Grassroots training vital in tackling abuse

CHANGING a culture sounds as daunting as trying to paint the sky.

For as long as we’ve known it, haranguing officials has been a part of Gaelic games.

On occasion, such behaviour escalates and an official is struck, but that is an extreme manifestation of the culture that has eaten into the association like rot. Addressing that demands efforts from all involved, but the document published by the Wexford executive on Tuesday is the sort of engaged, thoughtful and affirmative policy proposal that can start tackling this.

The demand that all mentors, from Under 11 upwards, attend a workshop requiring selfevaluation of conduct towards match officials is outstanding. But it will require grassroots training to root out the attitude that sees such abuse as either permitted or inevitable.

And that’s only the start. Appropriate leadership from the biggest names in Gaelic games is essential too, in which connection the comments of Davy Fitzgerald this week were most encouraging.