Recommendations from Football Competitions Review Committee
January 11, 2016
Survey and the submissions received showed an overwhelming preference for 16 team championships.
The Football Competitions Review Committee has issued their report and there are far ranging changes proposed for the clubs of the county.
Edging Towards Success
Football Competitions Review Committee 2015
Coiste Athbhreithniú na gComórtaisí Peile 2015
Index:
1: Réamhrá
2: Committee Members
3: Terms of Reference
4: Methodology
5: Introduction
6: Proposals
7: Motions
8: Appendix - Survey Result
1: Réamhrá
As Cathaoirleach of the Football Competitions Review Committee (CRC), I am pleased to present our Report and Proposals to Coiste Co na Mí. We believe that our recommendations will help to improve the quality of our club competitions and will, ultimately, also help to produce better inter county players.
Some of our proposals may require short term pain for long term gain but I urge the Gaels of Meath to have the courage to make decisions in the best interest of all our players.
I want to thank most sincerely the members of the CRC for their diligence in ensuring that our work was completed in a thorough manner, and for their insight and innovation in proposing changes which can only improve the quality of the competitions which we provide for our club players.
On behalf of the CRC, I want to especially thank those who took the time to make written submissions and to respond to our questionnaire, as well as the members of the CCC and Coiste Bainistí who met with us and helped clarify the issues to be addressed.
Liam Ó Catháin
Cathaoirleach,
Coiste Athbhreithniú na gComortaisí Peile
Nollaig 2015
2: Committee Members
Colm Keys
Sean Kelly
Ollie Keegan
Gerry Giblin, Rúnaí
Liam Keane, Cathaoirleach
3: Terms of Reference
On 7th September 2015, Coiste Co na Mí, on the recommendation of Coiste Bainistí, established the Football Competitions Review Committee to examine the structure of adult football competitions in Meath.
4: Methodology
The CRC reviewed competition structures in other counties. Committee members also spoke to county and club administrators as well as to players in those counties to assess the value of these structures. We invited submissions from clubs and GAA members within Meath and received 20 well thought out proposals and suggestions. Having considered the submissions received and the various suggestions of CRC members we prepared a questionnaire, to provoke debate and to gauge reaction. This was circulated to clubs and to the general GAA public in Meath. We received 526 replies and these have helped inform our deliberations.
On 30th November 2015 we met with club officials, members of team managements and players at a well-attended meeting in Dunganny where we had a very informative and fruitful discussion.
We then prepared a draft report incorporating our proposals which we discussed with the CCC and members of Coiste Bainistí. Our final report is now being circulated with motions for consideration by the County Committee.
5: Introduction
Any organisation, no matter how successful, should constantly review its structures by examining what works well and what might work better; by taking account of changing circumstances; and by adjusting or adapting systems that work well elsewhere. Meath GAA is no different.
As we are a games based association, the organisation of our games is one of the most important roles of our County Committee. Concern has been expressed that we have had too many uncompetitive games, and that the lack of 'an edge' has been to the detriment of our competitions and has blunted 'the killer instinct' of our county players.
While our remit extended to adult football only we were very conscious of the effect of any proposal on dual players and their clubs.
6: Proposals
A) CHAMPIONSHIPS
In Meath we have had league based championships for many decades though the number of teams in the various championship grades has fluctuated as has the number of teams in each division of the various championships. In recent times additional grades have been added as have features such as compulsory relegation. The principal alterations to our championships which we examined were
(a) Whether to move to a knock out championship with a back door,
(b) Whether to permit group teams participate in the Senior Championship
(c) How to avoid the second teams of clubs distorting the championship in which they play.
(a) Round Robin -v- Knock out
A knockout championship (even with a 'back door') has a 'sharper edge' but, obviously, does not guarantee as many games as a round robin structure. We propose the continuation of the league based system but with two principal changes to make our championships more competitive:
1) Reduce the number of teams in each grade to 16, and
2) Ensure that every team experiences knockout football - either in the play-off stages for the championship or in a relegation play-off.
(b) Group Teams
On the evidence of our survey and submissions received, interest in group or divisional teams, made up of 'non senior' clubs, is quite strong. Having looked at it closely, however, we have decided against proposing it.
