Players on Strike?/Real Debate (Merged)

[INDIANA]

but the problem is that happens at all levels of the Association- i know two electricians who play senior club football for a top club in Dublin- they've lost countless jobs on Saturdays and the likes due to matches. Are they entitled to expenses as well? Where can one draw the line on this.
If you look at Australia- even club players get expenses whether they play Aussie Rules-rugby league-or union. Some even get paid-300-400 dollars a week and this is well below professional level. Look at junior soccer in Dublin. I know two guys playing Leinster Senior League who get a weekly wage from the teams they play for and this isn't even eircom league. That's the can of worms this is going to open up and quite frankly is one that could destroy the association. Reduce the demands on players and give a them a normal training schedule. If Donla Og and Mc Geeney want to train 7 days a week on their own that is entirely their decision and not one they can expect the Association to bankroll.

[DMarsden]

Sure county players all train seven days a week. lads aren't going to pull back from that cos they know the lad looking their position will be doing it

[darbyo]

Reduce the demands on players and give a them a normal training schedule. If Donla Og and Mc Geeney want to train 7 days a week on their own that is entirely their decision and not one they can expect the Association to bankroll.

But that is the crux of the problem. Now even serious club players train 11 months of the year, whether it's gym work, swimming or organized squad work. The problem isn't inter-county coaches looking to start back in November, as now most will give out individual programs to players over this period rather than doing collective training. It's the fact that club championships are still going on and many lads are now back in college or school and training with teams there also. These lads then have to go back into club and/or county training in early January and as such get no real break at all. This is before you factor in dual players or club players who play soccer or rugby. All county boards should have to have all their club championships finished by the 1st week in October. The AI club championship games should be decided on the day and finished well before March. While the inter county championship needs to tightened up with more games in May/June period.

                            I'm sure you could pick holes in what I've just said but the lack of a genuine enforced off season means we are flogging the 18-24 year old bracket and the most talented players while we're allowing the rest to lie idle for most of the summer and then flinging them out on to quagmire pitches in October and November to get the thing finished before Christmas.

[ONeill]

The AI club championship games should be decided on the day and finished well before March. While the inter county championship needs to tightened up with more games in May/June period.

Excellent point. The one game in Feb and one in March seems ridiculously drawn out, starting way back in May in some cases.