The fixture calendar causes so much consternation throughout the GAA world, with a mix of congestion, and with farcically long gaps in club seasons.
The CPA have released a calculated blueprint for a fixture calendar that improves the lot of both the club and county player alike.
The main proposals of the initiative is based on the principal that April should be a “club-only month,” with with no inter-county games, challenge matches or training during the fourth month of the year.
Another crucial part of their proposal is that December is cordoned off as a close season for all players which goes hand in hand with their further aim to have all club competitions finished in a calendar year.
The CPA also proposed that the All-Ireland inter county hurling and football finals are played in August, and then the club season would take off again.
This would mean that a club player, instead of constantly waiting on the results of their county’s games, would be able to plan their training to be in line with April and August, but also that they would be able to plan their personal lives such as holidays in a much more concrete manner.
Currently many club players around the country desperately try to book a holiday to avoid missing a club game, the lack of certainty on when they will be playing can prevent many of them from going.
For example, in 2016, Dublin had a 23-week break between the first and second rounds of their senior football Championship. The same is going on throughout the country with clubs in successful counties at a loss.
A definitive season like-so would be of huge benefit to all players.
“We want to retain our players, playing our games to ensure the future viability and growth of the GAA. We want them to continue to contribute to their club and community once their playing days are over, as the majority of County Board and Club Officers have done,” said a statement from the CPA.
It’s up to the GAA to act now.