We looked at other counties, Offaly and Cavan in particular, where similar systems did not sustain. We note that it has worked in Kerry but Kerry have strong divisional boards already in place that naturally bind some of these teams together and give them logistical structure. Kerry have a 'county' championship involving the regional teams (South, Mid Kerry etc.) and senior clubs, but also have a senior club championship exclusive to senior clubs. They also have less of a dual issue than Meath.
The introduction of a similar 'county championship' in Meath would, in our estimation, place too much pressure on the fixtures calendar. Kerry are bringing the number of actual senior clubs down from 11 to 8 in 2016. For a similar system to work in Meath the number of senior clubs would have to fall much more sharply than what we are already proposing
(c) Second Teams
We examined various proposals relating to a reserve championship - including one linked to a club's first team, and a stand-alone reserve championship. We are of the view that any such championship would have a surfeit of meaningless games and would, ultimately, lack the competitive edge clubs seek.
We also considered proposals suggesting 'second teams' be placed in separate groups; that clubs with second teams be required to name 20 players who could not play at a lower grade; and that clubs with second teams be required to play 2 games in the higher grade before the second or third team would play. We rejected these - principally due to fixtures scheduling issues, artificiality and unfairness to teams and individual players.
Our Proposals
1 The creation of a new Junior E grade
2 A reduction of the number of teams in each championship grade to 16
3 Teams to be placed in 4 divisions of 4
4 The top team in each division to qualify for the quarter finals to be played at its home venue if deemed suitable by the CCC or, if not, at a venue nominated by that club (provided it is also deemed suitable by the CCC). We envisage the CCC taking account of criteria such as public safety, car parking, ticketing facilities etc. The home quarter final provides an additional prize to a team which tops its group and might end up playing a quarter final against a team which finished third in its group.
5 Teams finishing second and third in each division to qualify for a preliminary quarter final
6 The bottom team in each group to play off in 2 semi finals and a final to determine which team is relegated.
7 'Second Teams' in a Championship to be fixed to play each other before playing 'First Teams' where possible.
Interim Proposals
Our survey and the submissions received showed an overwhelming preference for 16 team championships in all grades. Our discussions with the clubs showed a desire for this to commence in 2017. In order to achieve this, promotion and relegation in the 2016 championship would be as follows:
SFC 3 teams relegated, 1 promoted from IFC
IFC 3 teams relegated from SFC, 1 promoted from JAFC, 5 relegated to JAFC and 1 promoted to SFC
JAFC 5 teams relegated from IFC, 1 promoted from JBFC, 7 relegated to JBFC and 1 promoted to IFC
JBFC 7 teams relegated from JAFC, 1 promoted from JCFC, 9 relegated to JCFC and 1 promoted to JAFC
JCFC 9 teams relegated from JBFC, 1 promoted from JDFC, 11 relegated to JDFC and 1 promoted to JBFC
JDFC 11 teams relegated from JCFC, 16 teams relegated to JEFC and 1 promoted to JCFC
JEFC 16 teams relegated from JDFC
It is also possible to achieve 7 grades of 16 on a more gradual basis by relegating 3 teams from each grade over a period of 5 years as follows:
SFC IFC JAFC JBFC JCFC JDFC
2016 18 18 18 18 18 22
2017 16 18 18 18 18 24
2018 16 16 18 18 18 26
2019 16 16 16 18 18 28
2020 16 16 16 16 18 30
2021 16 16 16 16 16 32
We have proposed alternative motions to allow for the introduction of the new structure from 2017 or to phase it in over a 5 year period.
B) CUP COMPETITIONS
We propose that the Cup competitions be played at the start of the year as 'warm up' tournaments and that they be used to try out alternative structures and ideas.
Proposals
1. Each team plays 2 games based on an open draw, subject to teams not being drawn to play the same opponent twice.
2. 4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
1 point for a losing team finishing within 3 points of their opponent (in order to encourage teams to continue trying even if they are unlikely to win the game and to make it easier to separate teams in the League section)
3. Top 4 teams qualify for semi-finals.
4. Teams must play all games (including finals) whether their county players are available or not.
C) LEAGUES
The All County Football Leagues were introduced about 30 years ago and have proven successful as a vehicle for providing games. However, there is a concern that, as the year progresses, many of the games become meaningless and uncompetitive. We considered proposing a reduction in the size of the divisions with teams playing home and away. However, this could result in teams playing each other 4 or more times per annum (championship, cup, and league x 2).
