Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe - Bye-Laws and Regulations 2011

Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe

Bye-Laws & Regulations

Updated 2011

FOREWORD

The Annual County Convention held at Athenry on January 23rd, 1944, authorised the incoming Co. Board to draft a set of Bye-Laws for the better administration of the G.A.A. in Co. Galway.

Under this authority, the Co. Board at a meeting held at Galway on February 5th, 1944, appointed the following Committee: Rev. James O’Dea, Moycullen (Hon. President). Messrs. Brendan Nestor, N.T. (Chairman Co. Board), Dunmore; Jack Whelan (Secretary Co. Board), Killimor; Thomas O’Connor, N.T. (ex Chairman Co. Board), Claregalway; Rev. Br. Declan (Rep. East Board), Loughrea; Patrick Fahy, N.T. (Rep. South Board), Kilbeacanty; Edward Walshe (Rep. West Board), Galway; Patrick Naughton (Rep. North Board), Menlough.

The draft of the Bye-Laws, unanimously agreed on by the Committee, was submitted to the Annual Co. Convention held at Loughrea on January 4th, 1945. With a few minor changes, the draft was unanimously approved of and the new Divisional Boundaries by a vote of 138 For and 73 Against.

The Bye-Laws were ratified by the Central Council on March 16th, 1945. Revised in 1947 and 1962 and brought up to date in 1967. They were sanctioned by the Central Council on 13th January1968.

The Bye-Laws were updated again in 1985 by Norman Farragher and the Commission’s Report was incorporated in the revised edition. The Draft Bye-Laws were unanimously agreed on by the Annual County Convention on the 20th January, 1985, and they were subsequently sanctioned at a meeting of the Coiste Bainistí C.L.G. ar an 25ú Bealtaine 1985.

At the Annual Convention on the 30th December, 2002, Frank Burke was appointed to update the County Bye-Laws and the draft of Bye-Laws was approved at a Special Convention on 13th March, 2003. They were subsequently sanctioned by Coiste Bainistí on the 4th/ 5th April 2003.

The Annual County Convention held at Clarenbridge on 18ú Nollaig, 2006, authorised the incoming county Board to up-date the County Bye-Laws.The first meeting of the County Board held on 15ú Eanair, 2007 approved the draft Bye-Laws presented by An Runai, Bearnard O Concubhair, who forwarded same to the national Bye-Laws Sub-Committee who approved for ratification the Bye-Laws of Galway County Board. They were subsequently ratified at a meeting of Coiste Bainisti held on 16/17ú Feabhra, 2007.

The Annual Convention of Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe held in Baile Clár na Gaillimhe on 17ú Nollaig 2008 authorised the incoming Co. Board to update the County Bye Laws. The first meeting of Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe held on 27ú Eanair 2009 approved the draft Bye Laws and authorised Gearóid Ó Lorcáin to forward same to the National Bye Laws Committee. At a meeting on Deardaoin 12ú Martá 2009, the Bye Laws of Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe were approved by Coiste Bainistí, Pairc an Chrocaigh.

The Annual Convention of Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe held in Baile Clár na Gaillimhe ar an Deardaoin 17ú Nollaig 2009 authorised the incoming Co Board to update the County Bye-Laws. The draft Bye Laws were approved at a Special Convention on 7th April 2010. The special convention authorised Gearóid Ó Lorcáin to forward same to the National Bye Laws Committee for approval. These Bye-Laws were approved and ratified by Coiste Bainistí, Pairc an Chrocaigh on 7th May 2010.

In May 2010 Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe initiated a review of the current Bye-Laws and Regulations to ensure that they were in compliance with the GAA Official Guide and with current regulations and National Guidelines. The result of this review was the identification and drafting of thirteen separate motions to amend and add new Bye-Laws, all of which were presented, considered and approved at the Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe Annual Convention held in Claregalway on 15th December 2010. These draft Bye-Laws were approved by the Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe at its first meeting on 20th January 2011 and were submitted to the National Bye-Laws Review Committee for approval. These new and updated Bye-Laws and Regulations were subsequently ratified and approved by Coiste Bainistí, Pairc and Chrocaigh on 12/2/2011.

