Injured players will now have to process their own claim

A change to the GAA’s player injury claims policy is set to impact on clubs as the championship season gets underway.

Instead of clubs processing injury claims, the players will now be responsible for doing their own and while it is a considerable change, it is expected to a positive one in time. This has been in place since June 1, but it came as a surprise to club delegates.

“It’s quite a big change and there was quite a lot of discussion on it,” remarked Westmeath GAA’s Central Council Delegate, Joe Daly, when reporting back to the recent Westmeath GAA County Committee meeting.

The GAA have been asked to help players with the transition and go through a step-by-step process with them, even if that means visiting the counties to meet with players. “Players will need to understand how to make a claim,” the Central Council Delegate stressed. Clubs, who up to now would have compensated players in advance of claims coming through, may need to reconsider.

The claim will no longer be returned to the club; it will instead go directly to the player.

“There is quite a bit to consider with this change,” explained Mr Daly.

Vinny Reynolds of Ballycomoyle and Aiden McGuire of The Downs spoke on the matter. The Ballycomoyle delegate felt it was crucial to get the message clearly delivered to all club players.

“It’s important to get that information out to players because the biggest headache most clubs have is trying to tell players what they are entitled to (through the claims process),” he observed.

Joe Daly felt it would be vital to guide the players with this change.

Aiden McGuire said it’s a complete bombshell at this stage of the season. While GDPR was given as the main reason, the new season requires that secretaries of clubs will still have to sign off on the claim.

He felt there will have to be latitude on the change or there could be mayhem in Westmeath and other counties as the championship season kicks off. There are now three systems to manage, which will be difficult, he observed.

It was confirmed that inter-county players will also be responsible for their own player injury claims.

Chairman Frank Mescall said players will need guidance, as it is a recipe for disaster. He said it can be torture getting all the details from players for injury claims, so they will need assistance.

“It wasn’t flagged with us or anyone that this change was coming; it happened out of the blue,” he remarked.

Johnny Rabbitt, Castlepollard, felt there will need to be expertise available for players to inform them what they are entitled to. He had proposed at a County Convention that a player welfare officer be put in place, but this wasn’t passed.

The chairman remarked: “A player who is injured has to be looked after, on the day and subsequently. They have work; most of them have family, and to be out of work and to receive no compensation is not on. So, we need to look after our players, immediate and post-injury.”

Patrick Doherty, Head of Operations, agreed it was a surprise change, but long-term it will make things easier for club secretaries or injury fund organisers, he felt.

“In every other walk of life, young people are used to doing everything online, so while it is a fundamental change, it is going to be the way forward. The responsibility will go back on the players — they are well able to make claims in other areas. They are computer literate and savvy,” he observed, encouraging Joe Daly to ensure the Central Council delivers proper step-by-step guidance for all players on the change.

Enda Kelly, Castledaly, felt some players will not be good at doing it online and there could be an issue for clubs if injured players don’t make claims on time. Clubs may be left having to compensate them, he cautioned.

The chairman encouraged clubs to guide their players for the first year or two. “Don’t leave them isolated,” he advised.