GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 36 - October 17, 2015 | Page 27

to accommodate scoring points. So, in essence at hurling
tournaments in places like the US, Europe and Asia, smaller
fields and player numbers are already being accommodated
for the original game. The GPA appeared to not have their
homework fully done because restricting the field size and
playing numbers is something that already takes place in
regular world and tournament competition.
CONFUSION
Then of course if you are trying to promote Hurling internationally to the uninitiated why confuse the issue by introducing a new game called ‘Super 11’s’? If Hurling were better
known on a worldwide setting then introducing a new form
of it would make sense but to introduce something else in
its place only leads to confusion. There is enough confusion
already as to what exactly the game of Hurling is in the first
place without adding more. If the Super 11 effort was rebranded as Hurling 11’s with uprights fixed to soccer goals
for points scoring with perhaps some of the new game rules
[that accommodate pitch size] included, then a promotional
drive might be to the benefit of Hurling.
COMMUNICATION
Another shortcoming has been the lack of communication
between Super 11 organizers and those overseas. The North
American County Board [NACB] cited in 2013 their lack of
direct knowledge and subsequent input ahead of the Super
11 exhibit in Indiana. US GAA college officials also were
perplexed as to the lack of advance notice of the event at a
prominent US college.
In response, the GPA stated in the press at the time via
spokesperson Sean Potts that “We don’t want to be insulting of course … but I’m at a loss to understand why they
[NACB] would be so irked. We have put a lot of effort into
setting this up. We see it as a platform to exhibit the intercounty game and we’re hoping there will be a trickle-down
effect from it eventually.” (Irish Examiner).

Effort without proper communication to relevant parties
usually results in things not quite having the impact expected.
Two years on and according to official sources with Boston
Northeast GAA, the lack of advance notice or participation by
the local GAA entity in organizing next month’s Super 11 game
at Fenway Park, has been practically zero. The local GAA have
had to make their voices heard in trying to get some gametime for local teams and youth teams for promotion purposes
ahead of the Galway v Dublin clash with talks taking place to
that end.
How can one advance or promote something in a new setting if the local organization is not fully included in planning?
There doesn’t appear to be much of a ‘plan’. It’s like building
the Mars Rover on earth without taking fully into account all
historical scientific knowledge of Mars and its environment.
That the GPA in association with the GAA are trying something new, something fresh is a good thing. It is worthy of
praise but the experiment needs further field and rules modifications and clearer lines of communication if it is to be any sort
of a promotional platform for Hurling.

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