THE GAA should consider allowing counties with low Covid infection rates to resume activity following its decision to give Northern Ireland the go-ahead.
That’s the view of Tyrone Coaching Officer Damian Harvey, who believes a return to training ought to be permitted in areas where it is safe to do so.
The GAA’s Covid Advisory Group has approved the resumption of sessions in the six northern counties from April 12, in line with a relaxation of restrictions by the Stormont Executive.
“Hopefully the same can happen for the counties that are making good strides in other parts of the country, and hopefully it won’t be too long before they are going to follow suit as well,” said Harvey.
“They’ll have to follow the data from the health authorities, and if there are regions and areas of the country that are doing quite well and able to progress, then it’s up to them to make a decision on whether to introduce five or six counties at a time, or to wait for absolutely everybody.
“We just find ourselves in a slightly better position at the minute up here.
“It’s good that they’re back, getting back out on to a pitch.”
Harvey feels the Covid Advisory Group’s decision was based on common sense, given the improving situation in the North, along with its effective vaccination programme.
“The GAA’s Covid Committee got their heads around what was happening up here, and it made sense.
“Common sense prevailed in this case, and if other sports are back out, the GAA should be following suit.”
And Harvey is keen to see the formulation of a plan for a return to playing games as a natural follow-on from a period of collective training.
“It’s up to the GAA in this part of the world to take a look at a return to games at a later stage.
“But Croke Park will have to make a decision whether they go with county or club.
“I think then the GAA should look at the possibility of re-introducing games within the counties and allow the clubs to get back into action. But that will only come through time.
“It’s our understanding that they want to progress with county first, and if that’s the direction of travel, then the club will return at a later stage.
“But we’ll accept the fact that at least we have young people back out preparing, training, albeit in small numbers.”
Sessions will involve groups of up to fifteen people when they re-start from April 12, but the Tyrone Coaching Officer expects permitted numbers to increase as the Covid situation continues to ease.
“Hopefully that will open up as and when that fifteen figure increases to twenty or thirty or forty, or whatever the case may be.”
Harvey, who works in the education sector, has seen at first hand the benefits the reopening of schools has had on children, and he expects the return of coaching will have the same positive effect.
“I’m involved in education at work, and I can see even now with the fact that young people are back in schools, it has made such a difference to them, such a difference to their mindset and to their whole attitude.
“And you would want to see that manifest itself in young people outside on pitches keeping healthy and keeping fit, and having that whole connection with other people, people of their age.
“That can only be good, and we know the positive role that the GAA plays on all that. We’re looking forward to playing an even bigger role in that in the future.”
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