Camogie Association can’t skort the issue for much longer.
By Noel Dundon
Following last years Camogie Association Congress, this column was critical of the decision made by delegates to vote down two motions to introduce shorts rather than skorts for players across the country – one motion to abandon skorts completely was heavily defeated, 64-36 while a second motion to introduce shorts as an option was beaten by 55 votes to 45.
THE VIEW questioned whether players’ perspectives had been taken on board by voters in relation to this issue, because from what I understood, the majority of players wanted to be able to wear shorts in games – they do so in training all the time.
The disconnect between authorities and players escalated at the weekend when the Dublin and Kilkenny senior players took to the pitch wearing shorts rather than skorts in protest at their voice not being heard – they were promptly told to return to the dressing room and wear the ‘proper’ clothing or yellow cards would follow, and perhaps the match even abandoned.
These players are to be commended for taking a stand and even though they relented and eventually donned the skorts for the match, they had made their point, and went on to make national headlines.
A recent Gaelic Players Association’s survey of 650 inter county players revealed that 70% of exponents of the game said they experienced “discomfort” wearing skorts, while 83 per cent said they should be allowed to choose between skorts and shorts – a far cry from the figures which emerged at Congress.
The survey highlighted two major headline concerns for players: 65% said that wearing skorts led to them being “exposed” in photos shared on social media while 49% said they had “experienced anxiety around period leaks”. Wearing shorts will help counter these anxieties – surely from a safeguarding viewpoint and from the perspective of protecting player welfare and dignity, this should be a no-brainer. Social media, camera phones and instant global audiences are all factors which modern sporting bodies must take into account – sadly Camogie has not done so despite calls and pressure.
Camogie players have expressed a feeling of being betrayed by the Association at local and national level – hence the stand taken by the Dublin and Kilkenny players. More will follow suit in the coming week, you can be sure, and if the Association does not take action there will be consequences. Granted, holding any organisation to ransom is never a good idea, but the level of frustration felt by players has driven them to taking such measures. Under the Camogie Association’s constitution, this issue cannot be included again on the Clár at Congress until 2027 – it needs extraordinary intervention to prevent further militant action. And you know what, few people would back the Association on this one.
LGFA players – many of whom are playing camogie also – wear shorts at no cost to the tradition or integrity of the game. The Camogie Association needs to get real; listen to the most important people in the game – the players; and drag itself into the modern era if it truly wishes to protect its own players. Action is needed and fast if strike threats are to be prevented.
Siege of Ennis – a Premier storm required
It’s simple enough really – Tipperary’s senior hurlers must storm into Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening next and rattle the hosts with everything in the armoury if they are to have designs of getting out of Munster. The chance to knock the All-Ireland champions out of the campaign is there for Liam Cahill’s men, but rather than thinking along these lines, they ought to focus instead on this game as being their opportunity to be at peace with their goal of getting to the All-Ireland series.
Cusack Park is an intimidating place but the Tipp lads have a decent recent record there and they will hope to build on it on Saturday. Aggression will be required in bucketloads and Tipp will have to meet fire with fire. But, the aggression must be controlled, focused and at the right side of the line of acceptability – all eyes will be watching closely as the teams take their positions prior to throw-in.
Elsewhere, the minor hurling campaign came to a disappointing conclusion with a fourth defeat – a long way from the highs of last season.