Criticism of close season and rules on college players

GAELIC GAMES NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE:GAA REGULATIONS on burn-out were criticised at yesterday's official launch of the Allianz GAA National Football League, which is the association's longest-running intercounty sponsorship.

Three high-profile managers and a former All-Ireland winning captain all queried whether the close season and restrictions on the use of college players were having the desired effect.

The comments were made during a media conference in the sponsors’ new headquarters in Dublin.

The close season has been in operation for three years and prohibits intercounty activity, including collective training, during the months of November and December.

There were references made to the pressure on third-level students, for whom college competitions like the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups ensure a hectic January.

“I think it’s unusual that we have a blanket ban,” said Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney, “and the players we’re trying to protect most, are still out with the colleges anyway. I’d be more into proper education about how to use the off-season.”

According to Kerry’s Declan O’Sullivan, the close season still doesn’t guarantee an adequate break before the new season: “We’d club and local championships so most of us were playing football right through December anyway. We’d really only two or three weeks off, and then only had or three weeks to prepare for our first game in the National League. That can be a bit tough, but that’s the way it is, and we get on with it. Some of the older fellas are still taking a rest.”

Cork have a large number of players involved in Sigerson Cup duty and manager Conor Counihan called for official measures to stop the tug-of-war between counties and colleges over the availability of certain players.

“We’d a big number involved in colleges, but I think what we need is someone in charge of player welfare, and let them decide who trains with who. Unfortunately it is very competitive situation now, and every manager wants a piece of the player. So I think there should be some rule there whereby someone gets control.”

Facing into his first season in charge of Galway Armagh’s All-Ireland-winning manager Joe Kernan said although his appointment had been in sufficient time not to find himself inconvenienced by the close season that the toll on young players was severe.

“I’ve been lucky in Galway that I was appointed in October, and able to see the county semi-finals and finals. But everything is very compressed into January, and this week, one of our students did seven days in a row, which I think is totally unfair.”

One modern aspect of the NFL that found favour from a players’ perspective was the growing programme of floodlit matches.

“I think it creates a great buzz from a player and spectator point of view,” said O’Sullivan, “and I think for the player as well it’s great to have the Sunday off, to rest. Sometimes if you’ve an away game on the Sunday you’re not back until very late, and then you’re up for work the next day.”

The Kerry All Star forward drew the agreement of the three managers by calling for a signal from the referee to indicate that the full-time whistle would sound when the ball next went out of play at the end of a match.

Under the current experimental rules referees are instructed to play on even when time has elapsed until the ball goes dead.

“I think if there is an added two minutes,” he said, “no one knows when that is up, so that can be very confusing. Unless there is a signal to say the next time the ball goes out of play, ‘that’s it’.”

O’Sullivan also criticised the experiment with the hand pass, which now must be struck with the fist rather than an open hand.

“To be honest it’s not easy to say at this stage. I’d find the hand pass rule a little silly, to be honest. There’s no great skill differentiation whether you punch the ball or palm it.

“And I think from a forward point of view, if you want to get some swift movement, it can be very cumbersome, and I don’t know if it adds to the game really.

“And if someone is going for relegation or promotion and there’s a free given for a hand pass that would cause some controversy.”