In any sport, a professional player and professional teams will always perform much better that amateurs players and amateur teams. Whether or not a sport becomes professional depends on economics - is there enough cash to support professionals?
If the GAA were to become full time professional, I've no doubt that the product on the field would be a lot better.
The big problem the GAA has is that it is not having an informed debate about the future of the sport and whether or not professionalism is an option. A lot of administrators in the GAA seem to have a bad attitude towards professional sport - they act as if its a sin to be a professional athlete when in fact, most professional athletes across most sports are hard working dedicated individuals doing an honourable job. This bad attitude is holding them back and leading to the current situation where we have them coming up with crazy schemes to get around the professional element.
Though I am not a great fan of the players "strike". GAA players, no matter how talented and dedicated, are recreational athletes taking part in a recreational activity. They are not currently professional (though may be in the future) and so shouldnt be trying it on with demands for expenses. They are no different from the 100,000s of amateur athletes in other sports in Ireland who dont get a penny. Taxpayers money should not be diverted to them just because they are GAA. Of all sports in Ireland, GAA is the one that should need the lease financial support from taxpayers given the paid attendances, TV rights and sponsorship they have. In fact the amount they are taking from the tax payer for this scheme is less than the extra they get from renting Croke Park to IRFU & FAI. If they want to be professional, they should start a debate on the matter within their sport rather.
If the GAA were to become full time professional, I've no doubt that the product on the field would be a lot better.
The big problem the GAA has is that it is not having an informed debate about the future of the sport and whether or not professionalism is an option. A lot of administrators in the GAA seem to have a bad attitude towards professional sport - they act as if its a sin to be a professional athlete when in fact, most professional athletes across most sports are hard working dedicated individuals doing an honourable job. This bad attitude is holding them back and leading to the current situation where we have them coming up with crazy schemes to get around the professional element.
Though I am not a great fan of the players "strike". GAA players, no matter how talented and dedicated, are recreational athletes taking part in a recreational activity. They are not currently professional (though may be in the future) and so shouldnt be trying it on with demands for expenses. They are no different from the 100,000s of amateur athletes in other sports in Ireland who dont get a penny. Taxpayers money should not be diverted to them just because they are GAA. Of all sports in Ireland, GAA is the one that should need the lease financial support from taxpayers given the paid attendances, TV rights and sponsorship they have. In fact the amount they are taking from the tax payer for this scheme is less than the extra they get from renting Croke Park to IRFU & FAI. If they want to be professional, they should start a debate on the matter within their sport rather.