National Forum

The Corona Virus And Possible Effects To GAA Matches

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "If there's another wave then things will be exactly as we have them now. Lockdown, restrictions and absolutely no chance of contact sport. Unless of course a vaccine has become widely available. Failing a vaccine, perhaps some medication will have been discovered which can lessen the impact of Covid."
Another big wave would be disastrous in many ways but can you imagine how hard it would be to come out of SECOND lockdown? Once bitten, twice shy.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2120 - 13/05/2020 20:33:35    2278085

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I think the WHO statement today is quite sobering, it is pretty depressing re vaccine, yet it is positive in encouraging ways to cope with this. So little is known on this virus but even they talk about living with this virus for decades. As for health experts, well in Ireland today we hear positive news about children and transmission and yet across in the UK we hear the exact opposite. Right across the World experts are contradicting each other. So everybody, every institution, every company and every organisation should be (and most are) working out how they are going to live and operate with this virus among us. That is the only certainty, this is with us, so we have to figure out how to live with it. We just cannot lock ourselves away much longer that is the other certainty. The DCC in Dublin is widening footpaths to allow people keep their distance. Public transport is working out how it can operate, other sports (than the GAA) are actively looking at ways to get going. Schools and creches are going to have to reopen. The EU is going to open up air travel within bloc, no empty middle seats, facemadks etc this is going to happen in weeks not months. Hotels, cafes, restaurants are going to open. And so will sport, so all our energy should be put to figuring out a way how we cope physically and mentally with this virus among us. Because right now no one has answers.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 14/05/2020 00:58:05    2278096

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https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0513/1138276-fai-considering-consent-forms-for-amateur-players/

So if amateur soccer starts up in July with players signing consent forms and if amateur rugby follows on the same, where will that leave the GAA? Will the plan still be "no vaccine no games"?

I am merely asking the question!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1903 - 14/05/2020 02:13:48    2278097

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Here's Boris's latest pronouncement.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/elite-sport-return-to-training-guidance-step-one--2

It's a long read but you can see how difficult it would be for a team sport to recommence training.

Individuals - athletes, for instance - could probably train relatively easily. But for what ? Would there be any events for them to compete in ?

lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 475 - 14/05/2020 09:52:50    2278108

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Replying To lionofludesch:  "Here's Boris's latest pronouncement.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/elite-sport-return-to-training-guidance-step-one--2

It's a long read but you can see how difficult it would be for a team sport to recommence training.

Individuals - athletes, for instance - could probably train relatively easily. But for what ? Would there be any events for them to compete in ?"
Individual athletes would still be training/need to train to build fitness or whatever if they stopped because of lockdown. Any break they may have taken will have completely altered their training programmes

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 14/05/2020 10:33:56    2278110

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Replying To arock:  "I think the WHO statement today is quite sobering, it is pretty depressing re vaccine, yet it is positive in encouraging ways to cope with this. So little is known on this virus but even they talk about living with this virus for decades. As for health experts, well in Ireland today we hear positive news about children and transmission and yet across in the UK we hear the exact opposite. Right across the World experts are contradicting each other. So everybody, every institution, every company and every organisation should be (and most are) working out how they are going to live and operate with this virus among us. That is the only certainty, this is with us, so we have to figure out how to live with it. We just cannot lock ourselves away much longer that is the other certainty. The DCC in Dublin is widening footpaths to allow people keep their distance. Public transport is working out how it can operate, other sports (than the GAA) are actively looking at ways to get going. Schools and creches are going to have to reopen. The EU is going to open up air travel within bloc, no empty middle seats, facemadks etc this is going to happen in weeks not months. Hotels, cafes, restaurants are going to open. And so will sport, so all our energy should be put to figuring out a way how we cope physically and mentally with this virus among us. Because right now no one has answers."
Absolutely, nobody has the answers and at this stage it seems to me most unlikely that we will be able to have either club or county championships this year. Developments in the last few days would suggest that this virus isn't going to go away completely for a long time. I don't believe that things will be back to "normal" next year either and maybe all our energies should be directed at investigating how our 2021 competitions might be run off. Even at that, any plans will have a question mark over them, and we may need a plan B and a plan C as well. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic but I don't think we can take anything for granted until 2022 at least.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 542 - 14/05/2020 11:15:14    2278114

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Replying To midlands:  "Absolutely, nobody has the answers and at this stage it seems to me most unlikely that we will be able to have either club or county championships this year. Developments in the last few days would suggest that this virus isn't going to go away completely for a long time. I don't believe that things will be back to "normal" next year either and maybe all our energies should be directed at investigating how our 2021 competitions might be run off. Even at that, any plans will have a question mark over them, and we may need a plan B and a plan C as well. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic but I don't think we can take anything for granted until 2022 at least."
Pack up the hurls helmets and football boots and see if we can sell off a few of the Gaa pitches around the country so

theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 14/05/2020 11:56:50    2278117

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If you eliminate all the other points of contacts - dressing rooms, shaking hands, sharing water bottles etc would the only person that you could have close contact in the GAA be the player you are marking?

