The County Board Conventions are all over and they have outlined how much the running of the inter county teams cost. We have heard all the new motions which will be addressed at National Convention.

Each county will bring some new ideas from their grass root members to try and bring a freshness back to our games. Some are rule decisions and some are administrative, but for me there are real issues that need to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Have the GAA considered the following?

On the introduction of compulsory wearing of hurling helmets, were senior players asked their opinion on this? I understand the health and safety issue and particularly the need for it at under age level, but what about the individual player himself? I never wore a helmet, in actual fact, I tried but found it to be very uncomfortable and now you must have what resembles a bird cage built on as well. We are not far off the standard of American Football - surely our game of hurling is not like that and is a game of skill.

What are the procedures for a clash of heads now and what are the guidelines going to be laid down by the referees for so called tampering with face guards on the helmets. We saw a few incidents of it in 2009 that went unpunished, particularly in the All-Ireland final.

Does this introduction mean the game will get a lot more physical? I think it will as it will lessen the fear of the player going into the tackle.

Promotion of our sport is the key here - will it lessen the participation of our younger generation because parents will now see this as a dangerous game. I think so as it is a lot easier to kick a rugby ball or soccer ball and even a gaelic football.

A lot more effort will now be needed into marketing individual players on the field now as trying to identify them will be much with helmets on.

The cost factor has always been an issue - it will be even worse now.

2009 Hurling and Football Championships: Bad decisions and calls ignored
This is not about having a go at referees but it is about trying to improve the standards we have set for ourselves and improve on some of the costly errors that happened in last year's championship. Line balls going the wrong way, umpire decisions causing grief when balls were waved wide when they were clearly a '65 and vice a versa. There is not enough conversations between a referee and his team on spotting infringements. We have got to be more pro-active in this area. In 1986 Cork got the benefit of a umpire decision when the ball was waved wide instead of a 65 at a crucial stage in the match and luckily we went on to win the game. That is almost 24 years ago and have things changed since then? I do not think so.

I see Tipperary have put forward a motion for video referees and I wonder why ? Obviously the pain is still there from 2009 All Ireland Final and rightly so. Marginal calls have to be the right ones and it is the difference between winning and losing in most cases. Video referee should be introduced even on a temporary basis just to see does it work and will it improve matters. What have we to lose, if it does not prove effective then tick the box and shelve it?

Hopefully 2010 will bring about change in this area. It has been on my agenda for a while now.

Rule Changes
Are we now submitting change of rules just for the sake of doing so or are we doing it to improve our games?

I think we have lost the plot, I honestly do. Ideas such as no movement forward when taking a free would have Christy Ring turning in his grave. That is the art and skill of our game - not holding the ball on the hurley and balancing it before you take a free. It is what you would teach all youngsters to perfect - run, pick and hit on the move. It is the hardest thing to do in hurling and we want to penalise players for it.

The hand pass rule has to be welcomed as it was open to abuse. Not all teams were at it but those that are have been getting away with for years and not held accountable by referees.
So why the big change in heart now? Club, college and school teams all over the country are at it and players feel it is the quickest and easiest way to get the ball to you team mate. It will be interesting how this will be marshalled and implemented as it will be as hard to judge as long distance walking at the Olympics. Does his feet leave the ground or is it a throwing motion from the hand or a hand pass? - it is nearly impossible to call at speed.

Payment to Managers and Coaches
Again as we get towards the spring I read again that President of our association is going to have a serious look into the issue of payment to managers and coaches, especially club coaches.

Part of that stems from comments made by former Clare goalkeeper Seamus Durack who said that when he was asked to train teams, the second question always put his way was 'how much do you charge?'

Have the last five Presidents of our association not looked at this before and what are the results? There has been no change and it is actually on the increase. Clubs want success and if it costs a few bob they are willing to pay for it or someone within their community is willing to do so.

Christy Cooney has referred to our amateur status within the GAA when talking on this subject and the desire to keep it that way.

I ask the question - is the GAA an amateur association anymore? I do not think so, are we not being a little bit hypocritical here? There are an awful lot of people in the GAA making money and it is not on the field of play I am talking about. Trying to stamp out on the few bob a few guys are making for giving of their time and service, probably because they are out of work, is only going to add fuel to the fire, when you compare what is happening in the association as a whole.

I rest my case and take it from me, I was never in favour of payment to coaches but times have changed for all of us. Tweet

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