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The good lassies of the Camogie Association have invited folk in all units of the assoication to give their feeedback back on An Treoraí Oifigiúil. Now there’s asking for trouble. For the uninitiated, that is the Rulebook of the Camogie Association – it covers rulings on issues on and off the pitch, playing rules and other items that contribute to the running of Ireland’s premier sport for women, other than avoiding drunk men of course.

The official spiel tells us that “a small sub-group of Ardcomhairle has been tasked with examining An Treoraí Oifigiúil with a view to updating the Camogie Associations’ Constitution and the non-playing Rules if necessary. As part of this examination we would welcome input from all units of the Association.”

So here’s your chance to influence the next version of the rulebook. Is it explicit enough on players uniforms? Should thongs be banned or skorts be skorter? Should camogs switch to beach volleyball attire – surely a crowd puller for those early winter games? What about restrictions on player use of sun shimmer due to its Sunny Delight influence on TV coverage? Maybe more high profile marketing of good looking players and tightening up on the après match antics that are inevitable when more than two drunk camogs get together? What about a trip for the Camogie All Stars, the poor relations of gaeldom? All these questions burn, burn, burn.

Consideration of the rule book seems to be flavour of the month with a strong caucus in the GAA also calling for an overhaul of disiplinary rule to avoid some of the shambolic decisions witnessed in recent years as a result of the DRA. What ever happened Paddy Bradley’s suspension anyone? We digress.

But back to the camogie association. Feedback on An Treoraí Oifigiúil is all well and good – to Talking Balls it is an effective enough document if implemented and used properly by Camogie Officialdom. And that’s a big IF – “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too”. It is the people charged with implementing the rules that the challenge lies with – do they understand the rules? Have they read them? Do they abide by them? Do they know what they’re talking about?. We’ll say no more at this stage.

Talking Balls encourages our sisters in camogiedom to participate in this initiative and also to book your places on the reconvened club convention in Croker when it is rescheduled early in 2009. That is the only possible way to help the organisation move forward. Easy to complain, better to do something about it.

Mná na hÉireann Abú!

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