National Forum

Can Gaelic Football (Handball?) Be Saved?

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Have to agree on the player situation,watching today is an embarrassment for the Gaa..conditions were absolutely diabolical..as the saying goes,you wouldn't put a dog out..I will congratulate the 4 clubs on doing their best given the day that was in it..there were great scores got in both games and on a dry day I think the games were going to be better..when are semis of football being played??I see hurling semis next weekend..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2232 - 10/12/2023 17:03:48    2516218

Link

Replying To Saynothing:  "Football can be saved if GAA headquarters treated their players better. Ye wouldn't put a dog out in the winter yet they expect players to play championship football."
These are calender and scheduling issues.

But implementing changes to schedule will not change the reality that regardless of weather conditions players have to play in/ spectators are watching puke style tactics in football matches a lot of the time.

For years and years most GAA people have complained how the style of football has deteriorated, the GAA need to act in a serious way, in terms of changing the rule book, to combat this.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1361 - 10/12/2023 18:59:25    2516247

Link

One rule I'd like to see implemented to discourage off the ball offences is the instigater must suffer the same or greater punishment as the retaliater (player who retaliates after being fouled off the ball). Instigaters should also be open to same punishment as the retaliater after matches by the CCC.

Also please only allow trained referees to do umpires for county matches and club finals as they have the proper training and experience (and balls) to make big decisions in big matches. They will see and call out blatent fouls that traditional umpires would be reluctant or unsure of the rules to bring the the referees attention. The should be renamed assistant referees not umpires for county matches and club finals.

I said before about changing to 13 aside and keeping 2 players in the opponents half but first try 13 aside in the national league and see how it goes.
If 13 aside was tested out, should a maximum of 3 subs in normal time be allowed to create the environment where defences do tire and the game opens up ? With 5 subs, managers can refresh their defences and but with 3 subs, they will have to hold back in case of injuries, thus it will be harder for 13 starters to cover the same mileage and long kicking will have to be used more frequently as 13 aside tactic.

Tirchonailabu56 (Donegal) - Posts: 17 - 10/12/2023 21:34:45    2516273

Link

Replying To Tirchonailabu56:  "One rule I'd like to see implemented to discourage off the ball offences is the instigater must suffer the same or greater punishment as the retaliater (player who retaliates after being fouled off the ball). Instigaters should also be open to same punishment as the retaliater after matches by the CCC.

Also please only allow trained referees to do umpires for county matches and club finals as they have the proper training and experience (and balls) to make big decisions in big matches. They will see and call out blatent fouls that traditional umpires would be reluctant or unsure of the rules to bring the the referees attention. The should be renamed assistant referees not umpires for county matches and club finals.

I said before about changing to 13 aside and keeping 2 players in the opponents half but first try 13 aside in the national league and see how it goes.
If 13 aside was tested out, should a maximum of 3 subs in normal time be allowed to create the environment where defences do tire and the game opens up ? With 5 subs, managers can refresh their defences and but with 3 subs, they will have to hold back in case of injuries, thus it will be harder for 13 starters to cover the same mileage and long kicking will have to be used more frequently as 13 aside tactic."
All good sensible suggestions, so presumably they have no chance of being implemented lol

points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet (Tyrone) - Posts: 242 - 11/12/2023 01:02:19    2516299

Link

Replying To SurelyToGod:  "100%. The current rulebook needs to be enforced better before adding rules. Have been hearing for years about inter-county referees getting directives about high-challenges, throwballs, and steps, but none of those problems ever went away. I don't know where the initiative to enforce the rulebook better should or will come from. Can't pass a motion to implement a rule which is already in the rulebook.

Often hear that it should be 6 steps and strict, but over time that would eventually stretch out further than today's over-carrying."
Agreed. And i also think that the standard of solo-ing has deteriorated, as players realise they barely need to do it anymore. A really fuid solo-er, where the ball never goes high, is the exception rather than the rule nowadays, similar to the near death of a good dribbler in soccer these days

points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet (Tyrone) - Posts: 242 - 11/12/2023 01:06:01    2516300

Link

Replying To Tirchonailabu56:  "One rule I'd like to see implemented to discourage off the ball offences is the instigater must suffer the same or greater punishment as the retaliater (player who retaliates after being fouled off the ball). Instigaters should also be open to same punishment as the retaliater after matches by the CCC.

Also please only allow trained referees to do umpires for county matches and club finals as they have the proper training and experience (and balls) to make big decisions in big matches. They will see and call out blatent fouls that traditional umpires would be reluctant or unsure of the rules to bring the the referees attention. The should be renamed assistant referees not umpires for county matches and club finals.

