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Weekly Notes - 2nd November 2005That the quality of refereeing of contact sports is extremely important to the safety of players and the enjoyment of spectators was never more starkly highlighted than during this year’s compromise rules series. While allowing that some of the rules are a bit fuzzy around the edges and open the way for a range of interpretations, one was taken aback by the blatant bias and the total disregard by an antipodean referee for the well-being of the Irish players. The games were an object lesson in how sports of high physical intensity should not be run and acted as a pointer to the minimum requirements for the control of these types of contests - a clear and precise definition of rules together with a fair and uncompromising implementation of same, and sanctions commensurate with the transgression – in these games the replacement of the red-carded player hardly amounted to a deterrent. Indeed, in our own games, the administration is often found wanting in the implementation of sanctions. This is particularly true when the transgressors are players or clubs of note. How often have we seen county boards blackmailed into reducing the severity of justly merited punishments. Of course the G.A.A. is not the only sporting organisation beset with refereeing problems and this week, reports on European Cup matches carried comments which echoed the criticisms of the arbitration in the compromise games. Re discipline, in the report in the I.T. of the Connacht v Montpelier match, the correspondent writes "coach Michael Bradley had hoped the fixture would not descend into the bloodbath of last year-------but the referee maintained strict control-----". Stuart Barnes, under the heading " referees not playing their cards right", lamented the effect on the entertainment value of games of the hesitancy of referees to issue yellow cards. Thus he says "officials are taking a downright foolish approach to the issuing of yellow cards when both sides are happier spoiling than creating". Stuart was not at all in sympathy with the referee who, when questioned about his reluctance to sin-bin a player, replied "it was too early in the game for a yellow card". All that! – and the original intention was merely to compliment Christy Byrne on his refereeing of the u-12 and u-16 hurling finals. His no-nonsense approach did much to make them the sporting spectacle that they were. Hurling and ladies Gaelic football are two sports for which good refereeing is vital to their long-term survival. Hurling, when played as it should be, is remarkably injury free – an injury inventory of the All-Ireland campaign will confirm this – but because of its nature, any departure from the strictest implementation of the rules has huge consequences for its image. As for ladies football, we have seen what happens when the person in the middle is not fully conversant with the rules. The no-contact stricture is widely flouted and the game is on the slippery slope to the physicality of the men’s game. And any departure from the no-contact ethos which underlies its undoubted attractiveness, would take greatly from the game as a spectacle. Our Intermediates are extremely frustrated. Here they are at the end of October in the play-off stages of the League not knowing how many more games they have yet to play. It is really intolerable that a campaign begun in April should not yet be nearing completion. The sacrifices (postponing holidays etc.) which these players have to make to ensure their availability for games over such a protracted period seems not to register with the fixtures committee. Why was one of our championship matches postponed for a Murphy Cup game when no player from either side was involved? Why were there 8 and 7 week gaps in the championship schedule of Ashford and Éire Óg in high season? It is extremely difficult to sustain player interest under such circumstances |
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