New playing rules under the microscope

ELEVEN years on from that controversial Leinster football championship game at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow when six red and 14 yellow cards were issued, GAA bosses will be hoping for a smooth introduction this weekend of the new playing rules in hurling and football which were adopted at Congress a month ago.

For obvious reasons, the two live championship games on RTÉ will attract particular interest – aside from the fact that All-Ireland SFC champions Kerry take on Tipperary in Thurles – but the changes also kick in all over the country in club games, starting tomorrow.

And, in order to ensure that players at all levels are brought up to speed with the Congress decisions, all county boards were e-mailed by the press office in Croke Park over the past few days.

While a total of 15 changes have been effected – six specifically related to football, three in hurling only and a further six linked to both games – the consensus is they don’t amount to a major difference to the playing regulations. That’s not to suggest there won’t be difficulties – for referees, managers and players, as well as supporters – because there are bound to be misunderstandings until people becomefamiliar with the alterations.

One of the more contentious may be the interpretation of the handpass rule, however, in effect, it’s a return to the ‘old’ rule.

Dave Coldrick, who will be on duty in Semple Stadium, is one of the three referees who will be under the microscope and he accepts this modification could be challenging.

Under the new rule, a player may execute a handpass either by the fist or the open hand provided it is struck underhand. !

Other than this, Coldrick feels that the new requirement for sideline kicks to be taken from behind the boundary line may be problematic for a while, both for players to become accustomed to and referees to enforce.

“It’s never nice going into the championship where you suddenly have new rules, certainly new rules that have never been tested before. The handpass wasn’t the experiment in the league and for people looking on who won’t be aware of it, that’s where you could have issues.’’

Inter-county referees on the championship panel were brought together last Friday and Saturday in Croke Park. And, as a means of educating players, it was agreed that local refs (from the panel) would set up a meeting with each of the teams involved in the games this weekend and brief them on the changes.

“Getting players to be thinking about them in the lead-up to the game is much better than the referee trying to explain them on the day itself,’’ he added.

National Referees Chairman Mick Curley points out that the challenge of informing club players is being tackled by having the clubs briefed by county refereeing coordinators.

And, he hopes that information on all the rule changes will be published in match programmes at the weekend.

“I think most people understand what the new rules are and what they are about. The big changes include the 13 metre kickout and the 11 metre penalty, while a player cannot be shoulder-charged when he is kicking the ball. I don’t think they will cause any controversy – they are fairly straightforward.’’

Other changes:

*A throw-in will be awarded where a puck-out is taken from outside the small square.

*A charge is defined as shoulder-to-shoulder rather than side-to-side.

*For penalties in hurling, players can’t move until the ball is actually struck – not when the ball is lifted, as previously.

*When play is restarted by a throw-in, it must be take place a minimum 13 metres from the sideline.

*A basketball-type bounce in football is not a foul, as outlined in the Croke Park release: “A double bounce is not effected until the ball is ‘caught’ on completion of the second bounce.’’

Note: There is no change in the regulation regarding line balls in hurling.