I said before about changing to 13 aside and keeping 2 players in the opponents half but first try 13 aside in the national league and see how it goes.
If 13 aside was tested out, should a maximum of 3 subs in normal time be allowed to create the environment where defences do tire and the game opens up ? With 5 subs, managers can refresh their defences and but with 3 subs, they will have to hold back in case of injuries, thus it will be harder for 13 starters to cover the same mileage and long kicking will have to be used more frequently as 13 aside tactic."
The firat 2 rule changes you suggested (on instigators/ umpires) will make no impact on massed defense/ possession based tactics.

The GAA often tinkers with rule changes but the focus of rule changes at the moment for me should be specifically about tackling massed defense/ possession based tactics rather than trying to solving other issues.
These are main ills that are affecting the game at the moment and are issues which have been festering for years but are not really being tackled with the rule changes which have been brought in.

If the GAA aren't careful these are issues that could result in gaelic football in the next decade may lose a lot of interest in the game.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1361 - 11/12/2023 18:03:18    2516392

Link

Replying To bdbuddah:  "The firat 2 rule changes you suggested (on instigators/ umpires) will make no impact on massed defense/ possession based tactics.

The GAA often tinkers with rule changes but the focus of rule changes at the moment for me should be specifically about tackling massed defense/ possession based tactics rather than trying to solving other issues.
These are main ills that are affecting the game at the moment and are issues which have been festering for years but are not really being tackled with the rule changes which have been brought in.

If the GAA aren't careful these are issues that could result in gaelic football in the next decade may lose a lot of interest in the game."
Gaelic football is the biggest spectator team sport in the country. It will be around and thriving long after every poster on this site is in the great playing field in the sky.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 11/12/2023 23:55:03    2516415

Link

Replying To Greengrass:  "Gaelic football is the biggest spectator team sport in the country. It will be around and thriving long after every poster on this site is in the great playing field in the sky."
Good point. I prefer hurling but football over Winter has been very good to watch, both in person at Dublin club, and on TV. Apart from Crokes/OLG the football has been better watching, even just from entertainment purposes, which is what attracts normies rather than people counting handpasses and steps,

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2590 - 12/12/2023 09:26:05    2516427

Link

Replying To Greengrass:  "Gaelic football is the biggest spectator team sport in the country. It will be around and thriving long after every poster on this site is in the great playing field in the sky."
Hopefully it will but the thing is for years people have been complaining about how the tactical possession based approach is killing the spectacle of the game but nothing is being done about it.
The reason we are in this position is the rules of gaelic football have not been upgraded to adapt to the increased fitness of players over the years.
For years we're hearing gaelic football is not a good watch but nothing is done about it.

People complain that we have too many rule changes over the years but it seems to me that the focus of rule changes over the years has rarely been aimed at moving the game away from the possession based/ blanket defense game it has become and back towards the attacking game it used to be.
For example increasing the number of subs and the black card were never aimed as moving the game away from a possession based game (they actually probably had the opposite effect).

The GAA is a great organisation, I love what they do in communities, I love the local rivalaries. But the GAA can't just rely on peoples loyalty to the organisation to assume that they will keep playing/ coming to the games in big numbers, they need to look out for the game.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1361 - 12/12/2023 17:55:07    2516532

Link

4-6-4 formation makes blanket defence illegal and opens up the game - but would need to be tested to see if it works.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2632 - 16/12/2023 11:47:54    2517039

Link

Replying To omahant:  "4-6-4 formation makes blanket defence illegal and opens up the game - but would need to be tested to see if it works."
And need about 4 more officials in addition to the 8 already there to count the number of players in particular areas of the pitch.
Enforce the steps rule and stop allowing players in possession to assault woukd be tacklers.
Also if the silly forward mark is to be kept on...enforce the 15 seconds time limit.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1451 - 16/12/2023 13:33:35    2517052

Link

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "And need about 4 more officials in addition to the 8 already there to count the number of players in particular areas of the pitch.
Enforce the steps rule and stop allowing players in possession to assault woukd be tacklers.
Also if the silly forward mark is to be kept on...enforce the 15 seconds time limit."
So players can continue to bunch together and take hand pass after hand pass on each fourth step - wonderful.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2632 - 16/12/2023 17:51:37    2517076

Link

I get the feeling the GAA are finally going to act in serious manner on this.

https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-bogged-down-by-slow-cautious-play-and-change-is-coming-says-croke-park-chief-tom-ryan-KFPBXRFDDNCYNF5RNHORG7MTFQ/

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1361 - 09/02/2024 21:17:21    2525265

Link

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "And need about 4 more officials in addition to the 8 already there to count the number of players in particular areas of the pitch.
Enforce the steps rule and stop allowing players in possession to assault woukd be tacklers.
Also if the silly forward mark is to be kept on...enforce the 15 seconds time limit."
I agree with keeping the mark and enforcing the time limit. Thats something that a ref can do comfortably and enhances the game.

