Post by givehimaball on Dec 7, 2022 11:09:14 GMT
New rule plans could see kick-outs forced to go past 45-metre line and frees retaken if opponents shake goalposts
Colm Keys
December 07 2022 02:30 AM
In a clear sign the GAA wants to cut out negative tactics, its Standing Committee on Playing Rules is looking to trial a kick-out that must clear the 45-metre line in third-level freshers football.
And it also wants to explore the impact that banning a mark, free, or sideline from going backwards, unless it’s taken within an opponents’ 20-metre line, would have.
It follows discussions around playing rules at Central Council on Saturday at which approval was given to trial a number of initiatives. It is not clear which freshers competitions the third-level authorities will give clearance for the trials and what the time-frame is but discussions are taking place.
The desire to assess these proposals makes clear the committee’s interest in trying to create the grounds for more positive football. Just 50pc of kick-outs in 2022 went ‘long’ or what the committee considered beyond the 45-metre line. In 2011 that figure was 86pc.
In 2018, the then Standing Committee on Playing Rules used a number of schools games to trial a kick-out that was required to travel beyond the 45-metre line but the idea was abandoned prior to pre-season games as adverse weather was considered a factor. Meanwhile, Central Council has given its support to close the loophole in the rulebook that doesn’t penalise a player for shaking a goalpost when a free or sideline is being taken.
Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford shook a post at the Hill 16 end just as Seán O’Shea’s winning free was curling inside it to advance Kerry to an All-Ireland final. It became apparent that there was no penalty for what Comerford did.
But if it cleared at Congress, and presumably it will, referees will now be able to order a retake of a free (mark or ’45) or a sideline.
A playing rule change to hurling has also been given Central Council approval for Congress whereby all other players, except those contesting a throw-in, must be behind the 45-metre line at the start of a game. Previously, they had to be behind the 65-metre line but more often than not, this was breached.
Colm Keys
December 07 2022 02:30 AM
In a clear sign the GAA wants to cut out negative tactics, its Standing Committee on Playing Rules is looking to trial a kick-out that must clear the 45-metre line in third-level freshers football.
And it also wants to explore the impact that banning a mark, free, or sideline from going backwards, unless it’s taken within an opponents’ 20-metre line, would have.
It follows discussions around playing rules at Central Council on Saturday at which approval was given to trial a number of initiatives. It is not clear which freshers competitions the third-level authorities will give clearance for the trials and what the time-frame is but discussions are taking place.
The desire to assess these proposals makes clear the committee’s interest in trying to create the grounds for more positive football. Just 50pc of kick-outs in 2022 went ‘long’ or what the committee considered beyond the 45-metre line. In 2011 that figure was 86pc.
In 2018, the then Standing Committee on Playing Rules used a number of schools games to trial a kick-out that was required to travel beyond the 45-metre line but the idea was abandoned prior to pre-season games as adverse weather was considered a factor. Meanwhile, Central Council has given its support to close the loophole in the rulebook that doesn’t penalise a player for shaking a goalpost when a free or sideline is being taken.
Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford shook a post at the Hill 16 end just as Seán O’Shea’s winning free was curling inside it to advance Kerry to an All-Ireland final. It became apparent that there was no penalty for what Comerford did.
But if it cleared at Congress, and presumably it will, referees will now be able to order a retake of a free (mark or ’45) or a sideline.
A playing rule change to hurling has also been given Central Council approval for Congress whereby all other players, except those contesting a throw-in, must be behind the 45-metre line at the start of a game. Previously, they had to be behind the 65-metre line but more often than not, this was breached.
www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/new-rule-plans-could-see-kick-outs-forced-to-go-past-45-metre-line-and-frees-retaken-if-opponents-shake-goalposts-42200993.html
All kickouts having to go past the 45 metre mark does not need to be trialled because everyone knows that if it's a windy day then lots of keepers won't be able to manage this. On a really windy day what would happen is that no kickout might go past the 45 metre line and all it would do would hand the ball to the opposition and the game would be two halves of backs v forwards.
Also the team defending the kickout would pull all 15 players behind the 45 metre mark so the ball will be kicked out to a very congested area leading to a lot of lottery type contests for possession.
Similar situation with the banning of dead ball kicks going backwards. All it would do is encourage the defending team to pull more players back behind the ball.
I read comments before from a member of the SRC that they wanted to encourage more contests for possession in football and that this was based on hurling which had a far higher of contests for possession. I'm of the opinion that they have take the wrong "learnings" from hurling - people want the game of football sped up as opposed to it becoming some sort of helter skelter random lottery with possession being turned over every five seconds. None of these rules do anything to speed up the game. Most I'd imagine would slow things down if anything - especially the kickouts where you'd be waiting for players to get into position for most kicks and short quick kickouts would be a thing of the past.
The rule about interferring with the goal posts is a no-brainer. I think it should be an automatic red card as well. If it's a situation where time is up in an All-Ireland final in a one-point game I think even if you know the free kick is going to be retaken I'd say it's still worth a chance as you might hope that it might work and the ref/umpires might miss it. Also it might just spook a free-taker and unsettle him for the retaken kick plus it would eat up a fair chunk of the goal. Also it's a massive scummy thing to do and making it an automatic red card would send a message. Just having the ref allow it to be retaken isn't an adequate punishment at all.
Once again you'd wonder about those on the Standing Rules Committee's understanding of the game of football based on what they have come up with here.