Gaelic Players Association CEO Tom Parsons says that, despite some positive changes towards integration of the Gaelic games family, the lack of minimum standards for female players remains unacceptable.
Last April, a GPA survey found less than 10% of over 1,500 female inter-county players were receiving travel expenses. In July, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association said that 42% of its county boards were paying expenses.
Ladies football and camogie players staged protests during this year's inter-county season, which were suspended when the GAA agreed to help fund a 2024 players charter for the two associations. All three associations are currently in merger talks.
Parsons, speaking ahead of this weekend's GPA AGM, said efforts must continue to improve player support.
"In 2022, 102 female players sought assistance from the GPA hardship fund due to the lack of essential support, including travel expenses and access to various medical supports," he said.
"It's crucial for our national governing bodies, including the GAA and the government, to take action to address this issue now, alongside integration efforts. Addressing this remains a key priority for the GPA.
"The charter will be pivotal to implementing positive changes for players. Already players took a stand in 2023 and, despite a formal commitment that helped pause the protest action, we still await the investment from the National Governing Bodies to deliver a player charter and minimum standards in 2024."
Parsons also highlighted the area of "load management" as a priority for his organisation. He cited data from 2022 showing that just 8% of male players felt that the split season improved load management and offered an improved pre-defined off-season.
"It’s important we continue to address the contact time for inter-county players, but on the basis of sport science.
"Data shows the GPA/GAA contact hours policy has helped, but it’s clear we need to improve player conditions and ensure that an unfair amount of training, particularly in pre-season, is not imposed on inter-county players."
He lamented the GPA’s unsuccessful push to scrap pre-season fare.
"Unfortunately, the ongoing efforts by the GPA to remove provincial pre-season competitions during the condensed split season continues to fall on deaf ears at GAA Central Council level.
"Recently, Central Council has acknowledged the pressure of the condensed season. However, following a thorough evaluation of various options, it was ultimately determined that taking no action was the preferred route for 2024.
"What players need is leadership to tackle the number of games in a condensed period and once and for all to tackle the issue of multiple team eligibility for our rookie players, particularly in the months of January and February when players are engaged in third level competitions."
Parsons added that while he felt there were some great leaders in the various GAA bodies, he struggled with the mindset and sometimes negative attitudes towards inter-county players by some of the leadership within those.
"The GPA continues to lobby to reinstate the men’s All-Star tours that previously recognised the best players in our games," he said.
"Instead of extending All-Star tours to the second-tier competitions, this important recognition initiative has been disbanded for the foreseeable future. I call upon the GAA to reinstate this initiative as it’s a symbol of recognition and respect for our best players."
"Yearly data emerging reinforces the notion that players may be the last remaining amateurs within the realm of personnel involved in our inter-county games"
He said it was disheartening that some senior GAA leaders persisted in attributing the growing costs associated with inter-county games to the players.
"Especially considering that the average player's expense claim per session stands at a mere €17, which is far from unreasonable given the return on that investment," Parsons said.
"Nevertheless, yearly data emerging reinforces the notion that players may be the last remaining amateurs within the realm of personnel involved in our inter-county games. I believe, in the current economic climate we need to do more for vulnerable players, especially students who often must forgo part-time work to play and train for our inter-county game."
The GPA boss remarked that as inter-county players, his members contributed an immeasurable amount of time, energy, commitment and effort to Gaelic games.
"Spending over 30 hours a week is a significant investment of your time to the inter-county game and, as the inter-county games generate over 80% of the financial resources available for all GAA initiatives, it is imperative players are treated fairly and recognised.
"Progressing in your career or full-time study in tandem with all of life’s challenges is without doubt a significant and unique challenge for inter-county players giving such commitment to the game."
