New format on winter training expected

ONLY FOUR shopping days left until Christmas – and only 11 days left until the end of the GAA’s winter training ban. For some people, it’s the latter that can’t come quick enough.

Generally regarded as both unfair and unenforceable – as even the Gaelic Players Association now agree – it will be the last year the training ban is laid down in its existing format, at least if the Central Council proposal to this year’s Congress is approved.

That will allow counties a “staggered” return to training, depending on when they’re elimination from the championship, with only the All-Ireland finalists in football and hurling still adhering to the January 1st embargo.

In the meantime, it appears Roscommon are unlikely to face any sanction for an alleged breach of the training ban last week, when a senior football selection reportedly lined out against Dublin Institute of Technology in a challenge match at the Lucan Sarsfields’ ground.

The GAA insist they only refer such alleged breaches to the Central Competitions Control Committee for investigation where “reliable” evidence is provided, and that doesn’t look likely here.

The training ban hasn’t stopped some managers from naming their preliminary 2012 squads for next month’s pre-season provincial competitions, which get underway on Sunday, January 8th – just one week after the end of the winter ban.

Derry football manager John Brennan has included eight newcomers in his 26-member squad for the Dr McKenna Cup, which for them starts with a home tie against Cavan – the new faces are Eugene Scullion, Colin Murray, Liam Morrow, Paul Morgan, Philly McGlade, John McCamley, Kevin O’Neill and Ballinderry Shamrocks’ Kevin McGuckin.

Paddy Bradley is also named as he concludes his rehab from a cruciate ligament tear, although brother Eoin is still some ways off playing after a similar injury. Kevin McCloy and Enda Muldoon are among the notable absentees, although Brennan has indicated this is only a temporary measure.

Meanwhile, the eight teams still in the hunt for the AIB senior club championship titles – and obviously exempt from the training ban – can refocus their preparations over the Christmas period after the dates and venues for the respective semi-finals were confirmed by Croke Park yesterday.

The GAA will aim to address the various issues related to the underage player in their ninth annual National Games Development Conference – which takes place in Croke Park on Saturday, January 14th.

Describing the underage issue as one “of most concern and interest to members of the GAA community”, GAA president Christy Cooney said the conference – which is titled Coaching Children: Building a Platform for Lifelong Involvement in Gaelic Games – “is further evidence of our efforts to attain the best possible standards in the area of games development and coaching”.

The conference will offer the 600 delegates attending an opportunity to access talks relating to key coaching issues in Hurling/Camogie, Gaelic Football/Women’s Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders, which are specifically related to the youth player.

Among the list of speakers will be Cian O’Neill, now trainer of Mayo senior footballers and previously of Tipperary senior hurlers, plus former Cork minor football manager Brian Cuthbert.

Gerry Hussey, Sports Psychologist to the Irish Olympic boxers, will provide a unique angle on coaching issues currently affecting Gaelic Games, and performance coach to the Dublin senior football team, Caroline Currid, and former Leitrim footballer, Colin Regan, will discuss how coaches can encourage positive lifestyle choices for teenagers.

The conference will also hear from experts in coaching, physical education and player development.