THE GAA TODAY announced the motions that will go forward to this year’s Congress in Cavan on 27-28 February. Here’s 15 that we think are worth keeping an eye on.
1. Opening County Grounds to Other Sports
A decade on from the amendment of Rule 42, Clare club St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay want to open up all GAA county grounds for the use of other sports. That’s bound to provoke serious debate.
2. Concussion
There’s an interesting motion on concussion. Just like blood substitutes, teams would be able to bring on a temporary sub if a player receives ‘a serious blow to the head’. He’ll only be allowed to return to the field of play if ‘tests for concussion have proved negative’.
3. Clock Hooter
Central Council want to delete the rule that is calling for a public time clock to be introduced in Croke Park with a hooter that would sound to signal the end of a game.
4. Breaking Training Bans
Counties that break the training bans could be penalised. Senior squads would have to forfeit their first home game in the Allianz league that season while U21 football teams couldn’t play challenge games until 31 January and U21 hurling sides couldn’t play challenges until 31 March.
5. Team Lists
There’ll be a €1,000 fine and/or the removal of sideline privileges for their manager for any county that doesn’t submit a 26-man team lineout (15 starting players and 11 substitutes) for a senior inter-county championship game by 9am Thursday before the weekend game.
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6. Minor Players
A motion is being submitted for minor players to be barred from playing adult for their club until they are over 17 years and for their counties until they are over 18 years. At U21 level, it’ll be at club level between under 21 years and over 16 years while at inter-county level it’ll be between under 21 years and over 18 years. There’s also calls to abolish All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals.
Paddy McBrearty played senior and minor for Donegal in the one day in 2011. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
7. Linesmen.
GAA fans regularly bemoan the fact that referees can only consult with umpires as to the validity of a score but Westmeath club St Loman’s want linesmen to be officially given those powers as well.
8. 70 minutes for U21′s
U21 hurling and football inter-county game could become 70-minute affairs if Tipperary club Newport get their way. The interesting thing to note here is that the U21 football championship starts with game in Leinster on 25 February with Congress taking place the following weekend. If a motion is passed, it can’t come into place for a competition that has already started. Motions that are passed don’t come into effect for four weeks and Central Council can defer their commencement until 1 January next year.
Tony Kelly was the captain of the Clare U21 hurling team that won the All-Ireland last year. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
9. Heavier Sliotars
Clare club Cratloe want bigger, heavier sliotars brought in. That’d see in an increase in diameter to 85-88mm and in mass to 150-160mm.
10. Hand-passing
Kildare club Clane want to ban goalkeepers from hand-passing the ball away if they receive a pass from a teammate. Clare club Clondegad want to ensure that if a team has completed two consecutive movements of the ball by hand or fist, the next move must be to kick the ball by foot.
11. Subs
The number of substitutes allowed in normal time should be six for both football and hurling according to European club Maastricht.
12. Black Card
The Maastricht club are also bringing forward several motions that are seeking the introduction of a black card in hurling.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
13. Yellow Cards
Know the way yellow card in normal time carry over into extra-time? Well, Tyrone club Gortin and Down club St Peter’s want to do away with that.
14. Play In London and At Home
The London county board want to allow players to be able to play for London in the league and their home counties that same year in championship.
15. Give The Players Back To The Clubs
Tired of not seeing your county players at club level? Currently inter-county stars aren’t available 20 days before an All-Ireland final and 13 days before all other championship games. Westmeath’s Tyrrellspass want those figures reduced to 13 and 6 respectively, Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney want them cut to 13 and 8 respectively.
15 key GAA motions you should keep an eye on for this year's Congress
THE GAA TODAY announced the motions that will go forward to this year’s Congress in Cavan on 27-28 February. Here’s 15 that we think are worth keeping an eye on.
1. Opening County Grounds to Other Sports
A decade on from the amendment of Rule 42, Clare club St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay want to open up all GAA county grounds for the use of other sports. That’s bound to provoke serious debate.
2. Concussion
There’s an interesting motion on concussion. Just like blood substitutes, teams would be able to bring on a temporary sub if a player receives ‘a serious blow to the head’. He’ll only be allowed to return to the field of play if ‘tests for concussion have proved negative’.
4. Breaking Training Bans
Counties that break the training bans could be penalised. Senior squads would have to forfeit their first home game in the Allianz league that season while U21 football teams couldn’t play challenge games until 31 January and U21 hurling sides couldn’t play challenges until 31 March.
5. Team Lists
There’ll be a €1,000 fine and/or the removal of sideline privileges for their manager for any county that doesn’t submit a 26-man team lineout (15 starting players and 11 substitutes) for a senior inter-county championship game by 9am Thursday before the weekend game.
6. Minor Players
A motion is being submitted for minor players to be barred from playing adult for their club until they are over 17 years and for their counties until they are over 18 years. At U21 level, it’ll be at club level between under 21 years and over 16 years while at inter-county level it’ll be between under 21 years and over 18 years. There’s also calls to abolish All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals.
7. Linesmen.
GAA fans regularly bemoan the fact that referees can only consult with umpires as to the validity of a score but Westmeath club St Loman’s want linesmen to be officially given those powers as well.
8. 70 minutes for U21′s
U21 hurling and football inter-county game could become 70-minute affairs if Tipperary club Newport get their way. The interesting thing to note here is that the U21 football championship starts with game in Leinster on 25 February with Congress taking place the following weekend. If a motion is passed, it can’t come into place for a competition that has already started. Motions that are passed don’t come into effect for four weeks and Central Council can defer their commencement until 1 January next year.
9. Heavier Sliotars
Clare club Cratloe want bigger, heavier sliotars brought in. That’d see in an increase in diameter to 85-88mm and in mass to 150-160mm.
10. Hand-passing
Kildare club Clane want to ban goalkeepers from hand-passing the ball away if they receive a pass from a teammate. Clare club Clondegad want to ensure that if a team has completed two consecutive movements of the ball by hand or fist, the next move must be to kick the ball by foot.
11. Subs
The number of substitutes allowed in normal time should be six for both football and hurling according to European club Maastricht.
12. Black Card
The Maastricht club are also bringing forward several motions that are seeking the introduction of a black card in hurling.
13. Yellow Cards
Know the way yellow card in normal time carry over into extra-time? Well, Tyrone club Gortin and Down club St Peter’s want to do away with that.
14. Play In London and At Home
The London county board want to allow players to be able to play for London in the league and their home counties that same year in championship.
15. Give The Players Back To The Clubs
Tired of not seeing your county players at club level? Currently inter-county stars aren’t available 20 days before an All-Ireland final and 13 days before all other championship games. Westmeath’s Tyrrellspass want those figures reduced to 13 and 6 respectively, Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney want them cut to 13 and 8 respectively.
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Cavan Congress Croke Park GAA Game-changers Motions