Amid all the talk about the G.A.A championship structure being broken, there have been a lot of proposals (most of which have been rubbish). The first one that I have seen that makes real sense and illustrates the benefits for the club player, the county player and the G.A.A in terms of revenue, media and exposure has been brought forward by some club crowdfunding website called BOOSTR. They wrote a blog on a brand new championship structure which is nothing short of genius at http://www.boostrhq.com/blog/championship-restructure

southhsider (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 13/02/2016 12:09:56    1825057

There are some points in the piece I agree with.

Starting the season in March and having it finished in a shorter space of time.

Having every team play pretty much every weekend.

It has 2 monumental drawbacks though.

Any proposal going forward has to include the provincial championships. There is no room for manoeuvre on this. The top brass couldn't be any clearer on it. Any new championship has to include the provincial championship in pretty much their current shape. Provincial championship group stages probably aren't even a runner.

There are too many dead rubber matches. Teams play 9 group matches with only 1 team from each group qualifying for the knockout rounds. How many of the teams will be still in the running after 4 games? I'd say most groups are sewn up within 7 matches. Why would players hang around to play a tonne of dead rubber matches? Why would fans go to see the games?

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4222 - 13/02/2016 16:23:21    1825100

The league should be retained but only consisting of divisions of 5 or 6 teams as in hurling but only having 4 or 5 regular league games and a finals weekend.

As I mentioned in another thread, I think they could bring provincial groups into the championship;

Munster: 1 group of 6 teams
Connaught: 1 group of 5 teams
Leinster: 2 groups (6 teams and 5 teams)
Ulster + London: 2 groups of 5 teams

Top 2 in Munster and Connaught into provincial finals. Top 2 in Ulster and Leinster into provincial semi-finals.

The 3rd placed teams in Ulster and the 3rd placed teams in Leinster should play-off.

All-Ireland Series:
Qualifier Round 1: Losing provincial semi-finalists from Ulster and Leinster drawn against 4 3rd placed teams.

Qualifier Round 2: Losing provincial finalists drawn against Round 1 winners.

Quarter-finals: Provincial winners drawn against Round 2 winners.

The National Football League on average will lose 2 matchday weekends. The provincial championships on average will gain 3 matchday weekends.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 14/02/2016 14:17:22    1825270

I have to say I love Whammo86's season long idea the best - again a league based champp with subset retaining current provs -
Wham, if you permit me -
Draw current prov champps, retaining upper and lower half of each prov draw A and B.
Create 4 x 8 teams.
Merge Conn A 3, Uls A 4 and 1 prelim loser from Lein A 6; then, Conn B 3 and Uls B; then, Muns A 3 and Lein A 6 (without 1 prelim loser); and finally, Muns B 3 and Lein B 5.
Each 8 plays 7 groups games incl. Prov Prelim, QFs and SFs.
2nd Phase - From each 8, two Prov SF winners and 3 others with highest pts, carry 4 match record forward and play 5 qualifiers from other own Prov group to complete 9-match, 10-team table.
3rd Phase - 12-team AI KO, top 6 from each group, with 4 byes.

Within the limitation facing proposals in a fortnight - I would go for the modest change to the existing structure - 'Treble Chance' (32 teams, including 8 early losers, are guaranteed a minimum of 3 matches and a 3rd chance, respectively) - as follows -
8 Qual Rd 1 losers (3rd chance) host 8 Prov SF losers in new Qual Rd 1B.
4 Prov Final losers join 16 Rd 1 and 1B winners in 20-team Open Draw Rd 2.
2 new Prov Champs Rd losers join 10 Rd 2 winners in 12-team Seeded Draw Rd 3.
2 unbeaten Prov Champs and 6 Rd 3 winners contest Seeded Draw AI QFs.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 14/02/2016 17:15:24    1825294

I have to say I love Whammo86's season long idea the best - again a league based champp with subset retaining current provs -
Wham, if you permit me -
Draw current prov champps, retaining upper and lower half of each prov draw A and B.
Create 4 x 8 teams.
Merge Conn A 3, Uls A 4 and 1 prelim loser from Lein A 6; then, Conn B 3 and Uls B; then, Muns A 3 and Lein A 6 (without 1 prelim loser); and finally, Muns B 3 and Lein B 5.
Each 8 plays 7 groups games incl. Prov Prelim, QFs and SFs.
2nd Phase - From each 8, two Prov SF winners and 3 others with highest pts, carry 4 match record forward and play 5 qualifiers from other own Prov group to complete 9-match, 10-team table.
3rd Phase - 12-team AI KO, top 6 from each group, with 4 byes.

