Liam Sheedy warns steps rule needs new review as spoiling tactics take hold

A further review of the number of permitted steps in hurling may be required as the number of “rucks” in top level of the game continue to grow, admits Hurling 2020 chairman Liam Sheedy.

As part of his work in late 2014, Tipperary’s 2010 All-Ireland winning manager and his group had considered proposing the number of steps a player is allowed to keep the ball in hand be increased from four to five or six.

However, upon analysing the results of a survey they issued, only 18% of respondents supported were in favour of augmenting the steps to five and just 9% backed the limit jumping to six.

The issue of overcarrying, along with the advantage rule, raised its head in Ennis last Sunday week when a first-minute goal by John Conlon was allowed to stand despite the Clare forward having taken an excessive amount of steps in making the score.

Referees development chairman Seán Walsh confirmed match officials are instructed to apply the four-step rule, as per the Official Guide. “Referees are told to observe the four-step rule. There are given no indication other than that. We expect the referees to be following that line and producing it.”

However, there have been several instances in recent years where scores have been allowed to count regardless of the steps quota being broken either by the goal-scorer or a team-mate assisting a goal.

As hurling has developed more into a possession-driven game, the tendency to hold onto the ball for as long as possible has grown.

At the same time, defending teams have attempted to counter the phenomenon by working in packs to either spoil the player in possession or force him to overcarry.

Sheedy sees hurling as a more claustrophobic game. “I do feel that ‘rucks’ are becoming more common and to alleviate that, the ball is being kept longer in the hand by players. You could allow another step or two but it’s one (rule) that I don’t think there’s any clear solution to.

“On the committee, we felt there was a need to help players in possession clean the ball out of a ruck. The game has become a lot more ‘trafficy’. We didn’t act because there didn’t seem to be an appetite to change the rule. Seven out of 10 people felt it is fine as it is. But I certainly feel the practice of completing surveys every three years is a good thing to do. You should be looking to gauge opinion on the game all the time.”

Although stressing he hasn’t studied examples in great detail, Sheedy conceded the advantage rule is “potentially being ignored” as referees compensate by allowing the player to take more steps.

Cork’s Glen Rovers and Clonmel’s St Mary’s have previously put forward motions calling for the number of steps to be cut from four to three so as to put an onus on the player to release the ball quicker, possibly leading to more ground hurling and overhead striking.

However, both proposals failed and only 3% of respondents to the Hurling 2020 survey favoured such a move.