Proposals
1.
a) Retain the current structure of 2 x 14, 2 x 12
b) Top team in each division qualifies for league final
c) 2nd and 3rd placed teams in Division 1 play in league semi final
d) Top 2 teams in Divisions 2, 3 & 4 play in final
e) Bottom 2 teams are relegated from Divisions 1, 2 & 3
f) 3rd team from the bottom plays 3rd team from top of lower division in a promotion/relegation play off
2. We believe that, in order to ensure that leagues can continue in the absence of county players, there should not be a link between league and championship status. However, we recommend that the championship draw be seeded based on a team's position in the league. This can work for SFC and IFC (with the only second team currently in the IFC being given a bottom seed). Similarly, in the JAFC all second teams could be seeded together as the bottom seeds.
3. Concern was expressed by some clubs with second teams as to the quality of opposition in the B League. Historically, the A league has been confined to first teams only and we recommend that that continue. However, we recommend that clubs be allowed to apply to the CCC for permission to play a second team in the A league. We envisage that this would only apply to a very small number of clubs who have large playing numbers.
D) MINOR
From 1st January 2016 U17s are no longer permitted to play in adult competition. In order to prevent minor competition being impacted by adult competition and vice versa, we suggest that the age for Minor competition in Meath be reduced to U17. We note that a similar proposal is likely to come before Congress 2016 in relation to Inter County Minor competitions.
E) CALENDAR
It is clear that the CCC have to operate to a very tight schedule to arrange the in excess of 1500 adult games that are fixed annually. There are many factors to be taken into account including dual players; progress of county teams; postponements due to deaths, weather etc. The publication of draft fixtures planners in recent years has been of considerable assistance to clubs. Likewise, the fixing of weekly or fortnightly games, during that portion of the summer when it is not possible to play championship games, has served to provide club players with regular football. Clubs expressed a clear preference for league competitions to be completed before the latter stages of the championships and there seems to be no appetite for competitions to continue into November/December as in other counties.
Decisions taken at national level in relation to the proposals contained in the Discussion paper entitled 'Player Overtraining and Burnout and the GAA Fixtures Calendar' will impact on how we schedule things in Meath. Nonetheless we feel that we can suggest a calendar which may be adjusted in the light of future changes arising out of the Discussion paper.
We have striven
(a) to provide games in preparation for the start of the league,
(b) to commence the league at a time when County players are more likely to be available to clubs,
(c) to ensure that teams remain in contention in the championship over the course of the summer,
(d) to anticipate our County teams being successful,
(e) to enable club players to plan their summer by giving as much clarity as possible in relation to fixtures,
(f) to ensure every footballer plays knock out championship football,
(g) to provide a programme of football of increasing intensity for every club player from January to September.
Proposal
Cups: 4th week of January, 1st week of February, semi-final 2nd week of February
A League: Commence 3rd week of February and finish by end of July
Championship: Round 1: 3rd or 4th week of April
Round 2: 4th week of May, 1st week of June
Round 3: 2nd week of August
Relegation Semi and Preliminary Quarter Finals: 1st week of September
Relegation Final & Quarter Finals: 3rd week of September
Championship Semi Finals: 1st week of October
Championship Finals: 3rd week of October
League Play-Offs and Final; Cup Finals: August/September/October
7. Motions
Note: Motions 1, 11, & 18 - 24 to apply from 2016 and Motions 2 - 10 & 12 -17 from 2017. Motion 25 is an alternative to Motion 24.
