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I don't believe the GAA can ever support a professional game and i think that goes against the ethos of the whole association.If the overall standard dropped back a bit and there was more enjoyment and focus on all players would be better for all. eamonnmac (Cavan) - Posts: 59 - 21/12/2019 11:21:57 2255766 Link 1 |
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Every thing you say here is true and your suggestions make sense. However you are in denial like many more about professionalism. The GAA has professionalism. Ask yourself some questions. Are there full time employees earning a living working in the GAA ? Are there managers getting houses cars and payment disguised as expenses ? Yes for sure to run an organization as big as the GAA you have to have full time staff to operate. However if the unpaid players were not participating would there be any jobs. Too often you hear O there is no body making them do it They can quit any time they want. Probably coming in most from people who never put any thing into any thing. They are getting expenses. Could that logic not be applied to all the full time jobs. No because people at this level need to be paid for their time. The NHL started with six team and arena's that could hold 11 or 12 thousand. Players got paid and the there are 30 teams today supporting 800 players and thousands of support jobs in catering etc. Yes the GAA can support on field jobs for players based on a capped realistic salary system that is the same for all players. If you are a performer at this level with these demands you should be able to earn a living. Not like other sports that pay millions to certain individuals. I have never seen any player on a team sport winning any thing on his or her own. Extra revenues can be generated by t.v. rights and modifications to allow advertising streams during games. Like four quarters and a half time. You now see adds during break in plays that don't take from viewing without a commercial break. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 21/12/2019 15:05:23 2255795 Link 0 |
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Very fascistic, opinionated post. You raise a few good points alright, but your opinion of preservation of amateurism from yesteryear is tainted. I might personally believe in preserving amateurism but its not my place to use the forums to put my opinion across as a statement of fact. The game is evolving. Its not up to any one person to decide what should be and what should not be. Why do yo or I get the right to decide when 16 year olds can kick a ball around a pitch? Why do you or I get to decide how and when people train? Who are you to talk about "sensible commitment level?" To try and force your own ideas of regulation on an ever-changing game in the hopes of meeting some personal standard is very, very selfish. I too dont like the direction the game took over a 20 year period, but I wont create solutions out of thin air and use my own prejudices to try create a narrative that suits my own point of view. All in all a very fascistic post. Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 21/12/2019 16:08:11 2255805 Link 8 |
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No it's not. He's just giving his opinion on what the GAA should do. This is after all a GAA forum. I don't agree with everything he says here but he's definitely highlighting areas that the GAA need to think about. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4210 - 21/12/2019 17:03:03 2255809 Link 13 |
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I said " i think " and "i believe" ....i will assume my fascistic friend from meath is a bit of an auld troll hankering back to the days when Meath could box the lugs of the Dubs 20 years ago .. eamonnmac (Cavan) - Posts: 59 - 21/12/2019 20:18:06 2255831 Link 1 |
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Ireland is too small to support a professional indigenous sport, and GAA has limited commercial appeal to other markets. GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 21/12/2019 20:33:49 2255833 Link 15 |
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I agree with you, a good realistic assessment of the realities of the game as it exists. There is no way the game can sustain a professional game it would go the way of league of Ireland in a very very short period of time. You are so right to refocus on the health of players playing the spirt because it is good for them, bizarre you have to state, but so many others are confused by the real state of the game. Moynihan spelt it out a huge amount of time spent by inter county players training is a waste of time, serving only the ego of the manager. The worth of the training methods are best summed up as unscientific and counter productive. The idea of players getting up at 6am to do gym sessions is hilarious and then it becomes an arms race, well if x are doing it so have to y, when the reason for it in first place has no sporting value what so ever. We all have heard the managers demanding players play through the pain if injured and then you see them, banjaxed young men and women hardly able to walk in their mid twenties. Enough is enough of this crap.
arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 22/12/2019 01:25:46 2255849 Link 1 |
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Think its a matter of time myself before you get some frame of professionalism what percentage and the system is debatable, there is to much money in it and the potential financial growth in the sport, GAA at the moment is very keenly priced and could better structure it to raise revenue. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 22/12/2019 10:37:40 2255862 Link 5 |
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The GAA plays a significant role in Irish society. Is not flawless but over all would have to be given a plus rating. However sometimes wallowing in our own self belief that everything kept the same will guarantee survival and the involvement of the next generations. Some think that they are the only sport or organization in the world that is rooted in volunteerism and community participation. I live in a country where the kids are put on skates before they can walk. Every little village and town has a rink or two manned by volunteer coaches and care takers from 4 a.m. in the morning until 11 p.m. at night. Parents take their kids all over the place to tournaments often having to stay over night. The equipment to play can be $1000 a year and you pay to enroll kids. Yet everyone who wants to play can play with the gear been handed down or resold, or some charity contributing to costs for those who are not able to afford. These monies are required to maintain facilities etc. It is still an amateur sport. Yes a community activity also. There is also a professional form of the sport. They compliment and feed off each other. 99% of the amateurs know they will never be professionals but the beat goes on. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 22/12/2019 16:05:18 2255893 Link 1 |
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The immediate problem in regards to player welfare is the amount of teams they are allowed join. Groups and backdoors are needed in the major tournaments but do we really need it in the likes of the college cups and should a lad be allowed play senior and underage at the same time. Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 22/12/2019 16:41:17 2255894 Link 0 |
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It won't happen for all the reasons you believe it will like this urban myth "but dare Johnnie down the road make a living for his ability and commitment 7 days a week" that is exactly what Moynihan was railing about, the utter futility of that. And why would a lad play "7 days a week" for nothing? You are assuming they are doing it for nothing. We can both agree this is NOT a job? they are not paid for their services, they are not depending on this sport for a living. Nor is the manager, nor is the physio, or the doctor, or dietician they do not work for a team 9/5 24/7 they are hired for their services for the duration of a match/session how can an amateur part time player be compared to a doctor, accountant etc is beyond me. There are two organisations in the GAA - Pairc Teo and the GAA, Pairc Teo promote and operate the GAA's infrastructure and professional services. And their is the amateur organisation that is the GAA not the same thing. There is no professional game sustiained by an amateur sport it is not possible. All those organisations around the country called clubs are actually charities, bring in a hint/sniff of earnings and the whole pack of cards will collapse. The reason Rugby is lucrative for players is because their is a huge professional pan European sport sustaining it. Have you ever gone to a local rugby match in Ireland? top division? that will be the furture of the GAA if payments come in. Basically if Inter-County players want money let them work for it there are no free lunches, nor will there ever be.
arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 22/12/2019 17:41:45 2255903 Link 3 |
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That's it in a nutshell. A few years ago, I was involved in a bit of a kick-about for old crocks with a few mates. Key stipulation was that, while competitive-ish, we were mainly in it for the crack and that it was a weekend outlet for old crocks with lots of dormant injuries (one reckless sprint and there goes the calf again) and questionable fitness and it only worked if we all were around same level. No young flyers and no annoyingly super-fit oldies. But even in that tiddlywinks level, there were enough people who trained like bandits and then ran rings round the rest of us. Human nature being what it is, people will always want to be at a physical peak for a particular sport, and trying to enforce a laid-back approach to diet and training (in my limited experience) just had the opposite effect ...
essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 22/12/2019 18:26:31 2255912 Link 0 |
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All these support staff you agree are paid for their time. Is it a job for them or not ? Or part of a job (profession) that they calculate into their income? You seem to be o.k. with them getting paid for their services for the duration of a match/session but not the performer THE PLAYER. Sport is the same as any entertainment source. It would be strange if the promoter, the facility, sound guy, etc got paid but not the performer. How well do you think that would go down ? "There is no professional game sustained by an amateur sport". No but there many amateur sports benefited by the spin offs from professional sports. I see it all the time. The professional or professional teams show up in the home town boy's patch and generate funds to support the amateur game. You can fancy dancy around who is who in the GAA about their role but the paying public for entertainment value is the main and only driver for the inter county game. If there were no viewers or supporters the sponsors would not be around too long either. I can not predict the future or you either. I definitely don't think the inter county players are free loaders and looking for free lunches. They are high level entertainers who work exceeding hard to perform for us and deserve compensation for it. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 22/12/2019 18:42:16 2255914 Link 1 |
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To save the GAA as we know it I would make the championship an open draw knockout to be played out in Summer. This would make it easier on clubs and overall scheduling. suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1667 - 23/12/2019 13:34:50 2255976 Link 1 |
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The problem with that is it means just a single championship game for half the intercounty teams in the country. That's what the backdoor was brought in to address. Months of training for one match.
WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2037 - 23/12/2019 13:56:09 2255980 Link 1 |
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I'd support a professional game myself, but can't see how it's gonna work with the current format DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 23/12/2019 16:40:17 2256002 Link 0 |
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interesting but the professional spots would be swallowed up very quickly and that would include rugby and soccer players who would have a go, including non-nationals which is only fair. Not a bad idea as the clubs would have a more free schedule. Massive sponsorship would be required.
maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1196 - 23/12/2019 17:07:40 2256010 Link 0 |
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I don't really know what you mean by rugby and soccer players having a go, but if they are good enough to play then signed them
DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 23/12/2019 17:19:30 2256012 Link 0 |
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Training schedules today are gone way beyond what club or even county players should be expected to give. I am aware of a club in my county already back doing some light running, have a new manager in place and he has already told them they will be training on the pitch or in the gym 5 times a week from January. I just cannot accept that this is correct. It is totally wrong and totally against the ethos of the commitment expected of a club footballer. It is driving players out of the game, players who want to play for their club but just cannot give the commitment required. I would love to see the statistics in relation to this. I believe the GAA need to introduce regulations protecting the player welfare as soon as they can. Surely 2 nights a week and one night in the gym is sufficient as a commitment for club or county in this day and age for an amateur sport.
rossno1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 294 - 23/12/2019 17:39:53 2256017 Link 0 |
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The GAA has lost its identity & its values, its all about what people can get out of it now. Has anyone noticed the number of clubs announcing high profile ex players & ex county managers as their manager, do people think these people are extraordinary volunteers travelling around the country out of the goodness of their heart, no they are earning huge sums of cash undeclared to Revenue & bleeding clubs dry. Events like this are dividing clubs & as a result people opt out of volunteering. We are already on the road to professionalism but when it arrives full on as it will very quickly, it will have a massive effect on volunteerism. Unfortunately amateurism & sensible are two words on the extinction list within the GAA. moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 23/12/2019 20:01:24 2256031 Link 1 |