Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Interviews

“It doesn’t matter what Leo Varadkar or John Horan says, the parents will decide when it’s safe”

Micheal Briody gives his thoughts on the current state of Gaelic games, and the CPA’s survey results.

Here is a statement from the CPA on their survey:
The CPA survey shows that any relaxation of social distancing is unlikely to make the resumption of Gaelic Games more likely. Only 57% of club players are willing to return to training before there is a COVID19 Vaccine in place. And, among club players there is little appetite for intercounty action with only a third prepared to attend county matches. Over a quarter of players live with a vulnerable person.

Micheál Briody said: “Club players are at the centre of the return to play conversation. The survey results indicate that a significant number of club players believe that until games are safe, they do not want to play. It presents a challenge for the future of the GAA but one we feel that as a community of players and members we can face and surmount together.”

He added: “There has been a phenomenal voluntary effort at club level to assist elderly and vulnerable people in the fight against Covid-19. The GAA as an association has shown real leadership. It is further evidence of the importance of the grass roots GAA to the fabric of Irish society and further highlights the need for the games to be more community centric going forward.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The Club Players’ Association most recent members’ survey returns data based evidence on club players opinions on a potential return to action in 2020 if no vaccine for Covid19 was in place.

· The survey was completed by 3,008 respondents

· 57% are prepared to return to action in 2020, 22% are not prepared to return and 21% don’t know at this stage.

· 61% are prepared to attend club games whilst only 34% are prepared to attend intercounty games.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

· 27% of club players live with a person over 70 years of age or a vulnerable individual

· 64% would train or play if there was temperature checking in place

CPA Chairman Micheál Briody said “All sporting bodies are faced with the unenviable task of determining when it is safe for their games to resume in light of the Covid-19 pandemic shut down. The GAA as an amateur body, probably has a more difficult task than most because their players all work or study so it is not possible to bubble wrap them between games. Those players will return to families, workplaces, schools or colleges and the task of contact tracing becomes more difficult.

“We are pleased that Croke Park has formed a Covid-19 Advisory Group. It is disappointing that there is no direct advocate for the club playing population but it is very positive to see four doctors on the Group. It should be the advice of the medical experts that trump any other stakeholder in the room.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“We have sent a copy of the survey results yesterday to Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan so he could pass it onto the Covid -19 Advisory Group. We have also indicated to him that we will make available our database of members to the Advisory Group should they wish to survey or communicate with club players on any point in their deliberations.

The importance of the GAA’s role in every community around Ireland was highlighted by the extent of voluntary initiatives organized by clubs to assist people in need of help during the pandemic. This further brings to focus the need of the GAA to remember the grass roots of the organization as they grapple with restructuring the fixtures calendar for 2021”

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Subscribe to our newsletter

You May Also Like

Sports

Club Players Association chief Micheál Briody says letting a chance to split the GAA season between club and county would be unforgivable

Sports

As the GAA and GPA sit on their hands, inter-county players must band together and stand up to managers who are driving a wedge...

Club Talk

CPA blasts disrespectful GAA for allowing county championships to be run off like blitz competitions, and vows to continue fighting for club players

Sports

The Club Players Association have released a statement.

Advertisement