1. That Regulation 1(b) be deleted.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
2. That Regulation 2 is amended by replacing the figure "7" with "8" and adding "Junior 'E'" after "Junior 'D'".
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
3. That Regulation 3(b) be amended to read:
There shall be 16 teams in 4 divisions. Teams shall be seeded based on their finishing position in the preceding All County A League and the Championship draw shall proceed as follows:
There shall be 4 pots. The names of the top 4 seeded teams shall be placed in Pot 1; the next 4 in Pot 2 etc. One team from each pot shall be drawn for each division. Fixtures shall proceed as follows:
Round 1: A1 v A2; A3 v A4
Round 2: A1 v A3; A2 v A4
Round 3: A1 v A4; A2 v A3
The winners of each division shall qualify for a quarter final to be played at a venue nominated by the club concerned subject to such venue being deemed suitable by the CCC in accordance with criteria set out from time to time by the CCC. The second and third teams in each division shall qualify for a preliminary quarter final.
Preliminary quarter finals shall be drawn after the conclusion of Round 3 on an open draw basis save that teams which have qualified from the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The winners of the preliminary quarter finals shall be drawn against the winners of each group in an open draw save that teams which played in the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The bottom team in each division shall play in a relegation semi-final to be drawn by an open draw with the loser of each semi-final playing in a relegation final. The loser of the relegation final shall be relegated to the Intermediate grade.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
4. That Regulation 4(b) be amended to read as follows:
There shall be 16 teams in 4 divisions. Teams shall be seeded based on their finishing position in the preceding All County A League and the Championship draw shall proceed as follows:
There shall be 4 pots. The names of the top 4 seeded teams shall be placed in Pot 1; the next 4 in Pot 2 etc. Any team which is not the first team of a club shall be placed in Pot 4 even if there are less than 4 teams in any other Pot. One team from each pot shall be drawn for each division. Fixtures shall proceed as follows:
Round 1: A1 v A2; A3 v A4
Round 2: A1 v A3; A2 v A4
Round 3: A1 v A4; A2 v A3
Where there are more than 2 teams in any division that are not the first team of a club the CCC shall arrange, where possible, that such teams shall be fixed to play each other in the first round notwithstanding the process set out above.
The winners of each division shall qualify for a quarter final to be played at a venue nominated by the club concerned subject to such venue being deemed suitable by the CCC in accordance with criteria set out from time to time by the CCC. The second and third teams in each division shall qualify for a preliminary quarter final.
Preliminary Quarter Finals shall be drawn after the conclusion of Round 3 on an open draw basis save that teams which have qualified from the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The winners of the Preliminary quarter finals shall be drawn against the winners of each group in an open draw save that teams which played in the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The bottom team in each division shall play in a relegation semi-final to be drawn by an open draw with the loser of each semi-final playing in a relegation final. The loser of the relegation final shall be relegated to the next lowest championship grade.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
5. That Regulation 5(a) be amended by adding "Junior "D" and Junior "E'" after "Junior "C"".
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
6. That Regulation 5(b) be amended to read:
There shall be 16 teams drawn in 4 divisions in an open draw. Fixtures shall proceed as follows:
Round 1: A1 v A2; A3 v A4
Round 2: A1 v A3; A2 v A4
Round 3: A1 v A4; A2 v A3
The winners of each division shall qualify for a quarter final to be played at a venue nominated by the club concerned subject to such venue being deemed suitable by the CCC in accordance with criteria set out from time to time by the CCC. The second and third teams in each division shall qualify for a preliminary quarter final.
Preliminary Quarter Finals shall be drawn after the conclusion of Round 3 on an open draw basis save that teams which have qualified from the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The winners of the Preliminary quarter finals shall be drawn against the winners of each group in an open draw save that teams which played in the same division shall not be drawn against each other.
