How do we facilitate dual Dual Players

We’re all aware of the ongoing conundrum of the dual player and how best to deal with the matter. Every year, somewhere or other, the issue causes consternation, irritation or even confrontation, as the association wrestles with the challenge of fielding the best players possible - and the tug-of-war starts! And it’s not just confined to senior county players. Right throughout every club with football and hurling teams the same conflict of interests – or just conflict - for teams and players alike arises. As often as not one or other team - and obviously players themselves - are less than happy with whatever the outcome. Notwithstanding the bone fides of the likes of Conal Keaney and Shane Ryan finally “declaring” for the small ball code at inter-county level in recent times, no doubt there were little leaps of triumphalist one-up-man-ship in some hurling quarters and whatever the opposite of that is on the football side! In the greater scheme of things one wonders which “side” has won out most often over the years… There are two sides to every story…

 

There have been many debates as to how best to address and resolve this thorny issue. These continue and, to date, there seems little hope for a solution that would satisfy all sides. However, there may now be light at the end of the tunnel (as it were!). One motion for debate at this year’s Ard Fheis proposes the trial introduction of a hybrid dual game, incorporating and encapsulating both codes and dedicated to declared dual players. The motion suggests the trials in the first instance be confined to underage teams, where players would not have been inculcated with the possible preferences and prejudices of the more “mature” members of the association!

 

It is not clear what format this hybrid game might take. There have been some options presented  and apparently Croke Park have spent some time investigating these. One option (which may be familiar to any Kilmacud Crokes members who attend the annual Singles v Married match on St Stephen’s Day) is to allocate one half of the match to one code and the other to the other, if you follow my drift! This would seem to be the most pragmatic approach and would certainly seem to involve less potential confusion than other variations considered by the higher echelons.  Among the more bizarre suggestions were

Simultaneous or asynchronous playing of both codes in the same match, on the same pitch. There were a number of possible variations of this trialled, including

A.      The unrestricted version (essentially a free-for-all)

B.      The “only one ball in each half” version

C.      The switch code/ball on the halfway line” version

D.      The single “hybrid ball” version

Clearly there are all sorts of possible issues with any of the above options. There is no account yet if these were addressed or resolved. For example

 

• ·         Should the game be confined to 15 players per team (relates to all above versions)?
• ·         Version A would seem to suggest two games taking place on the pitch at the same time, with each player on each team being required to play both simultaneously!
• ·         Would all players need to wear helmets at all times, even when they switch from the small to large ball (Version B and C)?
• ·         How would the continuity of the game be maintained as play passed from one half of the pitch to the other (Option C)?
• ·         How would the switch of code and ball at the halfway line actually work (Option C)?  Play would need to pause as perhaps a “switch” official would transfer the appropriate ball from the player of the team in possession in the “active” half of the pitch to a player on the same team in the “becoming active” half??? Quite clearly this would impact on the continuity and flow of the game. A more fluid version might be for the “switch” officials to anticipate the flow of the game and effect a pass (becoming active) possession and recover ball (becoming inactive) process? This could bring untold pressure and likely abuse on officials, notwithstanding the high esteem and unwavering respect all officials command at all times….
• ·         What shape, size and construction should the hybrid ball have (Version D)? Clearly a football-sized sliothar would be a problem for hurleys, unless the hurleys were drastically redesigned as well! And of course such a ball could do untold damage to the foot of the footballer, never mind any other part of the body which might come in contact with it! On the other hand a sliothar-sized football would also present challenges and would test the footballing skills of the football fraternity to the absolute limit!! In this case one size probably won’t fit all.

It is not yet clear if any plausible solution has been identified which might address any of the above. Trials, by all accounts, continue. Watch this space!

So! Lot’s to be considered and thought about before a meaningful solution to the dual player conundrum can be progressed on the basis of a dedicated game(s). Do you have any thoughts on the matter or do you have any suggestions which might contribute to the debate? If you do, why not email us at kchurling@yahoo.com

 

Taidhg an dá Thaobh