Refs willing to instruct players

Referees will make themselves available to managers and players prior to this weekend’s hurling championship games should they wish to be briefed further on the new rule interpretation for penalties and frees.

Match officials have been instructed to, if requested, talk to the competing teams before throw-in should they have any queries about the guideline, which insists penalties and 20 metre frees must be struck on or before the 20m line and all other frees be struck on or before where they were awarded. It is an attempt by the National Referees Committee to ensure there is no further confusion after a misinterpretation of the rule allowed Waterford’s Stephen O’Keeffe last Sunday to leave his line to block Anthony Nash as soon as the goalkeeper had lifted the ball for his penalty.

Some referees are already known to make themselves available to speak to management teams prior to games.