The bottom team in each division shall play in a relegation semi-final to be drawn by an open draw with the loser of each semi-final playing in a relegation final. The loser of the relegation final shall be relegated to the next lowest championship grade.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
7. That the following Regulation be adopted:
Promotion/Relegation:
The winners of the IFC shall be promoted to the SFC
The winners of the JAFC shall be promoted to the IFC
The winners of the JBFC shall be promoted to the JAFC
The winners of the JCFC shall be promoted to the JBFC
The winners of the JDFC shall be promoted to the JCFC
The winners of the JEFC shall be promoted to the JDFC
The loser of the relegation final in the SFC shall be relegated to the IFC
The loser of the relegation final in the IFC shall be relegated to the JAFC
The loser of the relegation final in the JAFC shall be relegated to the JBFC
The loser of the relegation final in the JBFC shall be relegated to the JCFC
The loser of the relegation final in the JCFC shall be relegated to the JDFC
The loser of the relegation final in the JDFC shall be relegated to the JEFC
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
8. That Regulation 6 be deleted.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
9. That the last line of Regulation 3(a), 4(a), 5(a) be amended to read:
If a preliminary quarter final, quarter final, semi-final, relegation semi-final or relegation final ends in a draw extra time shall be played.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
10. That Regulation 8 be amended by adding Junior E after Junior D
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
11. That Regulation 8 be amended by adding:
Where the team which wins a championship is ineligible for promotion then the losing finalist is promoted in its place and where that team is ineligible for promotion the CCC shall determine which team is promoted.
Where a team is automatically regraded as a result of this regulation then the loser of the relegation final in that grade is not relegated.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
12. That Regulation 13(a) be amended to read:
A competition known as the Feis Cup shall be played annually using the following system:
a) Teams shall be placed in a single group and each team shall be drawn to play 2 games based on an open draw but a team shall not be drawn to play a team in Round 2 that it has played in Round 1.
b) Points shall be awarded as follows -
4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
1 point to a losing team where the losing margin is 3 points or less.
c) The top 4 teams shall qualify for the semi-finals.
d) Where teams finish level with equal points, the tie shall be decided as follows:
(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and the other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies.
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous games in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
13. That Regulation 13(c) be amended by deleting the words "except in the final".
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
14. That Regulation 14(a) be amended to read:
A competition known as Corn na Bóinne shall be played annually using the following system:
a) Teams shall be placed in a single group and each team shall be drawn to play 2 games based on an open draw but a team shall not be drawn to play a team in Round 2 that it has played in Round 1.
b) Points shall be awarded as follows -
4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
1 point to a losing team where the losing margin is 3 points or less.
c) The top 4 teams shall qualify for the semi-finals.
d) Where teams finish level with equal points, the tie shall be decided as follows:
(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and the other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies.
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous games in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
15. That Regulation 14(c) be amended by deleting the words "except in the final".
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
16. That Regulation 15(a) be amended to read:
A competition known as the Tailteann Cup shall be played annually using the following system:
a) Teams shall be placed in a single group and each team shall be drawn to play 2 games based on an open draw but a team shall not be drawn to play a team in Round 2 that it has played in Round 1.
b) Points shall be awarded as follows -
4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
1 point to a losing team where the losing margin is 3 points or less.
c) The top 4 teams shall qualify for the semi-finals.
d) Where teams finish level with equal points, the tie shall be decided as follows:
(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and the other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies.
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous games in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
17. That Regulation 15(c) be amended by deleting the words "except in the final".
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
18. That Regulation 64(b) be amended to read:
Where teams finish level with equal points, the tie shall be decided as follows:
(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and the other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies.
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous games in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
19. That Regulation 64(a) be amended to read:
The top 2 teams in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 shall be promoted to the next highest division. The bottom 2 teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 shall be relegated to the next lowest divisions. The team placed third from the bottom of Division 1 shall play the third placed team in Division 2 with the winner playing in Division 1 in the following year and the loser playing in Division 2 in the following year. A similar promotion/relegation playoff shall take place in Divisions 2-3 and 3-4.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G
20. That Regulation 65 be amended to read as follows:
The second and third placed teams in Division 1 shall qualify for a League semi-final with the winner playing the first placed team in the Division 1 League Final. League winners in the remaining divisions shall be determined by playing a final between the teams finishing first and second.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
21. That the following Regulation be adopted:
Extra time must be played in the event of a draw in any league semi-final, league final promotion/relegation play off or any other play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
22. That Regulation 67 be amended by adding the following:
"but the CCC may permit a club to enter a second team subject to such conditions as the CCC deem appropriate."
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
23. That Regulation 74(b) be amended to read:
Where teams finish level with equal points, the tie shall be decided as follows:
(i) Where three teams are involved - the outcome of the meetings of the three teams in their previous games in the competition. If three teams finish level on points for three places and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies in first place and the other places are determined by the specified order. If there are two positions and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies and the second place is determined by the specified order. If there is one position and one team has beaten the other two teams that team qualifies.
