The “Water Break”, in the words of The Clash, should it stay or should it go.
No one wants a break, especially when it is associated with Covid-19 and the recent break for the GAA which will see the return of collective inter-county training now been put back to the end of the month.
But what about the "Water Break"?
Introduced when games returned at the back end of last summer, the purpose of the “Water Break” was to ensure that players were properly hydrated during a game, but more importantly had access to their own specific water bottle.
A novelty in the opening number of games with players making their way to the sideline to get much needed H2o on board, it soon became very evident that quarters were developing in how the game was been managed.
Momentum could swing on the back of that break, tactical changes could be made, communication to the collective panel, instead of the nuisance of a Maor Foirne entering and exiting the game to pass instruction. (The curse of the bright bib appearing on the field, just as the goal keeper was looking for the pocket of space to kick a placed ball into.)
Substitutions were slipped in, catching out the opposition and nine times out of 10 the watching media, who would spent the opening minute after the break, scrambling to find out where number 18 came out of and who did he replace.
Many years ago, quarter breaks were introduced on a trial basis to league games.
This scribe can recall attending one game in Clones, when the novelty of taking a break before the short whistle (Half-time) was introduced.
“Ahh this will never work, what are they stopping the game for? This is slowing the game down, Sure it will give the TV time to get an ad break in”.
Just some of the thoughts of supporters at the time and maybe one or two of my own.
But upon its return as a “Water Break” it seems to have been accepted.
Okay there was not much choice in regards to accepting it or not. We needed it if games were to be played, but it just seamlessly fitted in.
From the early days of having a social distanced gathering of water drinking, it became a social distanced huddle (if there is such a thing) of tactical discussion and discreet changes.
For some panels, the planning went as far as having the defence meet at one end of the field and the forwards at the other. It can be a fair trip back to the corner back/forward position from the side line at the half-way mark.
Plays were developed around re-starting after the break, with the hope of catching someone out of place as they trotted back to their position.
Hell a club game in Antrim even saw a goal scored by one team, as the other side continued to get instructions after the referee had whistled for the re-start.
Teams that had momentum could suddenly find themselves pinned back, their scoring threat nullified, the opposition finding their feet, a tactical move, an astute substitution.
Instead of seeing it out to half-time, it was a case of get to the half of half time.
Quarters were back in the game after that ill fated trial of years ago, but will they remain?
One would imagine they will for now. An accepted norm for the strange times we are in to ensure hopefully that games will go ahead.
But how much further planning will team management now put into knowing they have a break before the break. It is well documented how prepared teams, particularly inter-county sides are now for match day.
With backroom teams now bulging with all levels of experts and analysts, will we see the quarter coach now been added to the ticket.
No doubt if one delved deep enough, statistics could be produced (The GAA loves a good stat) to show how a game swung or changed before and after a water break. Possession, scores taken/conceded, GPS tracking on ground covered could all prove or maybe discount the notion that the “Water Break” has changed the game.
From the perspective of having just watched the games, it is noticeable that it has played its part in changing the landscape and optics of it.
If nothing else, as mentioned earlier it has reduced the nuisance of the bright bib runner crossing back and forth across the field.
The “Water Break” should it stay or should it go, maybe by its very nature, we should just go with the flow.
