Are punishments too harsh, or too lenient?

The CPA said that in order for split seasons to work, GAA

punishments must become harsher. We asked three players what they thought of the current disciplinary system

Aidan McCrory (Tyrone)

What direct experience have you had with GAA rules and punishments?

None directly thankfully.

Do you think players and clubs tend to follow the rules? In what instances do they bend the rules?

I think in most instances they do, but if there was an advantage to be gained most teams would bend the rules as much as they can get away with without punishment.

There are also times where players intently break the rules but deem the punishment worth the result of the act, for instance the new black card rule, for the most of the game the chances of seeing a player intently drag a man to the ground is rare, but for a team with a lead in the last couple of minutes, a player will more likely do so thinking the punishment they will get is worth the result of denying the opposition a goal scoring opportunity at that time.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punishments were too harsh?

I wouldn’t really pay much attention to things that happen outside Errigal and Tyrone, so I’m biased on most of them.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punishments were too lenient?

Not off hand.

Is the disciplinary system fit for purpose? Or what needs changed?

Like anything I would say it can be improved, from a player point of view all you want is equal treatment to everyone else. That requires transparency of the process so you know the treatment everyone is getting. There have been times where a Tyrone player has been down to an appeal hearing on a midweek night, leaving work early to get to Dublin and having to wait for hours before getting heard, not getting home until the early hours of the morning and having to be up early for work the next day. I don’t claim to know all the ins and outs of the administration side of it but I feel there could be a way of better accommodating players that have to travel distances.

Shaun Doherty (Fermanagh)

What direct experience have you had with GAA rules and punishments?

My experience would be limited to, I suppose, the playing rules and the punishments that come along with the breaking of those rules. As a player you put your trust in the management and committee to worry about the non playing side of things to ensure you, your team mates and the Club/County in general are kept right.

In more recent years I think players have had to spend more and more time thinking about the rules, as they seem to change every year.

For me I feel this is something the GAA needs to look at and especially in football.

Are all the rule changes necessary? Have they improved the game?

I feel sorry for referees who already had so much to deal with and now the GAA have made a tough job harder no wonder it’s hard to recruit new referees. Secondly, certain rules have been brought in to combat certain styles of play. Maybe it is just me, but I thought these styles of play should be beaten by good players and good coaching not by changing rules.

Rules introduced to combat the spread of Covid 19 though have been positive and have shown the GAA at its best.

Do you think players and clubs tend to follow the rules? In what instances do they bend the rules?

On the whole, I think clubs and players follow the rules. I think in terms of the playing rules all players/coaches will find ways to push rules to their limit to give them an advantage and then it’s down to the referee.

As for current rules regarding covid 19

I feel clubs across the island have to be applauded for measures they have taken.

Speaking in terms of Fermanagh the strict adherence to no County training has been first class. Players are training and getting fit with their clubs plus the County board has provided a good program of games.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punishments were too harsh?

Personally I haven’t seen a situation where punishments were too harsh. Players may find punishments too harsh but this might be more a lack of education in regards to the rules. Maybe with all the rule changes on and off the field a few educational workshops wouldn’t be the worst thing the GAA could do.

That being said, the incident in Longford at the minute seems quite odd with Killoe potentially getting a banned from u16-senior for not paying a fine. Seems harsh that so many miss out playing our games. But I don’t know enough about it.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punshments were too lenient?

Nothing springs to mind.

Is the disciplinary system fit for purpose? Or what needs changed?

If I was to change one thing it would be that there is clarity on rules and better communication between all parties so that everyone knows where they stand and the handing down of punishments is the same to all not certain clubs or counties getting treated differently.

Niall McParland (Down)

What direct experience have you had with GAA rules and punishments?

Personally I’ve had very little experience with rule breaks or punishment. Our club once got a quite hefty fine for two senior matches being abandoned in quick succession, but you can see the reasoning behind that.

Do you think players and clubs tend to follow the rules? In what instances do they bend the rules?

Players bend the rules every time they step onto the pitch, I’m sure, with a risk of a black card or red card being the only deterrent. But from my own experience the clubs tend to toe the line as much as they can. Take Downpatrick this year in the Senior championship, they had two matches postponed due to various reason out of their control and then due to a positive Covid test got removed from the championship. So you have to feel for clubs when the punishment is that harsh.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punishments were too harsh?

Matthew Fitzpatrick got a 48 week ban for tickling an Armagh player and denied it first time around.

Can you recall any incidents when GAA punishments were too lenient?

Nothing that stands out in memory

Is the disciplinary system fit for purpose? Or what needs changed?

As I said I am more focused on the playing side at the moment and we tend to stay out of that stuff, but I wouldn’t envy a club/county secretary or chair person trying to constantly toe the line.