THE GAA’S REFEREES’ chief does not envisage a black card being introduced in hurling in ‘the immediate future’ and does not believe there is a need for a second referee to help officiate as the speed of both hurling and Gaelic football increases.
With the 2018 championship having commenced last weekend, Willie Barrett is confident in the referees at their disposal as the volume of matches is set to increase over the coming weeks.
“We’ve had fitness tests, fitness training seminars throughout the year. In hurling we have 10 referees, football 18, in the championship panels. They are all very fit. We are well catered for with one referee.
“It’s a yellow in hurling for a pull-down. As long as our referees are applying the rule there, it’s for somebody else to decide whether a black card is needed in hurling. We go by the rules that are there when we’re talking to our referees. I don’t see it coming in in the immediate future, to be honest. We are happy to deal with the rules as they are at present.”
Barrett believes the black card has ‘done a good job’ in football in acting as a deterrent to cynical play.
“For the immediate future, I don’t see an issue with the black card. The black card has done a good job for us. We’d be happy enough that the application of the black card is good.
“It took a while to bed down. There was teething problems. I think we’re in a better place now. We have less discussion of the black card. There is a greater acceptance of the black card by players in particular when it is issued. You don’t see as many asking questions as we used to. I think referees are getting it very right in the black card situation.”
The National Referees Development Committee gathered the referees on this year’s championship panels for a recent review of the league action and a number of issues emerged which will be focused on this summer:
Football
- Concern was expressed at the number of players who don’t appear to be using mouthguards.
- Referees have noticed an increase in the amount of melee type situations which have developed.
- An increase in potentially dangerous head high tackles and collisions was very noticeable during the Allianz league.
Hurling
- Referees have expressed concern as to the increase in holding-type infractions which appears to be creeping in to hurling.
- A marked increased in melees has been noted.
- Similar to football, there appears to have been an increase in potentially dangerous head high tackles and collisions during the Allianz league.
- Referees have noted how difficult it is for them to ‘referee’ the handpass in hurling due to the speed of the players.
- Adherence to the rule relating to interference with the faceguard/helmet has improved considerably, both by players and referees.
The incident that resulted in Kildare’s Eoin Doyle being sent-off in a league game in February threw the issue of mouthguards into the spotlight and that along with a spike in the number of melees is something Barrett is keen to see addressed.
“We want to ensure in the interests of safety that players are wearing their mouth-guards. We think it is very important. Wearing a mouthguard is wearing it in a mouth, not in a stocking.
“I suppose the other one in in football is melee situations. This is something we’ve certainly honed in on as well. We’ve seen a number of games where a melee has occurred and we’ve asked our referees to deal with it very strongly.
“Where there are two players involved, it’s fine, the referee can deal with it. But where more players come in and add to that…it then becomes a melee. What’s a melee? Making a bad situation worse.
“We would be particularly honing in on the first and second person in to the melee, shall we say, after two players have been involved. We believe that’s causing other players to come in.
“Likewise in hurling, if it’s left to the two players and the referees and officials, there’s generally no difficulty.
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“if he doesn’t take his hand off my leg I’m going to have to say something”
Jasus, I could kill for some milk now. Milk, milk, milk, milk.
Did I turn off the emersion?
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things…
Are ya there Bod? It’s me, Paulie. :)
When Chuck Norris dies I’ll be king!!
“I bet ya I could touch the celing..”
GOD. Can You put your fear into them again please !
I watched these boys training this morning @ Carton House, bet he’s thinking who was yer one there in the black & grey coat!!!
“How do they put the fig in the figroll?”
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He’s wondering how heaslip managed to tape cian healy to the ceiling in retaliation for cling-filming his car to a lamp post.
“Jeeeeeeesus, Declan Kidney talks a lot of shite…..”
Can’t believe he didn’t pick ROG…
Eddie was from youghal. Decco is from cork. I dont really miss Brian. Could murder a few sausages.
E=mc2….omg I get it now, it’s such an elegant solution!!
They should fix that leak.
I tired now Boss!!!!
Please God don’t let Deccie put Paddy Wallace in the team
It’s like the time I signed up for that ad….I thought the ad was for M I L F….turned out it was for M I L K…..Ah well….
‘If that pretty-boy Bowe joins Munster, I might have to start the sunbeds meself….’
Don’t make me come up to ya God, we better win at the weekend……….RIGHT!!!
Holy shit there’s a puma jumping over my head!
Note to self: iron the feckin shirt for the next press conference.
There’s that fecker superman again after my pyjamas
Declan told me “look them straight in the eye”. But the little bastards were flying all over the place.
Are we still in australia Declan
Emily
Look normal . . its a pretty nasty silent milk fart but nobody can say it was mine. I some love milk.
Just what I was thinking
‘I wonder what s***e gatland will come out with this year’
Did I plug out the iron?
I wonder will Coolderry beat Gort in the hurling.
Johnny Sexton! Was Deco watching the world cup
Beam me up BOD
Im soooo tired!!
Shite, did I turn the immersion off…
Who’s gonna milk the cows on sunday
Praise god for the milk we are about to receive
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Easy come, easy go, will you let me go. Bismilah! No, we will not let you go”…etc :-)
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Hope it’s not a smelly
*inevitable Bertie comment*
Mother a jaysus will this gobshite ever shut up
St. Jude please let me win the 6 nations before I retire and then make me manager and give yerman beside me the big heave-HO you know I deserve it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7SD3gbDVCU&feature=related
Is this really happening ,what do I do now
I really should have ironed my t-shirt!
Wonder what tan Gavin Henson uses? Really must ask him…..
I wish Anne Doyle was interviewing us!
ooh silent but deadly, nice one :)
Paulie: “Im not normally a religios man but, if youre up there, BoD please help us!!”
oops *religious*
Sick of the journal losing comments, getting tedious guys
Paul: ‘Chose milk with the dairy council sign..’
Producer: and..
Paul: ‘we do?
Producer: no u dumb cauliflower head I DO not we do not u do not they f’n do, say it with me paul, I DO…
Paul: ‘got u now horse,
Choose milk with the Ndc sign, you do?’
Producer: screw this could we get that monkey we auditioned yesterday back for another casting
Is that the jacks upstairs leaking?
Wow their really tall
That’s class wallpaper!
Jesus H. Will Deccie ever shut up!!
The second best priest
Where’s my cape???? ROG needs to be on the team!!!!!