National Forum

Why Hurling Is No Longer A Backs Game

(Oldest Posts First)

a player running at a defender either
1.throws the ball away,falls straight into the defender.free in.HOW?
2.turns sideways,brushes off the shoulder of the defender,free in.HOW?
there are lots of these sort of frees in every match,is the defender supposed to make himself disappear or get out of the attackers way?what is he supposed to do?
i feel great sympathy for backs now,i think referees are constantly giving forwards the benefit of the doubt while a defender is not even allowed stand his ground.
as a former no nonsense but no angel full back,i would hate to play the modern game.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 05/08/2018 22:03:37    2129709

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Replying To perfect10:  "a player running at a defender either
1.throws the ball away,falls straight into the defender.free in.HOW?
2.turns sideways,brushes off the shoulder of the defender,free in.HOW?
there are lots of these sort of frees in every match,is the defender supposed to make himself disappear or get out of the attackers way?what is he supposed to do?
i feel great sympathy for backs now,i think referees are constantly giving forwards the benefit of the doubt while a defender is not even allowed stand his ground.
as a former no nonsense but no angel full back,i would hate to play the modern game."
What seems to happen is a player runs into traffic and goes down, its in the box or scoring area and the ref "feels" he has to blow a free. Same situation in middle of the the park ref lest it go. Today in Clare v Galway there was countless potential calls on both teams for arms around the neck, charging into players standing their ground its poor and in some instances very very unfair on defenders. The two most annoying no calls in the game is surely the attacker charging into the defending standing his ground and the major bug bear of mine the third man tackle. To brain dead punters basicially its tackling a player without the ball - appalling.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 05/08/2018 23:22:50    2129757

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Replying To perfect10:  "a player running at a defender either
1.throws the ball away,falls straight into the defender.free in.HOW?
2.turns sideways,brushes off the shoulder of the defender,free in.HOW?
there are lots of these sort of frees in every match,is the defender supposed to make himself disappear or get out of the attackers way?what is he supposed to do?
i feel great sympathy for backs now,i think referees are constantly giving forwards the benefit of the doubt while a defender is not even allowed stand his ground.
as a former no nonsense but no angel full back,i would hate to play the modern game."
Backs don't tackle the same at inter county level. Arm and hurl in across the forward constantly at inter county level. Don't see enough of back playing the ball or getting a good hook or block or fair shoulder in. Don't blame the refs here for a second

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 05/08/2018 23:32:02    2129762

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A frontal hit should be allowed as long it is not to the head and the arms and stick are not used. That will give the defender some tool to stop the forward with. What is of a greater concern is the tackle around the neck with the arm and stick. Two of those and a red card should be issued. Someone is going to be seriously hurt if this is not addressed. It is worse than the helmet issues that got all the hype.
The rule for hand passing needs to be enforced. The hand and arm should clearly come back. What we are seen is the ball being pushed forward with no striking action. In other words it is some form of throw.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2653 - 06/08/2018 16:18:40    2130076

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Replying To perfect10:  "a player running at a defender either
1.throws the ball away,falls straight into the defender.free in.HOW?
2.turns sideways,brushes off the shoulder of the defender,free in.HOW?
there are lots of these sort of frees in every match,is the defender supposed to make himself disappear or get out of the attackers way?what is he supposed to do?
i feel great sympathy for backs now,i think referees are constantly giving forwards the benefit of the doubt while a defender is not even allowed stand his ground.
as a former no nonsense but no angel full back,i would hate to play the modern game."
Is that a criticism of referees from you?
In fairness there are a lot of 'fouls' on forwards that are let go too, in the interest of letting the game flow.
There were a few phases of play from last Sunday's game where there were at least 3 or 4 fouls, and the whistle didn't go once.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2030 - 06/08/2018 17:48:36    2130096

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Replying To perfect10:  "a player running at a defender either
1.throws the ball away,falls straight into the defender.free in.HOW?
2.turns sideways,brushes off the shoulder of the defender,free in.HOW?
there are lots of these sort of frees in every match,is the defender supposed to make himself disappear or get out of the attackers way?what is he supposed to do?
i feel great sympathy for backs now,i think referees are constantly giving forwards the benefit of the doubt while a defender is not even allowed stand his ground.
as a former no nonsense but no angel full back,i would hate to play the modern game."
I don't know man. There are a lot of soft frees in every match, and then there are an awful lot of clear cut frees not given.

It's a very difficult game to referee to be honest.

As another no nonsense full back I think we get away with an awful lot at times so I don't begrudge the forward getting the benefit of the doubt the odd time.

Just get out and win the ball or if he wins it, get your feet right and make the tackle when he's striking or soloing. Most frees given are given when the defender isn't set right and the forward takes advantage and comes into physical contact during their four steps with the ball in hand. Unless you can get shoulder to shoulder or stand him up you shadow and wait for him to release the ball to strike or solo.

As a former manager of mine always said, it's your fault for giving the ref a decision to make. Once you look at it that way your thinking changes for the better. The best defenders stay close and wait for their opportunity to get the flick, hook or block in.

There is no better feeling than a perfectly executed hook, block or flick in the full back line. The forwards can have their goals and points feelings but we know the truth!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 06/08/2018 18:05:26    2130104

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Replying To MesAmis:  "I don't know man. There are a lot of soft frees in every match, and then there are an awful lot of clear cut frees not given.

It's a very difficult game to referee to be honest.

As another no nonsense full back I think we get away with an awful lot at times so I don't begrudge the forward getting the benefit of the doubt the odd time.

Just get out and win the ball or if he wins it, get your feet right and make the tackle when he's striking or soloing. Most frees given are given when the defender isn't set right and the forward takes advantage and comes into physical contact during their four steps with the ball in hand. Unless you can get shoulder to shoulder or stand him up you shadow and wait for him to release the ball to strike or solo.

As a former manager of mine always said, it's your fault for giving the ref a decision to make. Once you look at it that way your thinking changes for the better. The best defenders stay close and wait for their opportunity to get the flick, hook or block in.

There is no better feeling than a perfectly executed hook, block or flick in the full back line. The forwards can have their goals and points feelings but we know the truth!"
Ah, yeah. Flip the Sliothar away just as he's about to shoot. No better feeling.
As another former full back that rings very true.
Your team might lose by 15pts,( all the half back lines fault of course,) but by God the full forward knew he was in a game.
I miss playing, great days that I didn't appreciate when I had them.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1056 - 06/08/2018 19:03:10    2130126

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Hockey is more dangerous than hurling......no one wear helmets only the goalies and that will put a stop to all this nonsense!!!
Bring back the real man's game like it was in 70s 80s and 90s!!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 06/08/2018 19:13:32    2130130

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Perfect10 criticising refs, disgraceful carry on.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 06/08/2018 20:23:40    2130153

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