In March 2011 Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe proposed and approved seven (7) additional amendments to the Galway GAA Bye- Laws and Regulations. These motions were considered and approved at the Special County Convention held on 6th April 2011 in the Maldron Hotel Oranmore. These amended Bye-Laws were submitted to the National Bye-Laws Review Committee for approval and were subsequently ratified and approved by Coiste Bainistí, Croke Park.

BYE-LAWS 2011

The County Committee shall control all matters affecting the Association and all competitions in the County, but may delegate any of its powers to the Hurling or Football Committees, or other sub-Committees that it shall appoint as provided for in the Official Guide.

  1. In accordance with Rule 3.11, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1, the County Convention shall elect the following (18), Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Development Officer, Coaching and Games Development Officer, Officer for the Irish Language and Culture, Public Relations Officer, Youth Officer, Two Connacht Council Representatives, Central Council Representative, Three Representatives each from the County Hurling and Football Committees
  1. The County Committee shall consist of :- Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Development Officer, Coaching and Games Development Officer, Officer for Irish Language and Culture, Public Relations Officer, Youth Officer, Two Connacht Council Representatives, Central Council Representative and three representatives each from Galway Hurling Committee and Galway Football Committee, elected at County Convention and a representative each of the following committees: County Handball, County Primary Schools, Post Primary Schools and the County Referees Administrator. (in accordance with Rule 3.19, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1)
  • All members shall have voting rights. Five members shall form a quorum.
  1. In accordance with Rule 3.22, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1, the County Committee, at its first meeting after County Convention, shall appoint the following Sub Committees whose functions and duties shall be as set out in this Rule (3.22) and in these Bye-Laws.

i)Management Committee: It shall consist of Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the County Committee and the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of both the Hurling Committee and the Football Committee.

(ii)Competitions Control Committee (C.C.C.): It shall consist of County Chairperson and Secretary, Football Committee Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, Hurling Committee Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and Referees’ Administrator who shall be entitled to vote only on the appointment of referees.

  • The officers of this committee shall be the relevant officers of the county committee
  • County Committee shall delegate Plenary Powers to the C.C.C. In such cases appeals shall be made to the Provincial Council.
  • The C.C.C. shall have Plenary Powers delegated to it by the County Committee except in matters pertaining to, Transfers, Grading of Clubs and Players and permission to play within the county, (Rule 6.8 & 7.11 GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1)
  • The Competitions Control Committee shall process and make recommendations to the County Committee on applications for grading of clubs and players, transfers and permission to play within the county.
  • It shall be responsible for all arrangements and control of games under the jurisdiction of the County Committee, including disciplinary matters other than those functions reserved for the County Hearings Committee.
  • It shall deal with objections and counter-objections arising from games under the control of the County Committee.
  • It shall investigate and process matters relating to the Enforcement of Rules and Match Regulationsfor games under the control of the County Committee.

(a)Competitions Workgroup: (Hurling) shall consist of seven members plus a nominee of theCounty Referees’ Administrator - Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Hurling Committee plus four nominated at its first meeting and sanctioned by the County Committee.

(b)Competitions Workgroup: (Football) shall consist of seven members plus a nominee of the County Referees’ Administrator - Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Two G.P.C. Secretaries and one club representative nominated at its first meeting and sanctioned by the County Committee.

  • All fixtures made by the respective Workgroups must be ratified by the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC). Requests for deviation are a matter for the County CompetitionsControl Committee (CCCC).
  • At the beginning of each season the Competitions Control Committee shall organise a meeting of all fixture making bodies within the county to co-ordinate programme of games.
  • In conjunction with the County Fixture Planners a detailed calendar of fixtures shall be published by Coiste Chontae Peile na Gaillimhe, Coiste Iomana na Gaillimhe, Coiste Peil na nOg and Coiste Iomana na nOg and shall be submitted for ratification to the Competitions Control Committee of Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe before 31st January each year. After its review the Competitions Control Committee shall submit the detailed calendar of fixtures to the County Committee for final ratification. Requests for changes or disruption to these fixtures must be made in writing and may only be considered by the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).

