THE stated aim of the Football Review Committee (FRC) Survey is 'Gaelic games will be the most enjoyable amateur games in the world to play and watch'. A lofty aim indeed, however to most of us it already is, and besides, what are the comparable truly amateur games we are competing against: Rugby, Soccer, Golf, Motorsports, Olympic games? None remain amateur. We are almost alone as a sporting spectacle and therefore subject to being forced to change by the external pressures and influences of the modern world as we constantly look in the mirror and horror at how ugly we appear.
Like a child who needs their parent to say, 'put away your phone and stop letting those social media bullies annoy you. You are beautiful'. Ironically, it could be argued that many of the GAA’s scourges have come from within our own family, namely the GPA’s unstated drive for professionalism in the 2000s, wrapped up in better terms and conditions for players, the change to U17 age grades, and now the constant tinkering with rules to make games more 'enjoyable'.
The FRC survey itself is well-thought out, guiding the respondent along the correct path and helps them make the right decision. In other words, it is manipulative, cunning and calculating. Let me explain.
There are four main questions, the first asks: “In general, Gaelic football as a sport at [X] level is very good, good, average, poor or very poor”. The inherent premise behind the survey is that there is something wrong with Gaelic fo.
