Time to rethink the skills we value in hurling and football
I would like to congratulate Joe Brolly on his last few contributions to the ‘Sunday Independent’ which have highlighted the real weakness in the GAA at the moment and its emphasis on the ‘Elite’.
It used to be the aim of the GAA to have as many boys and girls as possible enjoying a puck-around in little contests that gave them exercise and enjoyment. That has disappeared and now the emphasis is purely on winning, and winning at almost any cost.
Possession tactics in both hurling and football have become the norm. They have deprived the game of the fantastic skills that were so in evidence before the possession game took over.
The interesting thing, which Joe is not old enough to remember, is that the GAA once excluded possession hurling and football by its own rules. The rule stated explicitly that you “must strike the ball immediately it comes to hand and must not run with the ball in hand”. A couple of steps were allowed, “the space in which to strike the ball”. The failure of referees to implement this rule gradually allowed “possession football and hurling” to take over, now akin to rugby.
Central Council took no action. You had no body of experts to monitor the way games were evolving. Now is an important time with a new president and new annual congress. We have, at last, a Club Development Board which I believe will look after player’s interests and the way games are developing in the future.
A couple of basic developments are required right away such as a slíothar that will travel no more than 70 to 80 yards and an end to hand passes in both games. It is, after all, hurling and football. Rev James Neville Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick