I know it might seem an obvious question but seriously does anyone anymore know what a foul is in gaelic football. I have been attending gaelic football matches for quite a while now and it was only recently that I began to ask myself this question . I am not having a go at referees in this post but as far as I can see everyone has a different interpretation of what is now a foul. I get the pulling of a jersey bringing a player down illegally etc but everyone time I now see contact between players a free is blown. As players I think they feel the same thing, every referee has his or her own interpretation. Any thoughts out there. Or is it just as simple as players or indeed spectators not knowing the rules of the game these days. Or indeed referees
Replying To roseyinthegarden: "I know it might seem an obvious question but seriously does anyone anymore know what a foul is in gaelic football. I have been attending gaelic football matches for quite a while now and it was only recently that I began to ask myself this question . I am not having a go at referees in this post but as far as I can see everyone has a different interpretation of what is now a foul. I get the pulling of a jersey bringing a player down illegally etc but everyone time I now see contact between players a free is blown. As players I think they feel the same thing, every referee has his or her own interpretation. Any thoughts out there. Or is it just as simple as players or indeed spectators not knowing the rules of the game these days. Or indeed referees"
A few things from what I see in games...
A tug of the jersey will always be a foul.
Closed fist tackle is a foul.
If you put a hand on the player's back while tackling it's always a foul.
Any contact above chest high will always be a foul. This can be an issue when forwards duck into a tackle.
A wild swing at the ball is a foul. Needs to be a clear attempt to dislodge the ball.
Where it gets messy is when multiple players crowd around the man in possession. Not tackling and not letting the man release the ball. Generally the man in possession gets done for over carrying.
Replying To roseyinthegarden: "I know it might seem an obvious question but seriously does anyone anymore know what a foul is in gaelic football. I have been attending gaelic football matches for quite a while now and it was only recently that I began to ask myself this question . I am not having a go at referees in this post but as far as I can see everyone has a different interpretation of what is now a foul. I get the pulling of a jersey bringing a player down illegally etc but everyone time I now see contact between players a free is blown. As players I think they feel the same thing, every referee has his or her own interpretation. Any thoughts out there. Or is it just as simple as players or indeed spectators not knowing the rules of the game these days. Or indeed referees"
I don't 'foul' is the issue. I think it's 'tackle'.
Nowhere in the GAA rule book is the tackle defined. Actually, the word 'tackle' is not even mentioned in the rule book.
You're absolutely right to ask this question. There is no consensus on what constitutes a tackle in Gaelic Football. It is far too subjective and open to interpretation by referees, which is why some supporters get very angry or upset.
The tackle rule needs to be clarified. I think this idea of having 3 + players crowding around a player in possession should be penalised. It seems to me that simply standing still with your arm in front of a player trying to block him constitutes a "tackle". Nobody really knows.
Controversial opinion of mine, but I'll put it out there. The tackle from Austrialian rules football should be trialled in GAA. And the toe-up rule should be abolished.
In summary what is legal or illegal is down to the referees interpretation. therefore inconsistency abounds.
It breaks down like this - there is only one form of contact allowed in gaelic football which is the side to side challenge (shoulder) all other forms of contact other than incidental are technically a foul. The tackle itself can only be on the ball and can only be with an open hand. The only time a hand should be closed is in fist passing the ball. Id love to see the Aussie rules type of tackle brought in. I think it would speed up the game immensely and also put an end to a lot of the handpassing. A lot of what passes for tackles are actually fouls but shur if the refs blew for everything they should be there would only be 10 mins play in a game.
Replying To MayoDan: "A few things from what I see in games...
A tug of the jersey will always be a foul.
Closed fist tackle is a foul.
If you put a hand on the player's back while tackling it's always a foul.
Any contact above chest high will always be a foul. This can be an issue when forwards duck into a tackle.
A wild swing at the ball is a foul. Needs to be a clear attempt to dislodge the ball.
Where it gets messy is when multiple players crowd around the man in possession. Not tackling and not letting the man release the ball. Generally the man in possession gets done for over carrying."
When I was young you couldn't draw a kick on the ball if someone was trying to pick it up but that seems to be hit and miss nowadays, we were always told to let the man get the ball and then tackle him.
Replying To roseyinthegarden: "I know it might seem an obvious question but seriously does anyone anymore know what a foul is in gaelic football. I have been attending gaelic football matches for quite a while now and it was only recently that I began to ask myself this question . I am not having a go at referees in this post but as far as I can see everyone has a different interpretation of what is now a foul. I get the pulling of a jersey bringing a player down illegally etc but everyone time I now see contact between players a free is blown. As players I think they feel the same thing, every referee has his or her own interpretation. Any thoughts out there. Or is it just as simple as players or indeed spectators not knowing the rules of the game these days. Or indeed referees"
The foul (as opposed to technical fouls) are not defined in GAA rules, have a look at Basketball you would need a Masters to study them. The worst rule (or lack of one) in GAA is charging/Barging, it is impossibe to determine which is which if you look at the rule book., common sense tells what is a foul or not in that instance. And on it goes, tackling is another fraught area. But sure isn't this the joys of our games?