A draw in name only You can dress it up any way you want, talk of tradition and the pure excitement of it all but surely now, there can be only one conclusion? The day of the blockbuster live championship draw is gone. And the reason why is simple to report: the championship draw is no longer exciting. Yeats might have been talking about the annual pulling of balls from hats when he remarked that 'through a chink too wide, there comes in no wonder' or words to that effect. All the usual ducks were lined up in a row; the fanfare was sounded and out came the usual suspects: probably (most likely) a Cork versus Kerry final, ditto Mayo to tog Galway in the Connacht decider and Dublin to cruise into the Leinster equivalent. Ulster remains hard to figure but that is now because there are many average to good teams rather than the recent days of the Tryone-Armagh excellence and domination. To add insult to injury, the down-trodden in Munster were unable to stop a motion which allows for the previous years finalists to be seeded to semi-final stage and on opposite sides of the draw. Decipher that motion and it reads: 'We know what makes the turnstiles click around here, so clear off, we want more Cork versus Kerry finals'. The reasons to completely revamp the championship form a compelling argument and there is no simple solution. But, mirroring the recent World Cup of Rugby, there are just too many games of little significance. We must instead look at two tires-16 counties in each with promotion and demotion. It might be a champion's league type format in each province among their best four teams. That way each team gets a minimum of three games and the top two go through to the quarter finals. It is a format I have been tinkering with for a few years and some of my readers have helped to fine-tune it with innovative and workable amendments. We might revisit that topic before the Christmas. Player burnout I have stated here on many occasions that counties get what they deserve by and large and if you keep returning officials that will allow such blatant discrimination, then suck it in folks - you voted for them. And just how poor some of them are is reflected in the misinformed and down right ignorant response of some counties to the recent publication of GAA reports on Player Burnout and Fixture Making. I am aware that many county officials and as an extension, even more club officials, do not even bother reading these well-considered and sometimes controversial reports. How do I know such things? Just look at the number of cock-ups in the area of player discipline, suspensions, appeals and such matters. Early in the championship season just over we had officials going around quoting the wrong rules on all sorts of matters. These reports deserve better; the debate in my own county of Mayo has been lively, thoughtful and already has come up with alternatives. We do not need all sides agreeing and it is okay to have conscientious objectors. But please, read the bloody report before you start. The outcry in some counties leads me to believe they uttered the first words that came into their heads. Having primarily a background in underage coaching and management I am well placed to comment on these reports - but, only after I bothered to read them! They are both closely related-fixture congestion and too may masters have led to the issue of burnout. And thus, I suppose, any reasonable man will consider them in tandem. Some of the proposals are controversial - certainly the abolishment of two very attractive grades of football (minor and under 21) to be replaced by an under 19 championship is a major call. And that proposal alone might sink the ship, similar to the Task Force on Football Report of some years ago. But look deeper and there is much merit in the call. Yes, of course the two grades heading for the grave are well established, well sponsored and very glamorous championship events. But the extra year certainly does allow a youngster to better concentrate on his studies. And allow me add this to the mix: the day is fast approaching when parents will take all this debate clean out of our hands and justly say 'No - he has other priorities'. Their Johnny is living in a different Ireland. One where academic results, qualifications and good jobs are his priorities. An inter county footballer can no longer rely on his football talent to provide a living; yes, he will get employment but hardly blue chip stuff if he does not have the artillery of a good education to back it up. There are two hot zones as I view it - the opening months of the year (Jan-Apr inclusive) and then May through to July. In fact, if you are to be precise the months are March and June, the real hot spots. Provincial leagues are in full tilt, 2nd and 3rd level championships are coming to a climax, the under 21s are trying to get into a May final and of course the NFL is up and running too. A handful of good young footballers in each county will be playing in all four competitions, perhaps with different managers and certainly to a different tempo. What is one to do? Well if you are that player you just wait for the onset of burnout. And only you yourself will really know how lousy you feel about football when that happens and you will probably be the one who really cares. I like the idea whereby no player eligible for the under 19 championship can play NFL until their championships (3rd level) are over. It seems sensible and of course there can be other arrangements whereby managers, on talking terms with the underage coaches, can work out a programme. But let me warn you - unless these rules/laws/regulations are set down in the Official Guide with suitable sanctions attached, they are a beaten ticket before they are even issued. The GAA man will never react to guidelines or wishes because of the fear the other side won't bother with the rules and do what they like! Next month I will dedicate the column to the real meat included in these reports. But in the meantime look out for the debates that will rage (not!) in your county. See, 'tis the time of the year to be thinking of AGMs, Conventions and such like. And maybe booking the hotel for the annual outing that is Congress. Reports are fine and dandy but they don't get you re-elected. I was at a seminar recently where the topic under discussion was strategic thinking, vision and the ability to get a project completed. One of the speakers spoke brilliantly on his chosen subject - the need for leaders to have a vision of where it is the organistaion wants to get to. He argued that leaders must have the ability to bring the great unwashed with you and he finished with a great line: 'remember of course that vision without followers is merely hallucination'. Let's see who these reports persuade. Tweet

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