O’Neill wants the sin-bin back
In his inauguration address to Congress on Saturday, the Laois man told delegates he is considering putting together a work group to revisit the 2009 experimental disciplinary rules and modify the original proposals.
O’Neill and GAA head of games Pat Daly introduced the sin-bin experiment for the leagues three years ago and were marginally unsuccessful in getting the motion through at Congress in Cork, failing to reach the necessary two-thirds majority by 2%.
The experiment saw yellow-carded players being replaced by a designated substitute with such dismissals incurred by striking, kicking, stamping and contributing to a melee.
Statistics demonstrated the measures had not only cleaned up the game but increased scoring averages.
In his annual report this year director general Páraic Duffy argued in favour of them being reconsidered in light of the “mass defence” tactics that now hold sway in Gaelic football.
O’Neill confirmed he will shortly designate a committee to update the 2009 proposals.
“It won’t be my show this time. We came very near to getting it through, but we didn’t. The thing has moved on anyway. I think this thing of rolling round on the ground is gone, so we had limited success by highlighting it.
“I would like a fresh look and new people to take this on.”
O’Neill is adamant indiscipline has to be tackled with zeal.
“I think in any disciplinary system from now we will be looking at making sure the person who is wrong pays.”
He also suggested there might be an attempt to simplify the multi-layered disciplinary system. “I think the idea of the appeals group, having one shot at it, is something that should be looked at.”
In his speech, the Trumera man also spoke of his plans to establish a new referee development committee and the possibility of recruiting retiring players as match officials. As managers especially at inter-county level become more and more powerful, O’Neill is considering putting together a qualification that they must attain if they are to be appointed by county boards.
Currently, there is a charter which all managers are instructed to buy into. But, as GAA director general Páraic Duffy pointed out in his annual report, it is not being abided by.
“At some stage we are going to have to set a standard for what we call the person in charge of a team, whether it is the term manager or what,” stated O’Neill. “Should the GAA devise a course for managers and explain to people on the course you don’t get to be a club or county manager without having done the appropriate course?
“Could you set standards and use this as a way of getting into their heads what you want on discipline, what you want on the demands of players and so on. It wouldn’t be about control, it might be able to affect change.”
O’Neill, who won’t take up the office full-time until he finishes out the school term as Trumera NS principal, has targeted games, finance and the youth/urban challenge as the areas he wants to address during his term in office. He also intimated inter-county competition structures don’t have to be confined within provincial boundaries.
Outgoing GAA president Christy Cooney revealed details of how Croke Park will invigilate counties’ financial relationships with their team managers.
“A compliance structure will be put in place in the coming months through which we will seek the commitment of our county board officers, Central Council representatives and managers which will reaffirm that all matters relating to the amateur status are being adhered to. External audit support will be in place as part of this project and non-conformity will see appropriate action taken. Our counties have spoken clearly and decisively on this issue. The time for posturing has come and gone and the time to implement our rules is before us.”
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