HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Get Rid Of The Square Ball Rule

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

What is the point of a rule that either isn't properly enforced or is often wrongly called because the umpires are guessing if a player is inside before the ball was kicked. PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1656 - 21/02/2023 09:40:56 2459535 Link
It's a difficult rule to enforce exactly, i.e. was the player in the square at the precise time the ball was played? In some scenarios there's no way an umpire or ref could know for sure, as the margins are so tight. The Cork-Dublin game on Sunday being a good example. Even with the tv replay, the commentators weren't 100%. However, it does serve a purpose in its current form. It keeps forwards out of the square and from hanging in on top of the goalie. So even though it's imprecise currently, I think removing it would be a worse step, unless it's replaced with something more effective. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2049 - 21/02/2023 11:04:16 2459550 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "It's a difficult rule to enforce exactly, i.e. was the player in the square at the precise time the ball was played? In some scenarios there's no way an umpire or ref could know for sure, as the margins are so tight. The Cork-Dublin game on Sunday being a good example. Even with the tv replay, the commentators weren't 100%. However, it does serve a purpose in its current form. It keeps forwards out of the square and from hanging in on top of the goalie. So even though it's imprecise currently, I think removing it would be a worse step, unless it's replaced with something more effective." Why did they change the rule from when a player couldn't play the ball if he was in the square before the ball entered the square? Looked much easier then for umpires to judge if it was a square ball or not. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7364 - 21/02/2023 15:40:27 2459617 Link
Replying To PK57: "What is the point of a rule that either isn't properly enforced or is often wrongly called because the umpires are guessing if a player is inside before the ball was kicked." Rule of unintended consequences. You could make things far worse by removing it. It's not perfect, but having nothing there doesn't work either Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2407 - 21/02/2023 15:56:24 2459627 Link
It's a much better rule now. Rarely mistakes happen Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1504 - 21/02/2023 17:25:21 2459650 Link
I would keep all attacking players out of square whether the ball is in or not. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 21/02/2023 18:10:40 2459659 Link
Get Rid Of The Square Ball Rule Since when has the ball been square? Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2480 - 21/02/2023 18:52:25 2459667 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: "Why did they change the rule from when a player couldn't play the ball if he was in the square before the ball entered the square? Looked much easier then for umpires to judge if it was a square ball or not." It's one for var/too really especially with two different rules as from play or from a set play, more than difficult to get right with any consistency, Maybe reduce the small parallelogram a bit and exclude opposition players totally? sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 685 - 21/02/2023 19:54:10 2459680 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "I would keep all attacking players out of square whether the ball is in or not." A bit different - but I like Joe Brolly's "Exclusion Zone" idea - designed to counter the blanket defence, defenders in the zone would be 'off side' if not marking an attacking player. While it would change the way the game is played, it could lead to more attacking play and man-to-man marking. What do yuz all think? omahant (USA) - Posts: 2618 - 23/02/2023 19:36:58 2459934 Link
Replying To sligo joe: "It's one for var/too really especially with two different rules as from play or from a set play, more than difficult to get right with any consistency, Maybe reduce the small parallelogram a bit and exclude opposition players totally?" Attacking players should not be allowed into the small rectangle before the ball. The the referees umpires when this was in effect usually got it right when this was the rule. The goalkeeper should not be impeded by four or five attackers who can now enter the square after the ball is kicked. Gaa Fan (USA) - Posts: 749 - 23/02/2023 20:05:58 2459941 Link
Replying To omahant: "A bit different - but I like Joe Brolly's "Exclusion Zone" idea - designed to counter the blanket defence, defenders in the zone would be 'off side' if not marking an attacking player. While it would change the way the game is played, it could lead to more attacking play and man-to-man marking. What do yuz all think?" Linesman would need to up their game for that to work. Half of them need glasses as it is. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 23/02/2023 21:29:35 2459945 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "I would keep all attacking players out of square whether the ball is in or not." Agree - would probably stop the basketball/palm/volleyball goal that has no place in Gaelic Football . grassroots01 (Wexford) - Posts: 169 - 24/02/2023 08:41:45 2459949 Link
Maybe nobody should be allowed in there unless the ball has hit the ground in there. Or once the keeper touches the ball. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1138 - 24/02/2023 09:54:45 2459956 Link
Square ball only exists from set plays ie frees, 45 etc ,am I correct? Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 442 - 24/02/2023 10:05:50 2459957 Link
Replying To Lockerroomboy: "Square ball only exists from set plays ie frees, 45 etc ,am I correct?" No it's in place from open play too. Cork's disallowed goal at the weekend was from a pass from open play. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2049 - 24/02/2023 10:40:48 2459966 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "No it's in place from open play too. Cork's disallowed goal at the weekend was from a pass from open play." Love to see official update rule on square ball Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 442 - 24/02/2023 11:52:01 2459986 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "No it's in place from open play too. Cork's disallowed goal at the weekend was from a pass from open play." That doesn't mean refree was correct, Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 442 - 24/02/2023 11:53:07 2459987 Link
Replying To Lockerroomboy: "Love to see official update rule on square ball" Love to see official update rule on square ball Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 330 - 24/02/2023 11:52:01 What do you mean by update rule ? It has been in place 11 years. RHF (Cavan) - Posts: 850 - 24/02/2023 12:27:33 2459991 Link
Replying To RHF: "Love to see official update rule on square ball Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 330 - 24/02/2023 11:52:01 What do you mean by update rule ? It has been in place 11 years." One time you could only enter square after ball, then you could be in square before ball except set plays, 11 years when set plays was introduced???? Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 442 - 24/02/2023 14:25:47 2460011 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Linesman would need to up their game for that to work. Half of them need glasses as it is." You know, I agree - especially as Brolly's Zone is "arching", akin to basketball. I'd simplify that by having say, a "broken 33-metre line" across the pitch (rectangular zone, easier to police). omahant (USA) - Posts: 2618 - 24/02/2023 18:31:13 2460050 Link