Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Club Players Association (CPA)

  • 30-10-2018 4:19pm
    #1
    djPSB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,299 ✭✭✭


    With the CPA being active for a couple of years now, what are your thoughts on the impact they have had for club players to date?

    Personally imo the disconnect has never been greater between club players and GAA HQ.

    I will use Galway as an example using figures for male teams as do not have figures for the Ladies competitions. There are approximately 1,800 Senior and Intermediate players in the county. These championships are not played during the Intercounty season (Junior championships are not delayed due to intercounty fixtures). In the County, there are approximately 60 intercounty Senior players which represents 3% of the total Senior/Intermediate players.

    The way things work currently:
    -players return to training in January or early February at the latest.
    - Couple of league games in March followed by two championship games in April.
    - 5/6 League games during the summer intercounty season.
    - Championship returns in August or September depending on intercounty teams fortunes.
    - Most players finish up in November depending when all league finals, relegation games and county finals have been played. Going into November now and only the Intermediate football championship has been finished. All other county finals, relegation finals and Leagues in both codes yet to be finalised. The majority of teams will play into December. The 2017 Senior football league final was played in August 2018.
    - Return to training in January.

    So ultimately the season is being dragged into an 11 month season to accommodate 3% of the elite.

    One club in Galway, are expected to play 4 games in 7 days this week.

    I am sure this is not just an issue in Galway, in Wicklow at the weekend we see St Pats having to play on successive days.

    This puts players in a dangerous position in terms of what they are putting their bodies through.

    But by and large, while people are generally unhappy with the current schedule, there is very little influence or noise being made to GAA HQ.

    This is where I thought the CPA would have a role to play to represent club players and put up a fight to the GAA. It's been a fairly disappointing muted approach by them so far imo.


Comments

  • #2
    Dots1982
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,957 ✭✭✭Dots1982


    This CPA’s problem is they don’t really have any power. They have lads who signed up to be members but what control do they have over them?

    Until the CPA can influence its thousands of playing members to seriously disrupt the club season then they really have no power.

    Frankly I don’t think the CPA will ever have that kind of influence. When lads are chasing championships, they aren’t going to give a monkeys what month they are playing.

    The CPA has other issues aswell. Some of their demands are virtually unworkable but the above is their main problem.


Advertisement