Counties risk omission from the National Leagues and All-Ireland championships if they don’t comply with the proposed inter-county certification programme.
Although the sanctions for not doing so are not confirmed and would likely include withdrawal of home advantage and fines, it is envisaged that penalties would go as far as removal from competitions.
The motion recommending the licensing system outlines that to participate in the leagues and championships the counties “shall meet the certification requirements determined by Central Council annually”.
It also calls for the establishment of an oversight body that shall agree the minimum standards of the certification programme relating to areas such as player welfare and financial governance.
If successful, mandatory training for inter-county managers is anticipated along with spending caps, contact hours and closed season adherence and a maximum squad size.
The amateur status review committee also propose the rewording of the amateur status rule. Part of it currently reads: “A player, team, official or member shall not contract itself/themselves to any agent other than those officially approved by Central Council. Expenses paid to all officials, players, and members shall not exceed the standard rates laid down by the Central Council.”
As well as acknowledging players’ endorsements, the proposed alteration pertains to expenses: “Expense payments to officials, players and members are permitted only to the extent that they do not generate an income tax liability in the relevant jurisdiction. Expense payments made by Association units (or individuals on their behalf) shall not exceed the standard rates laid down by the Central Council.”
The certification programme and amateur status rule motions are among 25 to be debated at the GAA’s Annual Congress in Croke Park on February 28.
The Hurling Development Committee’s (HDC) recommendation to discontinue the All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals is also included. If passed, the games between the Joe McDonagh finalists and third-placed provincial teams will not take place this year.
The Munster and Leinster third-place teams will advance to the quarter-finals where they will face the runners-up from the opposing province.
Laois have tabled a motion to stage a semi-final between the second and third-placed teams in the Joe McDonagh Cup. Currently, the top two teams after the group stages compete in the final.
The HDC are also proposing a dissent free advancement of 30 metres, and for the same offence at under-age level a 10-minute sin bin and for that period the player can be replaced by a substitute. For dissent shown by any team official during a game, the body want a free to be awarded from the centre of the 20m line.
Adopting the Munster Council policy of recent years, the Central Competitions Control Committee are seeking to give the clubs of counties who reach the All-Ireland senior finals a bye in the opening round of the corresponding code’s provincial championships.
The Gaelic Players Association are insisting that it be inserted into the GAA Official Guide that the inter-county playing season can’t exceed 30 scheduled competition weekends.
Fermanagh are seeking the return of the All-Ireland minor deciders as the curtain-raisers to the senior deciders. All-Ireland final days haven’t been double-headers since 2019.
As expected, the demographics committee have a few motions on the Clár.
One of them will allow a county executive to give club status to a unit to compete in a championship providing they comply with Central Council approved policy.
This will be sanctioned “to cater for the ever-changing demographics, in rural and urban areas”.
Another of their proposals will empower a council or committee to reduce the number of outfield players to a minimum of 11.
Substitutes can also be reduced to three when the number of outfield players is less than 14.
It was recently confirmed that motions passed by the likes of Munster Council to restore U18 as the minor inter-county level can’t be voted on until 2027 due to a similar proposal, which was unsuccessful in ’24.
1. All-Ireland finals to be played on or before the 32nd Sunday of the year. No inter-county competitions to be staged before the fourth Sunday of the year – Central Competitions Control Committee
2. The facility of replays to apply to provincial football final replays if the teams are still level after extra-time (i.e. not winner on the day) – Central Council
3. Referees and match officials to no longer be required to attend or provide evidence at disciplinary hearings committees – Abbeylara, Longford
4. To be eligible to play at senior inter-county level, a player must have lined out for his club in eight league and championship games, football, hurling or a combination of both, in the previous season – Clontarf, Dublin.
5. Development Competitions Control Committee (DCCC) to be empowered to conduct an annual review of all club and inter-county competition structures at U17 and lower and make recommendations as appropriate to Central Council – DCCC/Central Council
