The GPA has released an explosive statement insisting that “finances are being prioritised over player welfare” if pre-season competitions are reinstated for the 2025 season.
In the wake of the trialling of new Gaelic football rules that could be implemented from the 2025 season onwards, there has been a clamour in many quarters for pre-season competitions to return.
Cavan GAA have tabled a motion for Saturday’s Central Council meeting to reverse the decision made by the same GAA body in September to abolish these competitions from 2025 onwards on a trial basis.
However, the GPA are standing firm in their position and detailed their “serious concern” about any U-turn being made about reinstating pre-season competitions.
“The Gaelic Players Association (GPA), want to place on the record our serious concern over the potential reinstatement of pre-season competitions in 2025, as proposed by Cavan GAA,” a GPA statement read this afternoon.
“This follows the GAA Central Council’s decision in September to suspend such competitions after extensive discussions, with strong backing from GAA President Jarlath Burns and several other delegates who highlighted the importance of player welfare.
“Reversing that decision now would prioritise financial income – as recently articulated by the Connacht Council Secretary (John Prenty) – over the health and well-being of our amateur athletes, despite overwhelming evidence of player burnout.”
The GPA also insist that the return of pre-season competitions will in turn “violate” the ‘No Contact November’ month for inter-county squads and highlight that “the players’ voice seems to have been disregarded”.
“If the pre-season competitions are reintroduced on January 2nd, the return-to-training date would need to be moved from December 7th to as early as November 16th,” the statement continued.
“Sports science recommends at least a six-week preparation period to ensure that players are physically ready for competitive matches like the McKenna Cup.
“This adjustment would violate the “No Contact November” policy, which 78pc of players supported, emphasising the need for adequate recovery time to prevent burnout, injury and allow players a guaranteed window to holiday with family, partners and friends.
“Unfortunately, the players’ voice seems to have been disregarded in this proposed motion, raising concerns about attitudes towards player welfare and proper recovery time.
“Larger panels will need to be introduced to support these pre-season games, ensuring that high-load players who have already faced heavy demands at club level are not required to take part.
“Additionally, we strongly urge consideration for student-athletes, who will already be balancing academic pressures, including exams, alongside their participation in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions in January.
“These additional commitments place considerable strain on players’ time and energy.”
The GPA also raised serious questions about “publicly-viewed competitive games to trial new rules” and the effects which these matches may have.
“We emphasise: 1) these rules have not been formally voted in, 2) the impact on Hurling counties is being overlooked,” the statement continued.
“3) provincial competitions, especially mismatches between Division 1 and Division 4 teams, may not be the ideal platform for public testing given the potential high score lines.
“Non-competitive, behind-closed-doors challenge/training games would also be an effective way for players to adapt to rule changes while ensuring their welfare, without requiring an earlier return to training across both codes.”
The GPA, led by former Mayo footballer Tom Parsons as CEO, are determined to “remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting player welfare” and ensure that pre-season competitions do not return in 2025.
“The GPA, remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting player welfare, which is a core value of the GAA,” the lengthy statement concluded.
“Any decision to reinstate pre-season competitions, despite clear risks to player health, will represent a significant shift in how certain factions of the GAA prioritise financial income over the well-being and values of the GAA.
“Removing the pre-season competitions was also a proposal of the GAA Fixtures Calendar Review Taskforce in 2020, when it was recognised the GAA cannot squeeze 10 months of inter-county demands into seven months with the introduction of the Split Season and new championship structures.”