McGeeney calls on GAA to tackle the tackle

KILDARE FOOTBALL:NO PRIZES for guessing what irks Kieran McGeeney these days, and the Kildare football manager has called on the GAA to starting addressing "at underage level" the enduring vagueness of the tackle to ensure a proper interpretation for once and for all.

McGeeney was, fittingly enough, speaking at yesterday’s launch of the 2011 VHI GAA Cúl Camps, which this summer will again feature some 80,000 underage players at over 1,000 training camps at home and abroad.

He was conscious of sounding a little like a broken record, yet McGeeney insists no one in the game is sure anymore exactly when a push becomes a shove.

“It’s not an issue with myself, it’s an issue. Three things come up year-in, year-out – the start-stop nature of the game, the inconsistencies with referees applying the rules and the tackle. And all three are interlinked. But we never address any of the three. In fact, we come up with more rules to make it more start-stop.

“If we want a physical game then you can’t penalise a player for being strong. At the same time, you’re not looking for intimidation. You have to make up your mind one way or the other. Either you’re allowed to make physical contact or you’re not. It’s the same with a shoulder.

“If you go to shoulder and a fella turns away from you and you hit him in the chest it’s a yellow card, even though there’s no intent there. All those things are left open.

“I think everybody would be of the one opinion, that Gaelic football is not a dirty sport. Compared to 15 or 20 years ago the same tackles aren’t nearly there. But it leaves a lot to interpretation and that’s the problem.

“So I think we should start at underage, and work our way up. It’s very hard to change 20 years of training in a week or two. It’s the same with the helmets, everyone said there’s no way we’re going to introduce them into hurling.

“If you start at underage, then what becomes normal for that particular child becomes normal for an adult.

“So there are ways of doing it. Because you can’t have a vague interpretation of something and expect everyone to have that same interpretation.”

Kildare’s most recent outing, against Tyrone last Sunday, produced over 60 frees, and resulted in six yellow cards for Kildare.

“Yes, but there wasn’t a hard tackle in it,” says McGeeney. “It depends on what game we’re trying to produce. If we’re looking for a non-contact sport then we should stick with the rules that we have. Tackling the ball with an open hand is like a basketball game.

“We all know that’s not how the game is played. The referees would be the first to say that if they blew it up every time a player touches another player it’s going to be a disaster.

“You look at rugby and soccer, they’re very clear cut on their tackles. They still make mistakes, loads of it.

“But you watch a video of a GAA game and you could reasonably argue that every tackle is a foul or every tackle isn’t a foul.

“There’s an argument for both in every single contact. The way we used to tackle in Armagh was acceptable for a year or two, then it wasn’t. The way Tyrone tackled was acceptable, then it’s not. When you have that sort of vagueness we’re always going to have this conversation.”

In the meantime, booking for the VHI Cúl Camps is now open at www.gaa.ie or www.vhiculcamps.gaa.ie – with some 1,000 camps taking place both at home and overseas, for children aged between 6-13 years participating.

Last year, 82,997 youngsters took park, irrespective of their skill level or ability, to develop a sense of sporting fair play and personal achievement by participating in various Gaelic games, in a fun, non-competitive environment.

Upcoming Fixtures . . .

Today

Ulster Under-21 FC Final – Cavan v Tyrone, Brewster Park, 8pm.

Munster MFC First Round – Cork v Clare, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm; Kerry v Waterford, Tralee, 7.30pm; Limerick v Tipperary, Kilmallock, 6.30pm.

Saturday

All-Ireland Under-21 FC Semi-finals – Cork v Galway, Ennis, 6.30pm; Wexford v Cavan/Tyrone, Parnell Park, 7pm.

Leinster MFC First Round – Carlow v Laois, Carlow, 6.30pm; Dublin v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 3pm; Kildare v Longford, Newbridge, 3pm; Kilkenny v Wexford, Kilkenny, 3pm; Louth v Meath, Haggardstown, 3pm; Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim, 3pm.

Women’s NFL Division Two Semi-final – Dublin v Cavan, venue TBC. Division Three Semi-finals – Clare v Wicklow, venue TBC; Fermanagh v Down, Clontibet, 2pm.

Sunday

(All games 2.30pm unless stated)

NHL Division One – Cork v Dublin, Páirc Uí Chaoimh; Kilkenny v Offaly, Nowlan Park; Tipperary v Wexford, Semple Stadium; Waterford v Galway, Walsh Park. Division Two – Antrim v Limerick, Loughgiel; Clare v Carlow, Cusack Park Ennis; Kerry v Laois, Tralee; Westmeath v Down, Cusack Park Mullingar. Division Three A Final – Derry v Wicklow, Pearse Park Longford. Division Three B Final – Mayo v Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon. Division Four Final – South Down v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds.

Camogie League Division Two Final – Antrim v Waterford, Donaghmore Ashbourne, 2.30pm. Division One Final – Galway v Wexford, Semple Stadium, 12.45pm.

Women’s NFL Division One Semi-finals – Cork v Donegal, Tuam Stadium, 2pm; Monaghan v Laois, Ballymahon, Longford, 3pm. Division Two Semi-final – Kerry v Meath, venue TBC. Division Four Semi-finals – Westmeath v Offaly, Ballymahon, Longford, 1.15pm; Roscommon v Louth, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2pm.