I'm not in favour of any counting of players or passes as that makes the game too difficult to referee. Anything that does that diminishes rather than enhances the game as a spectacle.

Of all the ideas to improve GF that have been floated the best I've seen was on here a number of years ago. It didn't gain any traction even on this forum because it borrowed from Rugby but it was brilliant in its simplicity and has the potential to greatly enhance the game. Its easy to referee also so no extra pressure there.
It was a simple change to the handpass rule. Handpassing would only be allowed laterally/flat or backwards. To progress the ball forward you must kick it. I think it would enhance the modern game. It preserves the off the shoulder and having a cut running while increasing the pace of the game through kicking the ball forward.

I definitely think that this is worth a trial. All other proposals I've read make refereeing more difficult and the game more complicated.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 16 - 17/02/2024 20:29:23    2526550

Link

How about a mandatory two line kick pass requirement to move the ball from own half to other half? - the defence has a choice - kick forward across both 65s OR across own 65 from behind own 45.
Also not difficult to ref.

This could be dubbed the "65-45 Rule", inspired by the relatively new and successful "50-22 Rule" in rugby union.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2632 - 22/02/2024 14:51:01    2527575

Link

Replying To omahant:  "How about a mandatory two line kick pass requirement to move the ball from own half to other half? - the defence has a choice - kick forward across both 65s OR across own 65 from behind own 45.
Also not difficult to ref.

This could be dubbed the "65-45 Rule", inspired by the relatively new and successful "50-22 Rule" in rugby union."
How about leaving the game alone and letting it evolve. Very few of the rule changes that have been introduced have made a positive difference. The mark from the kickout was a positive introduction. There is far too much negativity concerning football. Giving out about football has been a national pastime since I was a child and I saw my first All Ireland final in 1972. The footballers of today are as good as any generation of footballers I have seen. Their skill levels and most particularly their vision and awareness of what's around them are the best that I have seen.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 22/02/2024 15:51:11    2527587

Link

Replying To omahant:  "How about a mandatory two line kick pass requirement to move the ball from own half to other half? - the defence has a choice - kick forward across both 65s OR across own 65 from behind own 45.
Also not difficult to ref.

This could be dubbed the "65-45 Rule", inspired by the relatively new and successful "50-22 Rule" in rugby union."
It wouldn't work on it's own for a very obvious reason. I hope you can point out the obvious issue on reflection. So many random proposals from people that don't work unless 2 or 3 things also changed.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7908 - 22/02/2024 17:16:54    2527600

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "It wouldn't work on it's own for a very obvious reason. I hope you can point out the obvious issue on reflection. So many random proposals from people that don't work unless 2 or 3 things also changed."
If you're implying blanket defence, the defending team need players up to receive the kicked pass and at sufficient numbers in both halves, so man to man is required.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2632 - 22/02/2024 17:57:43    2527603

Link

If the advanced mark was like winning a free I think it would improve things! I.e if a high ball is kicked in and won the play can progress like the advantage rule for a couple of seconds, I believe more goals and exciting play will come from it because teams can then go for broke knowing if nothing comes of it we go back for the mark! Would this work? I seen a couple of times where a mark was won and there was a goal scoring chance going to develop but the forward chose to take the mark because it was a guaranteed point, but if the play was let develop and then go back for the mark if the chance was lost I think it will incentive going for goals with abandonment. Which can only be good for the game!

ecad123 (Galway) - Posts: 272 - 23/02/2024 21:53:56    2527785

Link

Replying To ecad123:  "If the advanced mark was like winning a free I think it would improve things! I.e if a high ball is kicked in and won the play can progress like the advantage rule for a couple of seconds, I believe more goals and exciting play will come from it because teams can then go for broke knowing if nothing comes of it we go back for the mark! Would this work? I seen a couple of times where a mark was won and there was a goal scoring chance going to develop but the forward chose to take the mark because it was a guaranteed point, but if the play was let develop and then go back for the mark if the chance was lost I think it will incentive going for goals with abandonment. Which can only be good for the game!"
Get rid of the forward mark altogether… An attacker getting a free kick for catching a ball is ridiculous .. is this not what he is supposed to do..? The big wigs in the GAA have ruined the game with all their silly rule changes…. What nonsense will they come up with next to drive even more people away from the game..?

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1959 - 24/02/2024 07:49:36    2527803

Link