THE GAA’S FOOTBALL Review Committee today released the first of a two-part report on the current state of the game.
The 28-page document, which can be read in full here, covers a wide range of aspects in Gaelic football at both club and county level as well proposing a number of possible changes.
During an eight-month period, over 60 matches were analysed while more than 3,000 people were surveyed online.
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Eugene McGee, FRC chairman, said at today’s launch: ‘The overriding conclusion that has emerged from all this research is that Gaelic football is in a fairly healthy state.
But while the basic structure of the game is in good shape there are some specific matters that have arisen in recent years which are a source of complaint from many football people and these are what the FRC was requested by GAA President Liam Ó Néill to examine and if necessary propose changes for the better.”
The proposals of the report are as follows:
The game
- A ‘mark’ to be introduced for any catch from a kick-out on or past the 45 metre line.
- A clean pick-up should be permitted, subject to the player being in an upright position, with at least one foot on the ground, while making the pick-up.
- Players issued with a yellow card should be subject to mandatory substitution for the remainder of the game.
- After a team has been given three yellow cards, any more will mean the player going off with no substitution.
- For inter-county competitions a total of three yellow cards for an individual player in any one grade in the same year should lead to a two-match suspension.
- The number of substitutes permitted should be increased from the present five to six.
- Offences currently attracting a 13-metre sanction should be changed to a 30-metre sanction.
- A point can be scored with the open hand as well as the fist.
Management
- With regard to club fixture making, the CCC rather than the County Board shall have ultimate control in each county.
- To protect the club and club players, the existing Manager’s Charter become a formal agreement.
- The phased introduction of mandatory coaching qualifications, particularly for managers and coaches of adult teams at club and county level.
Referees
- A distinction between accidental and deliberate fouls be written into the rules, with only deliberate fouls invoking a card punishment.
- The publication of a layperson’s guide to the playing rules which aims to explain the most common rules.
- The link between the head of referees in each province and county and the Chair of the Referees Committee should be considerably strengthened.
- Full and proper enforcement by referees of the rule governing field incursions to address the issue of time-wasting in particular.
- A recruitment drive for referees among recently retired players be pursued.
- Before all club and county games, referees should go to each team dressing room to introduce themselves to the players.
Time keeping
- The duration of the game be changed from 60 minutes to 70 minutes for all adult club competitions.
- A public time clock be introduced in Croke Park and in all grounds used for Provincial and All-Ireland series games in 2013.
The second part of the report will be published early next year.
No introduction of a proper tackle. The lack of a proper tackle in Football is causing a situation where there is a free every minute. It ruins the game as a spectacle. I find it very hard to watch games these days.
totally agree.
Not sure I like the idea of a mark. Football can be slow enough as it is without the game essentially stopping everytime someone catches the ball.
Don’t like idea substitutes increasing either makes the more stronger counties stronger as they have better panel than other counties
A âmarkâ to be introduced for any catch from a kick-out on or past the 45 metre line.
Stop changing the rules of the game every few years. I remember when they tried to implement a “sin bin”. Just leave things the way they are. If you have to change things, put a limit on hand passes, and allow for more tackling.
They’ve been talking about introducing a mark since God was a boy, have they actually ever trialled it?
Since god was a boy! Brilliant!
In light of the inconsistencies of referees, the proposal regarding yellow card seems crazy, it’s a contact sport and measures like this will do nothing for the game.
As for the mark, I can imagine a team leading by a point with a minute to go and the player in position taking all the time in the world before deciding his next move. Not for me !!!
John I believe there’s a five second limit on the ‘mark’ free kick (remains to be seen if it’ll be enforced)
I’m in favour of most of these rules myself,but for the yellow card rule! I think it’s something that a cute full back could use to their advantage when marking the likes of the Gooch-in that they may be able to draw a foul/repetitive fouling. It should put a stop to cynical fouling,but will it lead to a culture of diving and over acting?! I pray not!!!
I would suggest that players should not be allowed handle the ball then people could associate the game with its name ‘football’.
Agreed. The dreaded handpassing should be banned. Instead they are now goong to allow an open hand pass. It aint football anymore.
I think there is another version of the game ahead of you on that one!
Tell that to the aussies and yanks aswell then, or is it only irish culture that you troll?
At east Ben has a sense of humour.
yes to much hand passing and not enough hard hitting shouldering anymore game is getting very soft and is sneaking up on the ladies game of soccer no contact sport in my worldwide
Oh god trying to bring in the mark again…. It doesn’t help the flow of the game it stops it. You could just have a tall guy in midfield and all he does is catch. It’ll ruin the game!!
The card will be tough to enforce at the start but we do need to tackle the time wasting that has become a big part of football as well as fouls on purpose just to stop a goal opportunity.
The yellow card proposals look like they are deliberately harsh as a starting point which will be watered down by congress. The result will hopefully be a situation where teams can endlessly pick up yellow cards without any real punishment. It has become expected of teams, especially successful teams, to now pick up 6 or 7 yellow cards in a game. Denying the opposition momentum, and especially goal chances. very cynical. Also a player can pick up a yellow card in every game without punishment, ridiculous. Maybe a 1 match ban for 3 yellow cards. Think having to be substituted on receiving a card is too harsh..need to re-think that..that would definitely suit the bigger counties too much. 30m penalty for not letting opposition get on with a quick free has to be a good thing..
Mark- no, ball moved forward 25to 30 yards- yes, suspension for picking up 3 yellow cards- yes, sub with a yellow- no, actually write a rule about the correct way to tackle and implement it- yes, and finally 5 handpasess then a kick pass like they do in the international rules- A big yes please
Oh, the poor referees!
I couldn’t see the ref being too happy with going into dressing room pre match. In small counties with small ref pool this could cause a problem.
To be honest as a ‘floating voter’ type sports fan who will watch anything with a ball in it, football has gotten very hard to watch. The endless hand passing and swarm defense frequently makes for an ugly, boring spectacle. The constant fouling both on and off the ball also drags things down. These new rules are welcome enough as things go but I would agree with all the other commentators who say: Where is the Tackle? A huge omission
the Gaa need. to watch some. of the refs and make them more accountable for their decisions especially at grassroots