FORMER WEXFORD MANAGER Liam Griffin has spoken out about how player dropout rate in Gaelic games across the board is a ‘crisis’.
Presenting the Club Players Association’s (CPA) new fixture proposals at a press conference yesterday, he outlined that these plans would be a step in the right direction in rectifying the issue.
The Model county’s 1996 All-Ireland winning boss noted how great things are happening in the GAA and there have been improvements, but radical reform in terms of the calendar is needed.
“The bottom line is, we have an underlying problem within the game and that’s player dropout,” he said. “The other underlying problem is dissatisfaction with our fixtures.
“Since I was a child, fixtures have been a massive problem in the GAA. I’ve seen it in my father’s generation, I’ve seen it through mine, through my son’s.
He referred to the GAA’s 2013 ERSI report ‘Keeping Them In The Game,’ which revealed that dropout rates were 75 per cent between the ages of 21 and 26 in football and 60 per cent in hurling and camogie because of loss of interest.
“Our sport has the highest dropout,” he continued, as he insisted that more needs to be done to address the issue.
“Some 24,000 people joined our association (CPA) because they were frustrated. Why did 24,000 people just join?
“Intermittent games and indefinite and irregular intervals [in fixture planning] will not suffice today. We know that since 2004 according to our own documentation. That’s surely a crisis.
“We’re not looking for trouble, we’re just looking for fair play. The stats don’t lie — 24,000 people.”
One of the three “innovative changes” outlined at the press conference yesterday was the need for the All-Ireland club championships to be played in the one calendar year.
Clare and Ballyea star Tony Kelly was the main example Griffin alluded to when arguing this point.
“I just hear people in various places, say in Cork on Sunday, complaining that Tony Kelly is not performing, and if he had been performing better, Clare might do a lot better.
“His season hasn’t finished from last year. Ballyea finished in club championship in March and he’s straight back into the final [league] games with Clare and he’s straight back into championship.
“His season has not stopped at any stage. Then , there has been residual resentment in Armagh towards Crossmaglen. It causes a friction that is totally unnecessary and it does happen.”
In his search for a solution, Griffin touched on the American Football NFL, and how ‘they have 32 teams interestingly enough in their system’.
“They have conferences and things, sure that couldn’t make any sense?” he challenged. “Munster and Leinster makes much more sense.
“But the conferences are based on sensible systems and you can win the Super Bowl. That’s in the whole of America — 32 teams, eight groups of four.
“Look around the world. You won’t see Yeovil Town playing Chelsea anytime soon in the first round of the championship, that’s not going to happen.”
The changes that the CPA look to implement do not require a motion to go to Congress. They can be routed through Central Council, and if agreed there, the onus is on Croke Park to schedule them accordingly.
St Mary’s Rosslare clubman Griffin stressed that these proposals were a ‘request’ to the GAA, and that now is the time to act.
“I’m telling you now, all we need is time. The plans that we have here are up to the GAA, they’re just suggestions.
“Our request is two main things — the time allocation for clubs and to finish the championship in the calendar year.
“At the end of the day, it can be done. It’s doable, it’s not perfect. But it’s a matter of working together to see what can happen.”
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Just goes to show youngsters aren’t willing to give up their 20s to this draconian organisation and have seen the light and are starting to pick other sports like soccer and Rugby.Lets hope our governments start investing in these sports as heavily as they have done for the GAA over the last 50odd years
@Jamie: Well seen as you’re hoping for things, why not hope the GAA sees the error of their ways and puts the future of the game and player welfare ahead of other vested interests. It that way our national sports and a unique, special part of our Irish culture can continue to thrive, enriching the country as whole. Surely preferable to hoping it fails and the government invest more money 2 extremely well funded professional sports.
@Johnny 5: yes hopefully they’ll start paying the players is that what you mean?
@Jamie: not really, it’s totally unsustainable as professional sport. Also once it becomes professional and the players become employees, it becomes open to all the flaws that ruin professional sport. Players would have to be allowed move for better wages under employment laws essentially turning them into mercenaries, Dublin would easily buy all the best players in both codes, counties would go bankrupt. Professionalism would kill everything that makes the GAA special. Just set up the calender so that players aren’t exploited and the games/training/life balance is fair for amateurs. Also compensate them for any expenses and reward them with perks.
@Jamie:Your comment loses all when you mention the joke shop that is Irish soccer. From fixtures to refereeing to Admin, a complete shambles!’..As for rugby, they have been flat out with the “Hickey” silence injunctions. It will break eventually, patents suing clubs, schools and other parents, doctors refusing to attend school games for fear of libel. Assaults on players from rivals…I’ve read the reports, its not nice, no fear Tony Ward of reporting on it anyway!!
@Jamie: Why wud government need 2 support professional sports that are paying players to perform for clubs and country. Just another anti GAA bigotry comment. FYI as I’m sure any half reasonable mind must realise any investment the government has ever contributed to the GAA has being returned in multiples taxes on ticket sales, food and beverages, employees wages, sporting goods sales, physio and medical costs, hotel and accommodation costs etc that the huge crowds the GAA generates across the country. Open your mind to the reality that without the GAAs help soccer + rugby would have been without a home while the Aviva was being being built (ironically on a lot more government contributions than Croker ever received) and yet the GAA are the backbone of the RWC bid! Get over yourself FFS
@Jamie:
Draconian? Thanks for the early morning laugh. FYI, rugby has an even worse problem with player retention, the FAI is an organisation in disarray and LOI is falling to pieces. The GAA isn’t perfect but it’s the best sporting organisation on this country.
I think the over training and injuries are a big urn off/reason for drop out – 3/4 times a week since Xmas, higher injury rates.. Even for a club team now at any grade the training has gone mad. People won’t/can’t give this time up for sporadic games. I love the gaa, but it’s dying on its feet and the whole focus is on the 35 or so players who make the county panels and not the grassroots. Great to look at at the highest level but papering over huge cracks. It saddens me, but unless there is major change, Joe brolly is right..