Goalkeeping block

A trend has developed in Gaelic football where goalkeepers often trot up more than half the field to take a free kick. This tactic wastes valuable time and slows down the game. There must be a rule against it somewhere in the rulebook. If not, there should be.

It says much about a team’s lack of ability that they cannot trust their forwards to score from frees.

Let the referee allow an immediate kick-out in reply to a score or a wide, even if the attacking goalkeeper is not yet back between his posts where he belongs. With an immediate kick out the other team can capitalise on an undefended open goal. Deliberate fouling to interrupt this passage of play should incur a straight red card.