THE new playing rules committee is expected to meet over the next few weeks.
Featuring Jarlath Burns (Armagh Central Council delegate), Gerry Hickey (Clare’s delegate), GPA representatives Dessie Farrell (chief executive), Dónal Óg Cusack (chairman), Kilkenny manager Brian Cody and Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney, their recommendations will be put to Central Council and, if successful, will be brought in for the leagues on an experimental basis.
GAA trustee Con Hogan, who explained the motion paving the way for the committee at this year’s Congress, has already qualified the move by saying the committee operate under a "tightly controlled system" and there won’t be a spate of motions in front of delegates every year.
However, the square ball rule is all but certain to be altered after much outcry this season while McGeeney will undoubtedly raise the issue of the tackle – something he previously did at this year’s pre-championship managers’ meeting with Croke Park officials.
Then again, Cody, who has regularly spoken about the merits of hurling as it current exists, could challenge any proposal to alter the rules of the game.
But after last Sunday’s dour All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Dublin and Donegal, the committee will come under the spotlight to look at matters concerning Gaelic football.
Here we assess five potential changes arising from that forgettable match:
Limit of four hand passes
His son Mark may have been on the team but that didn’t stop Martin McHugh criticising Donegal’s style of football radio yesterday.
“You wouldn’t like to see other teams copying it, teams that haven’t got a chance saying ‘let’s do this’.
“Donegal were a kick of a ball away from winning an All-Ireland and club teams could start doing it.
“At that stage, maybe the GAA would have to take in a rule looking at four players having to be in the opposition’s half or something like that. The referees have to take a look at the second man coming in to tackle a player and that’s a foul.”
McHugh’s suggestion, while interesting, is so fundamental it’s unlikely to be followed up immediately after just one game but we’ll remember where we heard it first.
Team-fouls rules for offences committed out the field
In today’s Irish Examiner, Burns is adamant the GAA have to do something about stopping teams gain advantages from fouling. "If every forward is allowed to give away two fouls before being yellow-carded that's 12 or more fouls that really go unpunished,” pointed out Armagh’s 1999 Ulster winning captain. "We need to be considering something like giving a 45 to a team if the opposition's forwards have fouled three times."
Another interesting proposal but one that needs more meat on the bone and Burns will hope to tease out a bit more in committee meetings. Any measure aimed at stamping out cynicism in Gaelic football has to be supported.
Bring in a clock/hooter system
As pointed out by Kieran Shannon in the Irish Examiner today, referee Maurice Deegan should have allowed a lot more time than the three minutes of additional time at the end of the second-half. Given the constant hold-ups and time-wasting on Donegal’s part, there should have been at least another two minutes of play.
Taking time-keeping out of the referee’s hands is something that has to be considered more as the game becomes harder and harder to officiate. It just makes sense. Wexford’s motion to introduce a hooter to matches was successful last year but was later ruled out as being cost prohibitive. But as the more expensive Hawk-Eye is set to be used in Croke Park on a pilot basis over the next two years, a similar initiative for the hooter/clock wouldn’t go astray.
Final whistle at the end of each half blown when ball is dead
A more cost-effective solution to the problem of referees not providing the adequate amount of additional time.
The full-time whistle would only come after the expiration of added time when the ball next crosses any boundary line. Yet a motion pertaining to this was introduced in last year’s Allianz Leagues and it was defeated at Congress in Newcastle where there were 122 other proposals up for decision. Yes, it borrows from rugby but it would help to reduce the criticism on referees and added an added dimension of fairness.
The mark (from kick-outs)
Mentioned by Burns, it still has a lot of support but what is aimed at enshrining one of the great arts in Gaelic football actually militates against it. High-fielding is dying, there’s no doubt about that, but the mark is no reward for it when teams will happily allow opponents to fetch the ball only to stand in front of them when they return to the ground. Such prohibitive tactics are logical given they allow more players to get back in defence.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/AFUm6qVU2UI/post.aspx
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