(iii)County Hearings Committee: — It shall consist of five members including a

Chairman appointed by the County Committee, none of whom may be a member of the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) or the County Management Committee. The County Committee shall delegate Plenary Powers to the County Hearings Committee. In such cases appeals shall be to the Provincial Councils.

  • It shall adjudicate on matters where a Hearing is requested.
  • It shall hear appeals arising from decisions of subcommittees appointed by the County Committee.

(iv)County Planning and Physical Development Committee: It shall consist of the

County Committee Vice Chairperson, who shall be the Chairperson, CountyDevelopment Officers (Secretary) and one representative of the Hurling Committee, Football Committee, Coiste Iomana na nÓg, Coiste Peil na nÓg, County Primary Schools Committee and two nominees of the County Committee.

(v)County Coaching and Games Development Committee: It shall consist of the Coaching Officer, who shall be Chairperson, the County Games Development Administrator, who shall be Secretary, and six other members appointed by the County Committee.

(vi)County Cultural Committee: It shall consist of the County Officer for Irish Language and Culture and six members to be appointed by the County Committee.

(vii)County Public Relations/Marketing Committee: It shall consist of the County Public Relations Officer and one representative from each of the Hurling Committee, Football Committee, Coiste Peil na nÓg and Coiste Iomana na nÓg. The County Committee shall also appoint two other members.

(viii)County Youth Committee - It shall consist of the County Youth Officer, a representative from Coiste Peil na nÓg and Coiste Iomana na nÓg and four other members to be appointed by the County Committee.

(ix)Post Primary Schools Committee - shall consist of six members to be appointed by the County Committee and the chairperson of this sub-committee shall be nominated by the County Committee Chairperson.

(x)County Referees’ Administration Committee - shall consist of twelve members to be appointed and ratified by the County Committee and shall include the County Referees’ Administrator and County Referees’ Tutors who shall be nominated by the County Committee Chairperson. Each of the following sub-committees shall nominate a representative for ratification as members of the County Referees Committee: County Football Committee, County Hurling Committee, Coiste Peil na nÓg, Coiste Iomána na nÓg and Post Primary Schools Committee.

(xi)County Finance Committee – It shall consist of the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the County Committee, Hurling Committee and Football Committee.

(xii)County Information Technology Committee – shall consist of the Public Relations Officer and four other members including a County I.T. Officer, all of whom shall be appointed by the County Committee.

(xiii)County Teams Management & Panels Committee –The membership of the County Teams' Management and Panels' Committee shall be as outlined in the Charter for County Committee / Player relationships as approved by Árd Chomhairle from time to time. The functions of this Committee will be as outlined in Rule 3.22 (xiii), GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1.

(xix)County Fixtures Planners - In accordance with Rule 3.22 (iii), GAA Official Guide 2010 Part 1, the Management Committee shall appoint two County Fixture Planners whose role and responsibilities shall be as follows:

(a)They shall be responsible for planning, monitoring, analysing and reviewing the County Fixtures Programme.

(b)They shall present a Report to Annual Convention on all Fixtures at County level and submit a Report to the Provincial and National Fixtures Committee

(c) They shall work in conjunction with the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) on the production of an on-going three year Fixtures Plan and Schedule

  1. The County Committee shall have power to summon a special County Convention at any time should grave necessity arise.
  1. Any changes in the County Bye-Laws by deletion, addition or amendment shall be made only at County Convention. A deletion, addition or amendment to an existing Bye-Law shall not be passed unless it is on the agenda for the Convention and it receives the support of two-thirds of those present entitled to vote and voting.
  1. No decision of a County Convention at variance with the prior decision of the County Committee shall have a retrospective effect. Note: The County in these Bye-Laws means “The County of Galway”.
  1. The County Committee shall at its first post-Convention meeting annually arrange for the relevant motions passed to be submitted to An Coiste Bainisti for approval as Bye-Laws. Copies of revised Bye-Laws once approved shall be available from Oifig Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Galway County Committee, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, Galway.
  1. Annual club affiliations together with the appropriate fees for clubs, teams, insurance (property and public liability) and administration subventions shall be received by the County Secretary before 15th January each year.
  1. Clubs shall submit the prescribed fees, as per the GAA Injury Scheme, for all affiliated teams to the appropriate authority in Croke Park before 15th January each year.
  1. GRADING OF PLAYERS

10.1Further to Rule 6.21, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1, all applications for player re-grades shall be lodged with the County Secretary before 1st February each year on the prescribed form. Only in circumstances which could not have been foreseen shall applications received after this closing date be considered.

