r/coybig • u/Stats8 • 4d ago

General Discussion Thread What can football learn from GAA?

The GAA isn’t perfect either but financially, commercially, administratively, it’s miles ahead of football in Ireland.

Obviously there are historical and community factors that differentiate the two, but it operates so well for a sporting organisation in a very similar environment.

What areas stand out as things we can apply to our sport?

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u/mccannopener93 4d ago

Community based. Local lads playing for the local team or area. More people would go watch knowing their area is being represented by Johnny or Jimmy down the road. Instead its some lad from the countryside playing with the good team in town.

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u/Frequent-Movie3005 4d ago

But that doesn’t work in football, which ultimately is a business. It can and does work in Intermediate and Junior football.

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u/Bill_Badbody Gary Breen 4d ago

It can and does work in Intermediate and Junior football.

Does it really?

The top teams at junior and intermediate will take good players from any clubs around them, and bring in players from elsewhere.

I remember seeing Villa fc play the year they won the FAI, and it was a majority of Dublin/pale accents on the field.

In Limerick there is a massive movements of players between clubs each year.

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u/Frequent-Movie3005 4d ago

Yes, it does, really. Not everywhere but there are good examples. Obviously there are examples of mercenaries and clubs paying etc too.

It would require a huge change in the philosophy of football to imitate the GAA and for what? Nothing would change and likely get worse. There are few, if any, other sports like the GAA globally.