(ii) Where two teams are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous games in the competition;
(iii) Scoring Difference;
(iv) Highest total scores for;
(v) A play off.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
24. That for 2016 only
Regulation 3(b) be amended as follows:
The bottom team in each group will be relegated to the IFC
Regulation 4(b) be amended as follows:
Relegation:
IFC - 5 teams to be relegated to JAFC
JAFC - 7 teams to be relegated to JBFC
JBFC - 9 teams to be relegated to JCFC
IFC - the bottom team in each group shall be relegated. The teams second from bottom in each group shall take part in a 3 way play off on a round robin basis with the bottom 2 teams from the play off being relegated.
Playoff shall proceed as follows:
Game 1: A5 v B5
Game 2: Loser of Game 1 v C5
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 v C5
In the event of Game 1 finishing level the following procedure shall apply -
Game 2: A5 v C5, Game 3: C5 v B5
JAFC - the bottom 2 teams in each group shall be relegated. The teams third from bottom in each group shall take part in a 3 way play off on a round robin basis with the bottom team being relegated .
Playoff shall proceed as follows:
Game 1: A4 v B4
Game 2: Loser of Game 1 v C4
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 v C4
In the event of Game 1 finishing level the following procedure shall apply -
Game 2: A4 v C4, Game 3: C4 v B4
JBFC - the bottom 3 teams in each group shall be relegated.
Regulation 5(b) be amended as follows:
Junior Football 'C' Relegation: When designing the structure for the championship CCC shall make provision for 11 teams to be relegated to the Junior D Championship.
Regulation 6 be amended by adding:
"When designing the structure for the championship the CCC shall include a provision to identify the bottom 16 teams which will take part in the Junior E Championship in 2017" .
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
25. That for the years 2016 - 2020 three teams (being the bottom team in each group) annually are relegated from each championship grade which has in excess of 16 teams until there remains 16 teams in each of SFC, IFC, JAFC, JBFC, JCFC. When the number of teams in a championship is reduced to 16 the changes proposed in Motions 2 - 10 shall become effective. (Regulations 3(b), 4(b) and 5(b) to be amended accordingly).
Coiste na Mí C.L.G.
8: Appendix
Summary of Results
What should the optimum number of teams in each championship grade be?
18 85 16.50%
16 282 54.70%
14 32 6.20%
12 88 17.10%
10 14 2.70%
Other 15 2.90%
Would you like to see amalgamated teams or divisional teams made up from junior and intermediate clubs contest the Meath senior football championship?
Yes 241 46.20%
No 283 54.20%
Which of these championship formats do you prefer most?
Straight knock-out 53 10.20%
Back door for first and second round losers 206 39.80%
Round robin 235 45.40%
Other 24 4.60%
Should there be a link between championship and league?
Yes 141 27.30%
No 377 72.90%
Should the A and B football leagues be incorporated to form one all encompassing league with more divisions?
Yes 200 38.80%
No 314 61%
What format should the Cup competitions (Feis, Tailteann etc) take?
Pre season round robin 165 32%
Summer round robin 46 8.90%
Summer knock-out 185 35.90%
Cross season knock-out 99 19.20%
Other 21 4.10%
Would you support a reserve championship for second and third teams instead of incorporating them into the mainstream championships?
Yes 232 45.10%
No 276 53.70%
Other 9 1.80%
Would you favour smaller league divisions with home and away games between all teams?
Yes 210 40.90%
No 293 57.10%
Other 15 2.90%
When should the A League commence?
Early February 258 50.40%
Mid March 240 46.90%
Other 21 4.10%
When should the League conclude?
Before the championship quarter-final 419 82.20%
After conclusion of the championship 64 12.50%
Other 30 5.90%
Should the under 21 championship be?
Abolished 82 16%
Played on round robin basis 101 19.70%
Played on knock-out basis 314 61.30%
Other 15 2.90%
Should there be league semi-finals?
Yes 241 46.90%
No 276 53.70%
Should there be regulations in place for county players to play a minimum number of league games?
Yes 289 55.90%
No 228 44.10%