"A reminder today from Dr Colm Henry, HSE Clinical Lead, that a 'close contact' is a person who has been within 2 metres of a confirmed case, for 15 minutes or more."

Now there are a lot of things that go on in the GAA that are not within the rules - handbags and mouthing off being the two biggest offenders but if they were eliminated does this suggest that your main risk is to only one person? The above I would also read as being 15 consecutive minutes.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1804 - 14/05/2020 11:57:19    2278118

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Replying To theyoungbuck89:  "Pack up the hurls helmets and football boots and see if we can sell off a few of the Gaa pitches around the country so"
Thanks for your very mature and helpful suggestion, youngbuck, but we're talking about missing out on less than one full GAA season in order to try to deal with a very serious situation that has already cost us about 1.500 lives, including several great GAA people. Nobody is suggesting that we close down for good, so hold onto your hurleys , helmets etc for another while, I'd suggest.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 542 - 14/05/2020 14:17:42    2278134

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I think ye boys need to leave this topic alone and see how this virus evolves in the next few months. A roadmap is set out. It needs to be adhered too. It's a long time from now till Oct 1st. Hopefully we'll be in a much better place by then but ultimately who knows.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1080 - 14/05/2020 14:29:01    2278136

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The Young Buck seems unable to grasp the idea of preparing for next year, club and county. We must play GAA this year or else it won't happen next year either seems to be his logic from what I can gather.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7891 - 14/05/2020 15:41:11    2278140

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "The Young Buck seems unable to grasp the idea of preparing for next year, club and county. We must play GAA this year or else it won't happen next year either seems to be his logic from what I can gather."
Players have been training from last November December up to March then probably on their own programs up until the last few weeks so what do we do keep stringing players along until October then decide it's off then give them some time off tell them to prepare for next season then pull that if it can't go ahead either! One of the top people in the WHO said yesterday that we might not see the end of this virus until 4/5 years time! I'm just wondering what you're plan for how we can go ahead next Jan/Feb if we can't in October! We had lads in the Gpa on about not playing without a vaccine yesterday when is that coming? Junior league soccer and club rugby will be back before the Gaa Athletics Ireland are allowing people train in groups of 3/4 but 3 lads can't kick or hit a ball around a gaa pitch

theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 14/05/2020 15:58:21    2278141

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The problem with waiting for a vaccine is that lots of diseases don't have vaccines.

Yet - usually - we carry on . We can't hide in our homes for ever. We need money for food and somebody to brave coming out of their own homes to produce it for us.

lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 475 - 14/05/2020 16:32:53    2278144

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Replying To zinny:  "If you eliminate all the other points of contacts - dressing rooms, shaking hands, sharing water bottles etc would the only person that you could have close contact in the GAA be the player you are marking?

"A reminder today from Dr Colm Henry, HSE Clinical Lead, that a 'close contact' is a person who has been within 2 metres of a confirmed case, for 15 minutes or more."

Now there are a lot of things that go on in the GAA that are not within the rules - handbags and mouthing off being the two biggest offenders but if they were eliminated does this suggest that your main risk is to only one person? The above I would also read as being 15 consecutive minutes."
Any opposition full back line facing Wexford should be safe enough so. I'm afraid it's boilers suits and rubber gloves for the rest of the players.

Dec82 (Clare) - Posts: 242 - 14/05/2020 17:44:35    2278157

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Replying To theyoungbuck89:  "Players have been training from last November December up to March then probably on their own programs up until the last few weeks so what do we do keep stringing players along until October then decide it's off then give them some time off tell them to prepare for next season then pull that if it can't go ahead either! One of the top people in the WHO said yesterday that we might not see the end of this virus until 4/5 years time! I'm just wondering what you're plan for how we can go ahead next Jan/Feb if we can't in October! We had lads in the Gpa on about not playing without a vaccine yesterday when is that coming? Junior league soccer and club rugby will be back before the Gaa Athletics Ireland are allowing people train in groups of 3/4 but 3 lads can't kick or hit a ball around a gaa pitch"
I will repeat this again for you. Life will return to somewhat of a normality next year, vaccine or no vaccine we will be back in the gym and playing sports. The vast, vast majority of players are assuming there will be no championship this year. That is a likelihood as clubs and counties are not going to be properly prepared.

