Rules unchanged but numbers on sideline creeping back up

The GAA insist sideline regulations have not been relaxed — despite a noticeable increase in the number of management and backroom officials at pitchside in the past couple of months.

In Sunday’s Munster semi-final in Thurles, Limerick manager TJ Ryan was joined by his three selectors on the sideline, when only one is permitted to assist him.

However, it is not an isolated incident as similar occurrences took place during the Division 1 semi-finals in Limerick in April. Kilkenny and Galway had seven and six personnel on the sideline respectively, while in the other game Tipperary and Clare had their full complement of management and board officials. Mickey Harte has also been joined by both Tony Donnelly and Gavin Devlin in recent games.

GAA director of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill yesterday confirmed there has been no change to the match regulations introduced last year. He also said he expects any breaches to be included in the sideline report.

Last month GAA director general Páraic Duffy spoke on the issue in the wake of an incident between Brian Cody and a Tipperary official on the sideline during the counties’ Division 1 final in Semple Stadium.

“We had a very good year last year in terms of the sideline regulations. I’m not talking about the Thurles incident at all but, in general terms, it’s very important that what we had last year is maintained. In none of the games I went to was there a problem. There has been a suggestion that perhaps there has been a little bit of slackness in some areas, but now that the championship is starting we’ll be reminding people of their responsibility.”

Regulation 1.5 states there should be three seats for the manager, maor foirne and a medic in the “bainisteoir’s zone” with a seated area for substitutes and all other permitted officials. In the event that the seated area is considerably removed from the sideline, a maximum of four selectors and medics can be — and must remain — seated in the front row of the stand or a dug-out.

Kilkenny medic Dr Tadhg Crowley believes the GAA is showing more consideration to medics on match-day.

The regulation states: “Seating for medics must ensure uninhibited access to the playing area at all times. Medics may sit together in the designated area for substitutes or one medic may be positioned in the bainisteoir’s zone.”

Crowley said: “I think they have reverted to what it was before so there’s no problem at all. We’re the same as we always were and on the pitch we have access to players.

“In fairness, the powers-that-be perceived there was a problem there and they were trying to address it. You could argue that the way they went at it mightn’t have been the most diplomatic way but they sat down and diplomacy worked in the end.”