Within the limitation facing proposals in a fortnight - I would go for the modest change to the existing structure - 'Treble Chance' (32 teams, including 8 early losers, are guaranteed a minimum of 3 matches and a 3rd chance, respectively) - as follows -
8 Qual Rd 1 losers (3rd chance) host 8 Prov SF losers in new Qual Rd 1B.
4 Prov Final losers join 16 Rd 1 and 1B winners in 20-team Open Draw Rd 2.
2 new Prov Champs Rd losers join 10 Rd 2 winners in 12-team Seeded Draw Rd 3.
2 unbeaten Prov Champs and 6 Rd 3 winners contest Seeded Draw AI QFs.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 14/02/2016 17:19:05    1825295

And.....I forgot - Two-legged Prov SFs in Muns and Conn only to ensre the 'bye team losers, like all 32 teams, get the 3-match minimum.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 14/02/2016 17:22:40    1825296

Some of the formats thrown around are a bit much for amateur players, many of whom have day jobs as well. There are options like provincial groups. If the will isn't there anything like it won't get through congress. Provincial championships aren't going anywhere and nor are they going to be diluted.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts:4579 - 16/02/2016 21:13:58 1825964

I think you commented on the wrong thread.

Surely playing the same numbers of matches over a shorter period of time is better for players.

Improve the training to matches ratio.

The provincial championships could be diluted. It happened when the qualifiers were brought in.

The system described above keeps the provincial championships at the heart of the season.

You could even go so far as to play standard group games on Saturday evenings and keep the traditional prestige slot of Sunday football free for provincial championship games.

It fits a lot of the criteria being searched for.

No increase in games played.
Retain provincial championships with minimal interference.
Provide teams with more regular fixtures in the height of the summer.

The system Omahant describes only takes 16 weeks to be played. Club games can be fitted easily around those fixtures.

I would use a different playoff system adding 2 extra weeks but it'd still be taking up fewer weekends than the current county system uses.

I think that is the key when trying to find time for club games to be played.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4222 - 16/02/2016 21:48:43    1825982

What do you think of my modest 'Treble Chance' idea ?

Positives -
Retention of Prov Champps in current form;
Rd of 20 levels the playing field;
Minimum 3 matches for all (excl NY);
3rd chance puts Uls 1st Div/Qual Rd 1 losers on equal footing with Muns SF bye losers;
Cork/Kerry no longer guaranteed AI Last 12 slots (Finalist to Last 24, Champ to Last 14 - Champ needs Playoff win to go thru Front Door to AI Last 8); and
6 AI QFs gained via the equitable 'National' Qualifier stream.

Negatives -
Further dilution of Prov Champps (only 2 guaranteed AI QF slots, Uls Champ has more to do and may need 5 tough wins); and
10 additional matches (accommodates 2 Champs Playoffs and 8 3rd chances - although this meets required 'immaterial' increase).

Comments ? As I always get silence, there must not be much wrong with it ?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 17/02/2016 16:14:24    1826160

I think a problem that it has is that it wouldn't be especially popular.

People already don't like the qualifiers where teams get 2 chances, I don't think they'd like teams getting a treble chance.

I think standard format competitions like leagues, group stages and straight knockout competitions are more familiar with people and they prefer them for that reason.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4222 - 17/02/2016 20:04:58    1826221

Thanks for your comment Wham, and 'fair enough' -
I thought maybe criticism would have come from the fact that a lot of matches are played to get to the 'Champs Rd of 4' and the 'Rd of 20'.
Despite all the early matches though, I think that 4+20 gives everyone a fair shot, a small reward for the Champs, after the initial 8 are weeded out.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 18/02/2016 18:47:01    1826475

Btw, in recent years, the Cork County Championships in both Football and Hurling allowed three chances to make the Last 16 KO.
That's right - starting with 16 clubs - win one match in Rd 1, or Rd 2, or Rd 3 and be one of 14 clubs (to join 2 div teams) to make the Last 16 - only the 2 that lost all 3 rds were out. They have recently changed it. Now that's truly daft !

I figured giving only the initial 8 losers a 3rd chance would not be too disruptive, would make the Quals fairer, with the lopsided nature of Provs while preserved is also neutralised due to narrower front door.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 18/02/2016 19:51:56    1826497