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GAA

09th Jan 2017

PIC: Utterly ridiculous player charter for Dublin club must be seen to be believed

Killjoys

Mikey Stafford

The game is gone.

We say that frequently, but this time we mean it.

On the day the Club Players Association launched with the intention of giving power back to club players, it seems some clubs are asking the same players to sign away control of their own lives.

SportsJOE have received a copy of a ‘Player/Coach Contract’ that all involved in the St Brigid’s senior football team have been asked* to sign and it is quite staggering.

*We say ‘asked’ but the declaration at the bottom suggests failure to sign will see you removed from the panel, so let’s say ‘forced’.

As for the actual conditions. A few are reasonable enough: responding on Teamer, togging out in the dressingroom and punctuality are all just good manners.

However, promising to attend every game whether you are playing or not crosses a line in our opinion.

“Make all sacrifices required” is a pretty wide-ranging phrase to have in a legal document, no matter how much you love your club.

Also, for an amateur sport that is no more than a pastime for anyone, being told what to wear is pretty extreme.

Not to mention being forced to come with “a positive attitude and influence to this group”. What if your dog dies or you lose your job? Are you not allowed be pissed off at training?

Have a read yourself and tell us what you think.

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