Introduction Welcome to the April edition of the GAA Club Nuachtlitir. The world of social and digital media can be an enjoyable and engaging place. As a GAA official, volunteer, player or member, you will often encounter this world. The Association has put together two documents to help, educate and guide those who use social media in an official GAA capacity. The benefits of engaging with our members and supporters through these channels can be vast when used in a responsible manner and in compliance with the guidelines and policies. Please see below for more details. We would also ask clubs to pay particular attention to information about changes to the Square ball rule (Football only) and encourage all club officers to communicate to members that a decision of Ard Chomhairle recently made it compulsory for all players to obtain insurance cover from the GAA before a sanction to the U.S.A. or Canada can be granted. Should you have any feedback on any aspect of what we are trying to do, please feel free to contact our Communications Department through queries@gaa.ie.  Is mise le meas, Lisa Clancy, Director of Communications Cumann Lúthchleas Gael GAA SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES AND POLICIES / SOCIAL MEDIA SETUP GUIDE   As you may be aware many of our units are now actively using and engaging with our members and supporters through social media and in particular, Facebook and Twitter. For this reason, GAA Social Media Policies and Guidelines and a step by step social media setup guide have been devised to assist and guide our units in best practice around this area. These documents were formally presented and launched at the recent Social Media Workshop at GAA Annual Congress in Killenard, Laois. We would encourage officials to distribute these documents to all members and in particular to those individuals who may be looking after your Club’s social media networks. Clubs will also receive a communication shortly from their county PRO asking them to register their digital channels with the GAA. It is important that Clubs fill out this form. In that way, anyone who speaks on behalf of the GAA is authorised to do so, ensuring we work together to give the GAA a positive online presence. Download a copy of the GAA Social Media Guidelines and Policies. Download a copy of the GAA Social Media Setup Guide. PLAYING RULES: CHANGE TO SQUARE BALL RULE – FOOTBALL ONLY   At GAA Annual Congress in Kilenard, Laois on Saturday April 14, 2012, a change was made to the Square ball rule in Football only. This change will become operative in all club and intercounty games from May 14 next. We would ask that you notify all club players and coaches of the change below and the relevant implementation date. Football Only – “Square Ball” This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e. as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter.  The rule is unchanged with regard to “Set Play” i.e. Free Kicks, Line Balls and 45s – in these instances players are not permitted to enter the small rectangle before the ball. The full text of the new rule is: Rule 4.9 Official Guide Part 2 – Rules of Foul Play – Rule 4 Technical Fouls: “For an attacking player to enter opponents’ small rectangle: (a) During Play (excluding Set Play), before the final play of the ball into the small rectangle (b) In Set Play, before the ball enters the small rectangle. Exception: (i) If an attacking player legally enters the small rectangle, and the ball is played from that area but is returned before the attacking player has time to leave the area, provided he does not play the ball or interfere with the defence, a foul is not committed. (ii) When a point is scored from outside the small rectangle and the ball is sufficiently high to be out of reach of all players, the score shall be allowed even though an attacking player may have been, otherwise illegally, within the small rectangle before the ball – provided that the player in question does not interfere with the defence.” CAMÁN AND PLAY – THURLES INTERNATIONAL HURLING FESTIVAL   Join us this summer at the Thurles International Hurling Festival. The Association is inviting teams from around the country and overseas to participate in an International Camán Abú tournament. Take part in an enjoyable day with food, fun and entertainment for all the family. The event will take place on Saturday, July 14 from 12.30-5pm at the Ursuline Convent, Thurles. The following applies: Teams to be made up of male and female players.  Seven a-side teams. Panel of maximum nine with unlimited substitutes. All players must be 16 years of age or older. No upper age limit applies. No experience necessary! No registration fee! Talk to your colleagues, family and friends, and register your team now. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please visit justplay.gaa.ie. 2012 GAA MEMBERSHIP CARDS   The window for ordering 2012 personalised membership cards is now open. Follow the instructions below to order cards for your club. Please note clubs have until Monday May 7 to order cards. Clubs will be entitled to order cards once only. There is no charge to clubs for these cards and they will be sent directly to one appointed person in the club. To order, go to the online registration system atpeople.gaa.ie/admin, go to 'Club Admin' - click on the membership cards tab - 'click on request membership cards' and follow the instructions from there. Please note that the member's name will appear on the card as is appears on the 'add/view' members section. SANCTIONS – INSURANCE NOW REQUIRED   GAA players who are travelling to the U.S.A. or Canada for the summer must receive a sanction to allow them play on a temporary basis with clubs in these areas. A decision of Ard Chomhairle recently made it compulsory for all players to obtain insurance cover from the GAA before a sanction to the U.S.A. or Canada can be granted.  