Strong debate on concussion at GAA Congress

A motion relating to concussion has been referred to the GAA’s Scientific and Welfare concussion, after a strong debate at GAA Congress in Cavan this morning.

Strong debate on concussion at GAA Congress

A motion relating to concussion has been referred to the GAA’s Scientific and Welfare concussion, after a strong debate at GAA Congress in Cavan this morning.

A joint motion from Pomeroy in Tyrone; St Molaise in Fermanagh and the Aidan McAnespies club in North America sought for temporary subs, akin to blood subs, if a player had suffered a suspected concussion.

They proposed that "a player suffering a suspected concussion would only be able to return to the field if tests on the suspected concussion proved negative."

The motion resulted in some lively debate, with Seán Potts from the Gaelic Players Association and Ger Ryan of the GAA’s Health and Welfare Committee among those speaking in favour of the motion.

Potts said, “following consultation with the county players on this motion, we welcome the motion and are supportive of the motion.

“However rather than risk something as important as this being defeated, the players were very supportive of the idea of a rule to remove players with suspected concussion.

“We would propose that the ruling as is, is deferred and referred to the GAA’s Medical, Scientific and Welfare Committee for further investigation and in due course they can propose something to Central Council.

“It’s a matter of great concern to the players who have been in consultation with us regularly, but we would point out that the GAA has made significant progress in terms of dealing with concussion.

“The guidelines that have been introduced and developed over the last two years have been excellent, but there is a feeling among the players that there is a need to bring a strong rule in that will deal with suspected concussion on the field."

In proposing the motion, Tyrone’s Ray McKeown said, “the treatment and management of concussion has been well described and documented by the Association.

“The Medical and Scientific Welfare Committee has provided among other things information sheets for players.

“When a player has been assessed as suffering a concussion there is a well established protocol in place to determine whether or not he can participate in training or games.

“What this motion is really about is the time period when a player suffers a blow to the head and a proper assessment of his condition can be made, to avoid rushing through this assessment and afford the assessor all the time that is required to assure that there is no concussion.

“We are insisting that the referee should instruct the players to leave or be removed from the field of play and a temporary substitute be introduced.

“If these tests for concussion prove negative, the player returns to the field of play and the temporary substitute would leave it, but if they do not prove negative and a concussion is suspected there is no return to the field of play and the temporary substitute would become permanent at that point.”

Kilkenny’s Conor Denieffe said, “the issue is a very topical one for our Association, and I think we are all in agreement that a player suffering from concussion should not remain on the field of play.”

But Denieffe expressed some concern over the wording of the proposed rule.

“As this motion would apply to not just inter-county games, but all games, I don’t think our county is unique in that few, if any of our referees have medical training or qualifications, yet if the motion were passed, referees could be required to make a medical decision or decisions during the game.

“Firstly he would have to make a call on how serious a blow to the head was for a player, and secondly if the player has left the field of play, if he has passed a test for concussion before being permitted to return.

“Unfortunately a medic is not present at everyone of our games, yet the referee is being asked to make a decision as to whether a potentially concussed player should return or not return to the fray."

— Cóilín Duffy

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