Coaching the new rules: Éamonn Fitzmaurice on football smarts with and without the ball

'If I was coaching one of the teams in the opening games of the Leagues, I'd advise them not to obsess about the rules. My hope is that teams don’t play the old game under the new rules, but rather that they embrace the new game'

EXPERIENCE: Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Dublin manager Jim Gavin exchange a handshake during their time as opposing coaches. Pic: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

The excitement and anticipation around the new Gaelic football rules has been building for a while now. And with it, a hint of scepticism and possibly even a fear of the unknown. The vacuum that has existed without pre-season tournaments has only added to the uncertainty. For now it is all opinion and speculation, with a sprinkling of context from challenge matches and hearsay from the grapevine.

By the time round three of the league is played on St Valentine's weekend, we all should have some notion of the direction of travel. Between now and then there will be an establishment phase. Patience and understanding will be required. While accepting that empathy will be in short supply when league points are on the line, there has to be some level of comprehension that bringing in new rules is never easy and rarely goes completely according to plan.