10.2Each Club shall be allowed to request the re-grading of up to six (6) players maximum per Championship team, in any year

  1. The County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) shall process and make recommendations to the Galway County Committee on applications for grading of clubs and players, applications for transfers and applications for permission to play. In determining its recommendation the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) shall liaise with the respective Hurling and Football Boards and give consideration to their suggestions.
  1. Applications for transfer and permission to play must be signed by the applicant personally on the official form to be had from the County Secretary and must state the exact grounds on which such application is based. In the case of underage players (up to and including under-18 grade) an application for transfer or permission to play shall also be accompanied by an authorisation signed by the applicant player’s parent(s)/guardian(s).
  1. Full-time registered students of N.U.I.G. and G.M.I.T. may play in the County Galway Championship with their native parishes, provided they do not play in the same championship with their college.
  1. ELIGIBILITY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP / GRADING

14.1Further to Rule 6.20, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1, a player is graded by his Championship status. In Galway there are five (5) levels of Championship status: Senior, Intermediate, Junior A, Junior B and Junior C (including Special)

14.2County Intermediate and Junior Club Championships winners must move into a higher grade for the following year, unless the club concerned already has a team in the next higher grade or the County Committee on application from the club allows the team to remain in the same grade in exceptional circumstances.

14.3Further to Rule 6.15, GAA Official Guide 2010, Part 1, players who played on the winning team in the previous year’s Intermediate Championship Final or Junior Championships Final are excluded from that Championship status (Ref. Bye-Law 14.1) unless re-graded in accordance with Bye-Law 10.

  1. PLAYING ELIGIBILITY

15.1:As the GAA is community centred, based on the allegiance of its members to their local Clubs, the object of which is to promote the Association’s aims at local level, the transfer rules in the Official Guide Part 1 and these Bye-Laws reflect that ethos. A player is considered to always owe allegiance and loyalty to the Club he first legally participated with in Club competition.

15.2: A Player may play only with:

(a)A club in the Parish where he resides

(b)His Home Club (as defined in Rule 6.3, GAA Official Guide 2010)

(c) A club in his Native Parish (as defined in Rule 6.3, GAA Official Guide 2010)

15.3:Further to 15.2 above, if no such club exists a player may with the permission of the County Committee play with the nearest club to his place of residence or as directed by the County Committee.

15.4:Club membership alone per se does not confer automatic playing eligibility. The player must qualify under one or more of the conditions outlined in these Bye-Laws or as directed by decision of the County Committee.

15.5:Residing in Galway City area for the purpose of attending Post-Primary or Third Level Educational Institutions shall not qualify as permanent residence for an inter-club transfer.

15.6:To be eligible for selection on any Galway inter-county panel a player must first be a current registered playing member of a GAA club.

15.7:No deviation or derogation from the stated conditions in this Bye-Law is allowed without the prior application to and sanction of the County Committee whose decisions are final and binding on all parties concerned.

  1. Unless exempted by the County Committee a player must continue as a member of the Galway City Club with which he first played as a juvenile until he reaches the age of eighteen, unless his family changes residence in which instance he may be granted a transfer.
  1. TRANSFERS AND PERMISSION TO PLAY

17.1:The closing date for receipt of transfer and permission to play applications, at all ages shall be the 1st February each year. Exception: Where a player changes permanent residence from the catchment area of one Club to that of another, an application for transfer (only to a Club, in the catchment area of his new permanent place of residence) may be submitted for consideration by the County Committee, without reference to the opening and closing dates stated above.