10 things you need to know about new-look football interpros

The 10 things about Friday and Saturday’s Football Review Committee-organised interprovincial games that you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

WHOLE NEW BALLGAME: Darren Jepson, Lead Groundsman, lines the '40m Arc' as Croke Park prepares to host the Allianz GAA Football Interprovincial Championship Series this weekend. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

How different are these games going to be?

Quite substantially, both at their outsets and conclusions. From the very off, when only a player from each team will contest the throw-in as opposed to two from each – the two other midfielders will begin the game from each sideline. Rather than be counted up, the clock will be timed down. The end of each half will be confirmed by a hooter as per the ladies game, with some exceptions. For instance, a free that has been awarded before the sound of the siren can be taken after it.

The pitch too?

Yes. Three new lines will be drawn. An arc 40 metres away from the goal will be present in each half of the field to demarcate not only the minimum distance a ball must travel from a kick-out but the difference between a one-point score, inside it, and a two-pointer, kicked outside it. 

The new dashed halfway line is required so that match officials can confirm that each team is keeping three outfield players in each half of the field at all times. The penalty for not abiding by that rule is a free 20m in front of the scoring space. The green flag will be retained for a goal worth four points and a white one will remain for a one point score but a new red flag has been introduced to signal a two-pointer has been scored from outside or on the 40m arc, which will be confirmed by the referee to the (score) umpire. That includes 45s and frees outside the arc.

Is the scoreboard changing?

Not for now but it could down the road given there are now three components.

As well as having to kick the ball at least 20m, how else is the goalkeeper affected?

The goalkeeper can only receive the ball inside their large rectangle (from a team-mate also in the parallelogram) or when they have passed the halfway line. The back-pass has effectively been prohibited by the FRC.

What should we really look out for early on?

Aside from the first attempt at a two-pointer, keep an eye out for a ball being dropped to the edge of a square with the aim of scoring a higher valued goal or earning the new advanced mark, which has been refined as a ball caught cleanly by a player inside the 20m line from a kicked pass from outside the 45m. It is a rule change stacked in favour of the forward who can play on knowing they will get a mark kick at goal even if they don’t score from the advantage. A defender can also claim a mark.

A free mightn’t be taken as a free either, right?

Kind of. We shouldn’t have to wait too long to see footballers availing of the “solo and go” option, which applies only between the 20m lines. The fouled player or his team can now play on without having to kick a pass and they can’t be challenged for four metres. In the trial games, it’s believed this rule change has helped accelerate the action considerably.  Also, for all frees where the ball has been dropped, the transgressor must hand the ball back to the fouled player or risk the ball being brought up 50m.

That’s one way of curbing cynicism. Are there others?

Any delaying or tactical fouls or dissent will result in a 50m advancement of the free. Extending the black card to the holding of a player. Teams had utilised the “choke” tackle as a means of getting around 10 minutes in the sin bin, but the FRC have filled that loophole. Black cards will also apply to those who join but do not attempt to break up a melee. Management or non-playing substitutes who display dissent at the awarding of a free will be punished by a 13m advancement of the free.

Any other rule changes we should be aware of?

A red card will be issued for deliberate contact to the head, neck or throat. The five-second advantage rule is gone and the amount of advantage is at the referee’s discretion. The square ball rule has been relaxed for frees: once it has been kicked, a player can enter the area. Only captains or a nominated player can seek clarification from the referee about a decision. Linesmen (line umpires) can also bring any foul play immediately to the attention of the referee.

What new props will be used on Friday night?

Aside from the whitewash, the two-point red flag and the clock/hooter, referees will be carrying vanishing foam with them to highlight where frees inside each 65m must be taken.

What else will make these matches strange?

These games are set to be played in four 15-minutes quarters with interchanges as opposed to substitutes to ensure every player is exposed to the new rules as well as reducing fatigue.