This insurance cover costs €40 and sanctions will no longer be processed going forward unless this insurance has been purchased, and receipt of purchase is submitted with a sanction application. Therefore, players who wish to receive a sanction to the U.S.A. or Canada (or a weekend authorisation in the case of New York) will need to purchase this sanction insurance atwww.gaa.ie/sanctioninsurance where the €40 fee can be paid by Laser, Visa or Mastercard. After completion the player will receive a receipt by email. If the sanction request is submitted by post, this receipt must be printed out and attached to the request; alternatively if the sanction is submitted by email this receipt must accompany the sanction form. Where an individual is not in a position to register online, postal or money orders to the value of €40 can be attached to postal requests.  Requests for sanctions should be sent to sanctions@gaa.ie, by fax to 01-8658650 or by post to Stephen Browne, Croke Park, Dublin 3. LAUNCH OF PROVINCIAL REFEREE PATHWAY   Over the past six months, Coiste na Réiteoirí Náisiúnta has developed a Provincial Referee pathway document which was launched by Iar-Uachtaráin, Criostóir Ó Cuana in Páirc an Chrócaigh on March 29 last. The launch was attended by Referee administrators from all counties who were pleased with the sentiments and plan outlined in the document. The reasoning behind this production is to ensure a consistency between county and provincial operations from the point of view of training, assessing, fitness tests and rules tests as well, of course, as the modus operandi for nomination to the National Referee Panel. It is expected that, with all provinces operating a consistent training system, a number of new referees will emerge and challenge those currently on the National Panel. CONNECT IRELAND   Receive a reward for you or your club while helping to create jobs in Ireland. At GAA Annual Congress 2012, the Association announced its support for the Government’s Succeed in Ireland initiative, which is being delivered by ConnectIreland. This innovative global referral programme will offer an incentive to any individual (Irish or Irish Diaspora) who can introduce ConnectIreland to an overseas company that is expanding internationally and subsequently creates new jobs in Ireland. Registration with www.connectireland.com is an important first step for those interested in participating in the programme. You can then spread the word to family, friends, business contacts etc and when you have identified a potential target company make an introduction to the ConnectIreland team. If the company subsequently establishes operations in Ireland and jobs are created, you - the ‘Connector’ will receive a minimum reward of €1,500 per job created subject to certain terms and conditions. The reward can be used personally or donated to your local GAA club. For further information, please visit www.connectireland.com. SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS   Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has forged a new, long-term strategic partnership with Ireland’s Gaelic Athletic Association. The multi-million euro deal includes sponsoring GAA’s Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship for the next five years. Etihad Airways will also become the naming rights sponsor of the spectacular new Skyline landmark tourist attraction at Croke Park, which will open in June, 2012. The GAA and Bus Éireann are delighted to announce a three-year extension to their sponsorship of the Association’s Féile competitions following last year’s successful partnership as Dublin (hurling) and Laois (football) gear up for this year's competitions. The two Féile final competitions will involve more than 4,000 boys and girls across the disciplines of Football, Hurling, Camogie, Ladies Football, Handball and Rounders. Féile Peile na nÓg takes place in Co. Laois on the weekend of June 22-24 while Dublin will host Féile na nGael between July 5-7. The GAA has partnered with Tickets.ie and the Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland to create Ireland’s largest secure ticket sales network. Over 130 SuperValu and Centra stores will sell tickets for GAA fixtures throughout the remainder of the year. The new sales network significantly increases the availability of tickets to all those wishing to watch top-class hurling and football. No ticket fees will apply for any tickets purchased via the new network or online via Tickets.ie or www.gaa.ie. GAA supporters can now purchase tickets in advance of fixtures via a variety of channels: Online via www.gaa.ie or tickets.ie Via over 150 SuperValu and Centra stores and Tickets.ie outlets Via 32 County Board offices Via 4 Provincial Council offices and the GAA Ticket Office Via any one of our 2,500+ GAA Clubs

6.00pm : Registration & Light Refreshments
6.30pm : Opening by Barry Murphy Co-ordinator RBA
6.45pm : Presentation by Noel Davidson, Social Media Expert
7.30pm: Q&A