GAA Social Media Guidelines and Policies / Social Media Setup Guide

These documents were formally presented and launched at the recent Social Media Workshop at GAA Annual Congress in Killenard, Laois. We would encourage officials to distribute these documents to all members and in particular to those individuals who may be looking after your Club’s social media networks.

Clubs will also receive a communication shortly from their county PRO asking them to register their digital channels with the GAA. It is important that Clubs fill out this form. In that way, anyone who speaks on behalf of the GAA is authorised to do so, ensuring we work together to give the GAA a positive online presence.

Download a copy of the GAA Social Media Guidelines and Policies.

Download a copy of the GAA Social Media Setup Guide.

Playing Rules: Change to Square Ball Rule – Football Only

Football Only – “Square Ball”
This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e. as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter.  The rule is unchanged with regard to “Set Play” i.e. Free Kicks, Line Balls and 45s – in these instances players are not permitted to enter the small rectangle before the ball.

The full text of the new rule is:
Rule 4.9 Official Guide Part 2 – Rules of Foul Play – Rule 4 Technical Fouls:

“For an attacking player to enter opponents’ small rectangle:
(a) During Play (excluding Set Play), before the final play of the ball into the small rectangle
(b) In Set Play, before the ball enters the small rectangle.
Exception:
(i) If an attacking player legally enters the small rectangle, and the ball is played from that area but is returned before the attacking player has time to leave the area, provided he does not play the ball or interfere with the defence, a foul is not committed.
(ii) When a point is scored from outside the small rectangle and the ball is sufficiently high to be out of reach of all players, the score shall be allowed even though an attacking player may have been, otherwise illegally, within the small rectangle before the ball – provided that the player in question does not interfere with the defence.”

Camán and Play – Thurles International Hurling Festival

The event will take place on Saturday, July 14 from 12.30-5pm at the Ursuline Convent, Thurles. The following applies:

• Teams to be made up of male and female players.
• Seven a-side teams. Panel of maximum nine with unlimited substitutes.
• All players must be 16 years of age or older. No upper age limit applies.
• No experience necessary! No registration fee!

Talk to your colleagues, family and friends, and register your team now. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please visit justplay.gaa.ie.

2012 GAA Membership Cards

To order, go to the online registration system at people.gaa.ie/admin, go to ‘Club Admin’ – click on the membership cards tab – ‘click on request membership cards’ and follow the instructions from there. Please note that the member’s name will appear on the card as is appears on the ‘add/view’ members section.

Sanctions – Insurance now Required

This insurance cover costs €40 and sanctions will no longer be processed going forward unless this insurance has been purchased, and receipt of purchase is submitted with a sanction application.

Therefore, players who wish to receive a sanction to the U.S.A. or Canada (or a weekend authorisation in the case of New York) will need to purchase this sanction insurance at www.gaa.ie/sanctioninsurance where the €40 fee can be paid by Laser, Visa or Mastercard.

After completion the player will receive a receipt by email. If the sanction request is submitted by post, this receipt must be printed out and attached to the request; alternatively if the sanction is submitted by email this receipt must accompany the sanction form.

Where an individual is not in a position to register online, postal or money orders to the value of €40 can be attached to postal requests.

Requests for sanctions should be sent to sanctions@gaa.ie, by fax to 01-8658650 or by post to Stephen Browne, Croke Park, Dublin 3.

Launch of Provincial Referee Pathway

The launch was attended by Referee administrators from all counties who were pleased with the sentiments and plan outlined in the document.

The reasoning behind this production is to ensure a consistency between county and provincial operations from the point of view of training, assessing, fitness tests and rules tests as well, of course, as the modus operandi for nomination to the National Referee Panel. It is expected that, with all provinces operating a consistent training system, a number of new referees will emerge and challenge those currently on the National Panel.

Connect Ireland

Registration with www.connectireland.com is an important first step for those interested in participating in the programme. You can then spread the word to family, friends, business contacts etc and when you have identified a potential target company make an introduction to the ConnectIreland team.

If the company subsequently establishes operations in Ireland and jobs are created, you – the ‘Connector’ will receive a minimum reward of €1,500 per job created subject to certain terms and conditions. The reward can be used personally or donated to your local GAA club.

For further information, please visit www.connectireland.com.

Sponsorship Announcements

The multi-million euro deal includes sponsoring GAA’s Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship for the next five years.

Etihad Airways will also become the naming rights sponsor of the spectacular new Skyline landmark tourist attraction at Croke Park, which will open in June, 2012.

The GAA and Bus Éireann are delighted to announce a three-year extension to their sponsorship of the Association’s Féile competitions following last year’s successful partnership as Dublin (hurling) and Laois (football) gear up for this year’s competitions.

The two Féile final competitions will involve more than 4,000 boys and girls across the disciplines of Football, Hurling, Camogie, Ladies Football, Handball and Rounders. Féile Peile na nÓg takes place in Co. Laois on the weekend of June 22-24 while Dublin will host Féile na nGael between July 5-7.

The GAA has partnered with Tickets.ie and the Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland to create Ireland’s largest secure ticket sales network. Over 130 SuperValu and Centra stores will sell tickets for GAA fixtures throughout the remainder of the year.

The new sales network significantly increases the availability of tickets to all those wishing to watch top-class hurling and football. No ticket fees will apply for any tickets purchased via the new network or online via Tickets.ie or www.gaa.ie.

GAA supporters can now purchase tickets in advance of fixtures via a variety of channels:

• Online via www.gaa.ie or tickets.ie
• Via over 150 SuperValu and Centra stores and Tickets.ie outlets
• Via 32 County Board offices
• Via 4 Provincial Council offices and the GAA Ticket Office
• Via any one of our 2,500+ GAA Clubs

Etihad Skyline Roof Top Tour – Book Now!

Further details are available on www.skylinecrokepark.ie and bookings can be made online for the tours which open to the public on June 1 this year.  Enjoy the best views of Dublin from five viewing platforms and a spectacular view of Croke Park from a suspended platform over the stadium.  A spectacular experience awaits!

Join the Croke Park Team – Recruiting Voluntary Stewards

• Aged 18-55 years (Section 18.13, Code of Practice for Safety at Sports Grounds)
• Available at weekends
• Active and enthusiastic
• Customer focused

An interest in the GAA is essential. Applications can be sent via the online application form or details can be sent to stewarding@crokepark.ie.

For more information, please visit www.crokepark.ie.