Ask The Players: Would designated periods for third level, club and county fixtures work?

The CPA recently called for the GAA to created designated periods of
fixtures. We asked four men who coach at third level if they can work

Damian McErlain
(Queen’s assistant,
and former Derry manager)

Recently the CPA have called for the GAA to create a fixture list that adhered to designated periods for club, county and third level. What would this achieve?
A proper fixtures book that could be adhered to with players in all three categories (and schools should be included) would mean that players would be able to plan their lives and play with one team at a time and be able to give it their all while enjoying it. This is opposed to playing for all three, not feeling part of any, and being hugely at risk to injury. Whatever designated timeframes are put in place I think there still has to be a three-month period when the whole thing shuts down altogether for an off season which allows players to recover and properly prepare/condition their body and mind for a new season. That’ll mean cutting a few competitions from the diary & ensuring all matches are finished ‘on the day’ via a golden score preferably. The current fixtures almost dictate a non stop calendar and allow for a poor games-to-match ratio. Shortening the fixture calendar fixes many issues and even eases the burden of clubs and counties of funding training over a longer period. Administrators around Clubs deserve that respite also. County player careers will almost certainly be lengthened if seasons are shorter. Current commitment levels aren’t sustainable and the same could be said of club players if one season doesn’t run into the next.

Are there any negatives about having these designated periods?
I just can’t see what would be negative about organising and modernising the formats to suit modern living. To be honest even Sunday games should be the exception rather than the rule. Young players don’t want to give up their full weekends just waiting on a match anymore and married players want Sundays to spend time with families. People talk about player retention- this is a factor, along with knowing when the season starts and ends. Players, administrators and coaches all deserve that and people now aren’t willing to tolerate structures that are out of touch with the playing population and the effort they are putting into their Sport as amateurs.
What are the barriers to achieving these designated periods?
Seemingly the format and rules of Congress are a blocker. When you see the way the CPA have been brushed aside at Congress even when it’s articulated by a massively respected figure like an All-Ireland winning manager and successful businessman like Liam Griffin, then a forum has to be created that allows the masses to be heard. HQ will say that’s exactly what Congress provides through Clubs and County representatives etc but I sense there’s an unspoken fear from counties if they go against the grain. The numbers who have supported the CPA thus far are vast and are the lifeblood and future of the whole organisation – if they haven’t been able to get a strong case presented and listened to even at this stage then in my limited knowledge of GAA Administration there’s a disconnect in how Congress should work. It’s going to take a lot of mindset change from the various stakeholders in each of provinces in regards to club, college and county administration. Each are out to protect their own whether that be provincial Championships, Club competitions or maybe College calendars so that’s not straight forward nor is it impartial towards finding a solution to the fixtures issue. A fixture revamp may mean less matches, less revenue etc and this is no doubt a huge factor in resistance to change. It may make sponsors even harder to come by also. The Covid lockdown has shown that things change, that a clean slate is possible in that many formats and fixtures didn’t go ahead this year and the GAA is still standing. It’s an opportunity to start afresh and not take 3-5 years to do a botch job on it. The nettle needs grasped as the whole thing is utterly dysfunctional, therefore tweaks won’t work – it’s a clear the decks and start again process.

Are the designated periods achievable?
It is and it has to be achieved but it’s 100 per cent a clean slate and start again plan as I’ve said above. A tweak here and there is only papering over the cracks such is the scale of the task and the many variables to be considered.

SImon Doherty
(Ulster GAA Coach)

Recently the CPA have called for the GAA to create a fixture list that adhered to designated periods for club, county and third level. What would this achieve?
As someone who is involved in Higher Education Sport through managing Ulster University Hurling team, as well as being a player with Naomh Eoin and Armagh, I am fully aware of the time demands placed on the modern player. At certain stages of the year, some players are required to fulfil the demands of up to three managements/teams. I feel this is unfair and causes unnecessary stress on extremely talented players, regardless of who they play for. I feel that having a designated period for each competition would help to add value to the competition while also ensuring spectators have the opportunity to fully appreciate the talent that is on show. As an example, if the College season was set in a specifically designated time period, players would have the opportunity to represent their Universities/Colleges without the added pressures of having to train/play for their other teams. We have seen the positives of having a ‘Club Only’ period in the current time, with players having sole focus on their club teams – allowing them to compete to the best of their ability alongside their family and community, without the demands of inter-county competition. I feel this is a positive step, in the current climate.

