Hurling review committee needed, says ex-referees head Willie Barrett

Former referees chief Barrett feels the GAA need to address hand-passes and rucks

Willie Barrett said the hand-pass in hurling is "very difficult" for referees to police. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

A high-powered hurling body similar to the Football Review Committee (FRC) is required to make “tweaks” to the game, according to former national referees chairman Willie Barrett.

The Tipperary native, who officiated two All-Ireland senior hurling finals, believes the hand-pass, rucks and the throw-in are among the areas that require attention.

“If they want to really have a review of the hurling rules, such as the hand-pass and the rucks, what they need to do is get a high-profile committee like the football committee led by Jim Gavin,” says Barrett. “Anything else has no teeth.” 

The legitimacy of a hand-pass as it stands is nearly impossible for referees to determine, according to Barrett. “I think it's very difficult to police it for referees in its present format. We have seen over the last couple of years where hand-passes, when they were examined where they were penalised, they were found that they were legal.

“And then we've seen more of the opposite, where handpasses were let go and they weren't penalised and they were illegal. From a refereeing point of view, I think it's hugely difficult to get it right in a split second on the field of play.” 

Passing the ball off the hurley, an option listed by former Tipperary hurler Conor O’Donovan in his bid to ban a hand-pass from the holding hand earlier this year, is a clearcut means of transferring the sliotar, says Barrett.

“If you watched the Munster club final last Sunday, Paddy Leavy for Ballygunner executes a very good pass all the time off his hurley. He's probably the one consistent player at a high level that's doing it.” 

Barrett also wants to see the number of players for the throw-in reduced from four to two as is now the case in football thanks to the FRC. At present, he sees the start of each half as messy and having the potential to be a flashpoint.

“I think football have done very well with the throw-in with each of the second midfielders on opposite sidelines at the start. It’s cleaned up the throw-in and the same would help hurling. Only two hurlers should be in for a throw-in. It would become more manageable for referees.” 

The Ardfinnan man maintains hurling only requires minor amendments. 

“Hurling needs a few tweaks. Football needed an overhaul and got it, and it has been very successful.

“Also, I like the fact that the Football Review Committee were able to change rules in mid-season after the league. And I think it's outdated where you can only bring a playing rule change to Congress once every five years.

“People will say, ‘Hurling is fine”, but a few small changes would only add to the game. You’re going to continue to have people sitting in stands who are adamant that what they are seeing are foul hand-passes that are not penalised and foul hand-passes that are penalised and they weren’t illegal at all.” 

The Hurling Development Committee have already taken a leaf out of the FRC’s book by proposing a 30-metre free advancement for dissent. That motion will be debated at Congress in February.