[Croí na hÉireann]

See ye have that problem again with a few lads shown the door (for the time being anyway).

[BluestackBoy]

Donegal are behind closed doors at this time of year excepting on the odd open day for supporters & media.

They are in Johnstown House this week for five days.

[thejuice]

We used to train  behind closed doors............










............after closing time.

[Fuzzman]

They are in Johnstown House this week for five days.

Where, the hotel & Spa in Meath?
How can they just get 5 days off work like that?

[Declan]

How can they just get 5 days off work like that?

how many of the panel actually work though?

[BluestackBoy]

They are in Johnstown House this week for five days.

Where, the hotel & Spa in Meath?
How can they just get 5 days off work like that?

That's the way we rock n roll in Donegal. As Jim said. "If it's good enough for Utd & City, it's good enough for us".

http://donegalnews.com/2013/05/lacey-absence-not-a-major-concern/

[Fuzzman]

C'mon Rossfan. Spill the beans.

Who was playing where? Were they playing 13 man defence?
Was there much bite in their attack?

[muppet]

C'mon Rossfan. Spill the beans.

Who was playing where? Were they playing 13 man defence?
Was there much bite in their attack?

He didn't see much, he was pretending to be a bench.

[Rossfan]

C'mon Rossfan. Spill the beans.

Who was playing where? Were they playing 13 man defence?
Was there much bite in their attack?

Wasn't there and as my 2 sources can't even agree on the score............ I wouldn't trust anything they'd say ( they were both playing by the way so they probably had enough to be thinkin about).

I believe the Kerry ban is because they heard Syfín was on his way to take a peek