You seem to be repeating the same thing over and over and over as if we are all saying we don't think championship should go ahead this year so therefore we obviously think it shouldn't go ahead next year. Nobody is saying that. We will be in a better place to structure a league or championship for next year with a couple of different scenarios in place. It really isn't that difficult to understand.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7891 - 14/05/2020 17:58:11    2278160

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "I will repeat this again for you. Life will return to somewhat of a normality next year, vaccine or no vaccine we will be back in the gym and playing sports. The vast, vast majority of players are assuming there will be no championship this year. That is a likelihood as clubs and counties are not going to be properly prepared.

You seem to be repeating the same thing over and over and over as if we are all saying we don't think championship should go ahead this year so therefore we obviously think it shouldn't go ahead next year. Nobody is saying that. We will be in a better place to structure a league or championship for next year with a couple of different scenarios in place. It really isn't that difficult to understand."
Why will we be back to normality in Jan and not October what is going to change In between you've still to answer that question as far as I'm aware social distancing is going to be for the long haul so unless they figure some way of playing or make Gaa non contact sport what is different ? Gyms will be open in Aug/sept as far as I'm aware!

theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 14/05/2020 18:54:13    2278167

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Replying To midlands:  "Absolutely, nobody has the answers and at this stage it seems to me most unlikely that we will be able to have either club or county championships this year. Developments in the last few days would suggest that this virus isn't going to go away completely for a long time. I don't believe that things will be back to "normal" next year either and maybe all our energies should be directed at investigating how our 2021 competitions might be run off. Even at that, any plans will have a question mark over them, and we may need a plan B and a plan C as well. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic but I don't think we can take anything for granted until 2022 at least."
Things will go back to normal next year because most people will not put their lives on hold for more than a year. We're all hoping for a vaccine but it may not be available for 2 years depending on how fast they can test it. A vaccine may not be possible. The common cold can be caused by a strain of the coronavirus. It has no vaccine. That leaves us with herd immunity. The economy and our social lives can sustain 2 years of social distancing and intermittent lockdowns when a new wave hits.

Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 738 - 14/05/2020 20:36:49    2278178

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Replying To theyoungbuck89:  "Why will we be back to normality in Jan and not October what is going to change In between you've still to answer that question as far as I'm aware social distancing is going to be for the long haul so unless they figure some way of playing or make Gaa non contact sport what is different ? Gyms will be open in Aug/sept as far as I'm aware!"
And you are still not reading my posts fully, jesus wept. Read my last one again. And then again please. I said we will be moving on regardless of a Vaccine or not, with more time to plan. A lot will change as we learn better ways to adapt. Is that clear enough for you?

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7891 - 14/05/2020 20:44:36    2278184

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Replying To lionofludesch:  "The problem with waiting for a vaccine is that lots of diseases don't have vaccines.

Yet - usually - we carry on . We can't hide in our homes for ever. We need money for food and somebody to brave coming out of their own homes to produce it for us."
Name me these "lots of diseases" that are also filling up Ireland's intensive care units and have killed over 1500 people in the last three months?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2460 - 14/05/2020 21:50:54    2278186

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "And you are still not reading my posts fully, jesus wept. Read my last one again. And then again please. I said we will be moving on regardless of a Vaccine or not, with more time to plan. A lot will change as we learn better ways to adapt. Is that clear enough for you?"
We will learn to adapt in most of things in life of course and we have a already but if lads can't go out on a Gaa pitch in October how will it be safer next spring That's what I am asking is all! We are in May now so we won't have adapted in 5 months time but we will in 8 or 9 is that your point how will we adapt will we all wear masks goggles and gloves while we play? The answer is it's not so if it's too much of a risk in October it's the same next year! If the opportunity came to play games this year and it was safe to do so the Gaa won't play behind closed doors because simply there's no money to be made from it and the club game doesn't make a lot for them they will let it go and hope the government give them grants to cover some of the lost income!

theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 14/05/2020 22:18:27    2278189

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