Are there any negatives about having these designated periods?
I hope there is an appetite within the upper echelons of GAA HQ to ensure the long term sustainability of player welfare. This can be aided by having set training periods, set performance periods and set recovery periods for all levels of competition. Periodisation in the GAA for a player who represents their club, college and county can prove very difficult if they are not managed properly. However, the positive working relationships that I have had personally with Ronan Sheehan (Down), Darren Gleeson (Antrim), John McEvoy (Derry) and Mattie Lennon (Tyrone) have helped to ensure Ulster University players have been fresh for both their University and their respective County teams over the winter period.

What are the barriers to achieving these designated periods?
The key aspect is creating a fixture schedule that caters for all parties – not an easy task. However by accumulating feedback from all parties involved the national schedule can be modified, and modified successfully. Adaptation to the ever increasing demands, especially for student-athletes, is critical for the enhancement for Gaelic Games. At Higher Education level, research by the GPA over the past five years has indicated that the difficulties faced by student-athletes can be managed better by better communication and improved scheduling. Whilst the communication element is very much up to the individuals involved, the scheduling is a wider issue nationally and needs to be addressed – in my opinion it is the biggest barrier.

Are the designated periods achievable?
It is achievable as long as the schedule is created in such a manner that overlaps are minimised. The current schedule nationally is, in my opinion, unsustainable in terms of positive player welfare.

Tommy Joe Farrell
(Ulster University GAA)

Recently the CPA have called for the GAA to create a fixture list that adhered to designated periods for club, county and third level. What would this achieve?
A lot of these things have been tried before. Games don’t cause the problems, it is how much training we have to do for these games. That’s what causes the problems. Last year the u-20 competition was put on in January and February. That caused havoc to put it mildly. I think everything should be tried. They have an opportunity where things could change. Having a specific period of time where you have county and club, where competitions could be run off quicker. I am finding that the time-period for dual players is causing problems. That may have to be looked at if there were specific periods.
Are there any negatives about having these designated periods?
The colleges are already playing in designated periods. The third level has condensed the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson to a very short period. And there is no reason why that can’t continue. There is no reason why the National league could start in March. And there is no reason that counties could allow their players to play with their college till they are knocked out of the college competition.
What are the barriers to achieving these designated periods?
What we would like is that you are allowed to play for your college for that six week period when they are involved in their competitions. And sometimes that is only two weeks.
An issue is that some counties put their u-20 competition in the middle of the Freshers competition. There is also the insane madness of training regimes. I am finding that players feel there is no reason for them to go back to the situation of five or six nights of training every week along with the travel. Players are using technology now and they feel there is no necessity to go back to that.

Are the designated periods achievable?
The one thing that the coronavirus and lockdown has done has shown that if ever there was a time to look at these things then it is now.
I think we can decompartmentalise the fixtures. If you remember the National League used to be before Christmas. When that was the case the counties had to have their championships finished. But when it shifted to after Christmas the clubs shifted to take up that space before Christmas.
These things have been tried before, but it has been tried without teeth.
I think periods can work, but a voluntary code of conduct does not work. It has to have teeth.
I do think there is a will now to look at it. A lot of county players have been at home with their families and they prefer that. They don’t feel that they need to give the commitment time. It will be interesting to look at the championship and to see if the players are as fit as they were last year.

Gavin McGIlly
(St Mary’s GAA Coach)

Recently the CPA have called for the GAA to create a fixture list that adhered to designated periods for club, county and third level. What would this achieve?
It is difficult to accommodate everyone, but there is a defined period within the season. Students dont’ come back till September, and University competitions are going to be played between October to December. They have a window there already for their competitions. You hope that there aren’t going to have any clashes.

Are there any negatives about having these designated periods?
Not really. At the moment we have had to manage players, but players have always declared for us. In a good season, we were in the final. Those seasons were 10-12 competitive games. Without the designated season there has been overlap and university had to manage players when they get them. We had to look after burn out. All our students have always declared for us (St Mary’s).

What are the barriers to achieving these designated periods?
For designated seasons to happen they would have to push the National League back. The Sigerson final is around the 19-23rd of January. But the National league was four days later. There needs to be space.
Currently Sigerson is run off in 19 days. It would be better if players had a free run at it. We just want the players to have nothing else going on. It’s not an easy situation. My experience with Sigerson is that we have always had access to our players. No manager has ever said that we can’t get access to players. A lot of managers have been through Sigerson so they understand our situation.

Are the designated periods achievable?
The one issue we have is the Freshers’ competition. It was unlikely the Fresher competition was going to be finished because it was in the middle of the Ulster and All-Ireland u-20 competition. So that needs looked at.
There is a blank canvas because the status quo is out the window.
They have an opportunity to look at where there are overlaps, and where the conflicts are arising, and work out how to look at it. There is time to do that. County players are now saying that they are enjoying playing with their club.