Gaelic Players Association calls for cross-body female squad charter

The Gaelic Players Association has called on the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Associations to agree and implement a female Squad Charter.

Following a survey of almost 1,600 inter county players, the GPA wants to agree an official Squad Charter for female inter-county players from the 2024 season onwards.

This is the key ask of the players' body "State of Play Equality Report" which was launched by the association today.

Research showed female inter county players reported sustained lower access to sport science supports and more barriers to accessing facilities than male players. 70 percent of female inter county players reported difficulties accessing pitches.

There are calls to compensate female players for costs incurred from 2023 onwards and for female specific supports to be implemented.

Last year a contact hours policy for GPA inter county male players was agreed with the GAA.

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This incorporated two junctures in the season - in December and January – when five intercounty collective training sessions were permitted. Aside from that four sessions per week could be held.

There was no cap on squads, meaning that panels were no longer restricted to 32 players for training and reimbursement.

In that agreement the standard rate where a player travels on their own to training has risen from 65c per mile to 70c per mile. It's understood that player has clocked up 7,000 miles in travel the rate of expense drops to 40c per mile.

An emphasis was also placed on car-pooling for the season. A