National Forum

Should There Be Rule Changes In Hurling?

(Oldest Posts First)

Since its introduction some years ago I have always believed that the penalty in hurling is wrong.
The shot s taken 20 metres out. A small ball travelling at around 100 or more kilometres an hour. I think it's true to say that in most cases a goal is scored. Of course the shot taker should have the advantage as a foul has been committed.
In soccer and gaelic football the ball is so much bigger and the ball doesn't travel as fast as in hurling. I'm not saying penalties should be abolished, just give the defence more of a chance of saving the shot.
This could be done by having the goalkeeper plus one in the goal and perhaps bringing the ball out an extra 5 metres.
It would still favour the shooter but it would increase the chance of a save been made.
I believe that it would lead to a better game.
I know many will disagree with me on this issue but surely it's worth thinking about and maybe some delegates might put forward as a proposal at the annual conference.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 576 - 22/12/2025 06:18:48    2649152

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Replying To Magpie2:  "Since its introduction some years ago I have always believed that the penalty in hurling is wrong.
The shot s taken 20 metres out. A small ball travelling at around 100 or more kilometres an hour. I think it's true to say that in most cases a goal is scored. Of course the shot taker should have the advantage as a foul has been committed.
In soccer and gaelic football the ball is so much bigger and the ball doesn't travel as fast as in hurling. I'm not saying penalties should be abolished, just give the defence more of a chance of saving the shot.
This could be done by having the goalkeeper plus one in the goal and perhaps bringing the ball out an extra 5 metres.
It would still favour the shooter but it would increase the chance of a save been made.
I believe that it would lead to a better game.
I know many will disagree with me on this issue but surely it's worth thinking about and maybe some delegates might put forward as a proposal at the annual conference."
I agree there should be rule changes around penalties, but not the one you are proposing. Plenty of penalties are missed in hurling. Football ones are taken alot closer in as it is, and a Football keeper doesn't have a hurl to save the ball with.
A deliberate pull down that stops a shot for goal should be a penalty whether its in the large rectangle or not would be the rule change Id like to see. Or see enforced more.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17866 - 22/12/2025 08:28:32    2649155

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Replying To Magpie2:  "Since its introduction some years ago I have always believed that the penalty in hurling is wrong.
The shot s taken 20 metres out. A small ball travelling at around 100 or more kilometres an hour. I think it's true to say that in most cases a goal is scored. Of course the shot taker should have the advantage as a foul has been committed.
In soccer and gaelic football the ball is so much bigger and the ball doesn't travel as fast as in hurling. I'm not saying penalties should be abolished, just give the defence more of a chance of saving the shot.
This could be done by having the goalkeeper plus one in the goal and perhaps bringing the ball out an extra 5 metres.
It would still favour the shooter but it would increase the chance of a save been made.
I believe that it would lead to a better game.
I know many will disagree with me on this issue but surely it's worth thinking about and maybe some delegates might put forward as a proposal at the annual conference."
How many penalties in an average hurling match?
Need to address Ball throwing, cynicism, dissent and sideline picks a metre inside the sideline perhaps?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 285 - 22/12/2025 09:11:21    2649162

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I'd like to see something done when you win a free inside your own 65. This carry on of bringing your freetaker all the way back to take it and him taking all day slows the game down. It should be taken by the player thats fouled. Or the player nearest to the free.
Refs need more help making decisions, as we saw again yesterday. Surely a 4th official could see the game on a screen and help him out as the standard of umpiring seem to be getting worse.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2640 - 22/12/2025 14:19:43    2649198

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Replying To Seanfan:  "How many penalties in an average hurling match?
Need to address Ball throwing, cynicism, dissent and sideline picks a metre inside the sideline perhaps?"
Sidelines in hurling have to be taken from inside the sideline. Its the opposite of Football. Cynicism and dissent need to be dealt with better for sure. Ball throwing should probably be legalised at this stage, maybe underhand with a maximum distance would be easy enough to enforce?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17866 - 22/12/2025 15:52:22    2649210

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Replying To Seanfan:  "How many penalties in an average hurling match?
Need to address Ball throwing, cynicism, dissent and sideline picks a metre inside the sideline perhaps?"
Not many to be fair but they sometimes mean the difference between winning or losing.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 576 - 22/12/2025 18:53:27    2649244

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Replying To Viking66:  "Sidelines in hurling have to be taken from inside the sideline. Its the opposite of Football. Cynicism and dissent need to be dealt with better for sure. Ball throwing should probably be legalised at this stage, maybe underhand with a maximum distance would be easy enough to enforce?"
I don't know about the rule on side line balls but if coaching would not allow players to go short. Especially in your own halve. The percentage turned over must be over 90%. At least drive it well down field and a 50/50 chance of winning. You are at least have a better chance of winning back the loss. The short one turns into a score many many times for the opposition.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3232 - 22/12/2025 21:16:18    2649259

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Replying To Viking66:  "Sidelines in hurling have to be taken from inside the sideline. Its the opposite of Football. Cynicism and dissent need to be dealt with better for sure. Ball throwing should probably be legalised at this stage, maybe underhand with a maximum distance would be easy enough to enforce?"
The rule in hurling is actually that the ball must be placed on the sideline. Not inside it, or even outside it.

A sideline kick in football should be taken from outside the boundary line all right.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3312 - 23/12/2025 09:35:48    2649283

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "The rule in hurling is actually that the ball must be placed on the sideline. Not inside it, or even outside it.

A sideline kick in football should be taken from outside the boundary line all right."
I think a sideline in football should be worth 2 points. Fantastic skill. Saw Conor Turbitt kick a magnificent sideline free under lights in February. Ended up a good game in a great atmosphere but the sideline was a sight to behold.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8412 - 23/12/2025 10:56:35    2649296

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The ball travels too far now so they need to do something to take about 10m away from a full strike, they need to properly implement the handpass rule- it might take a couple of games but it will become second nature to actually strike the ball again rather than the throw the players get away with now. They need to bring in the discipline rules from football all be it adapted to suit hurling, I would also make a 65 be taken as a cut rather than as now, the punishment for a great block should not be a certain score.

dufferman (Down) - Posts: 159 - 23/12/2025 11:31:38    2649301

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Replying To Magpie2:  "Not many to be fair but they sometimes mean the difference between winning or losing."
But penalties should have a high percentage being scored. The whole reason they're given is to punish the fouling team, which will generally be for preventing a good goal-scoring chance illegally.
Why would you be trying to make them harder to score? That would only encourage more cynicism and fouling.
A quick look at the stats indicates that around 75% to 80% of hurling penalties are scored. That percentage is very similar to soccer, so it doesn't appear that hurling penalties area any easier to score.
There are some things which need tweaking in hurling, but that isn't one of them in my opinion.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2673 - 23/12/2025 12:47:23    2649312

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