Camogie refs come under the spotlight

Camogie referees are to come under further scrutiny after Camogie Association President Joan O'Flynn yesterday announced a new assessment programme for whistlers.

Fitness testing for camogie referees has already been well established, but this year the Camogie Association are intending to build on this by introducing a National Referees Assessment programme during the Gala All-Ireland Championships.

A national referees assessor panel will implement the programme, which is comprised of former referees Frank McDonald (Armagh), Damien Noble, Peter Downey and Eileen Hannon; and the project will be co-ordinated by former inter-county referee John Pender.

"Just as in the way we have been paying attention to the rules of the sport, and in improving coaching; we obviously believe their is a need to improve and assess referees," O'Flynn said.

"The programme was piloted last year during some of the National competitions, and was refined. We have taken a look at what has been in place for the GAA, and the actual assessment programme was developed by Frank McDonald, who is a GAA assessor and is a camogie referee also.

"In the same way as you want to improve coaching and you want to improve administration and playing levels; refereeing is integral to the game.

"We have had fitness testing in situ for a while, so we are building on that now through written assessments for referees and the actual impartial assessments."

There are currently 35 referees on the inter-county camogie panel, and O'Flynn says that the introduction of an assessment programme is not to hinder these referees, but rather to support their development.

"The idea really is that it's not to police referees, but rather offer constructive criticism and to constantly support referees to improve their performance.

"What we haven't got at the moment is a grading structure for our referees. This is the first step, as a result of the referees assessment programme we will move on to develop a referees grading structure.

"Ultimately in the same way as there is a player pathway in coaching, we hope to have a referees pathway as well, from club level right through to inter-county."

O'Flynn is also keen to promote refereeing as a means of staying involved in camogie, once a person's playing career comes to an end.

"Promoting refereeing as an option for people who are not players in the association, and showing that there is another way of being involved in the game."

It was confirmed by the GAA last week that the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship final will not take place on the same billing as the Gala All-Ireland Senior and Junior Camogie Championship finals this year.

However, at yesterday's Gala Camogie Championship's launch Joan O'Flynn confirmed that for the first time ever the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final will also take place at Croke Park this September, on the same bill as the Senior and Junior deciders.

"It's definitely going to be a triple-header. What I see now is the opportunity to have three Camogie All-Ireland's on the one day at Croke Park," she said.

"There have been camogie All-Ireland's in Croke Park since 1934, but never three finals on the one day. I think it is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the game. It's also a real powerful motivation for players that three premier Camogie titles will be contested in Croke Park."