GAA footballers should put skills, not fitness, first

As Gaelic football is a locally-based, amateur sport the proposal by Seán Walsh to legalise the ‘rugby tackle’ in Gaelic football is reckless (Sport, Aug 7).

On the contrary, since Gaelic players are indulging in a pastime rather than earning their living from the sport, the risk of injury should be minimised.

Gaelic football should emphasise the skills and de-emphasise physical contact. At present the emphasis is on physical fitness at the expense of skills. This is counter productive in an amateur sport.