Gaelic Football - Rules & Regulations discussion/clarification

[onefineday]

Keep the 2 pointer but only for scores from play.

This will only encourage more frees outside the arc to prevent attempts of 2 pointers from play

I don't think that would happen, but if it did, surely the ref can take appropriate action in terms of additional disciplinary actions, cards etc, to stamp it out straight away?
In any case, there's probably little advantage in fouling as the maths would probably give a one point free from around arc line an expected value very similar to a 2pt shot from play. When Rory beggan scores 38 pts during a league campaign, it tells you something is off....

[Milltown Row2]

Teams will take cards all day rather than give away more scores..

I have said that scoring from outside the arc should be from play to get the two points but I would definitely see an increase on the fouls outside the arc

[gallsman]

I have no issue with a foul committed outside the arc being punished by a free potentially worth two points. Say a lad is trying for a two pointer and gets shoved over, the defender shouldn't be rewarded by halving the points on offer.

The taking of frees back outside the arc has to go though, or at the very least, a free advanced by the referee can't be worth two points.

On the kickout mark, they need to get rid of the unimpeded steps rule. Simply too easy for lads to catch a ball and run into an opponent who's still trying to figure out where the ball is. Play getting moved up then brought back out for a two pointer is nonsense. By all means play on if you wish but the mark is sufficient reward for catching a ball at your own 45. Or simply make it the same as the advanced mark (which I hate) - let the player go on a bit but if no advantage, back to the mark.

[thewobbler]

The rules are working as a whole at the minute, so why not leave as is? Well until coaches find a way to un-work it anyhow.

I didn't like the 2 point concept at the start, but as part of the overall combination it seems to have improved the game. 

[gallsman]

Define "working"? Higher scoring? I would much prefer a few scores came off the board if it meant we saw fewer nonsense tap over frees for incidents or technical fouls that occurred half a mile away.

[thewobbler]

Define "working"? Higher scoring? I would much prefer a few scores came off the board if it meant we saw fewer nonsense tap over frees for incidents or technical fouls that occurred half a mile away.

"Working" as in adult football has gone from being one of the most boring sports on this earth, to being very entertaining.

Nothing to do with an increase in scoring. Everything to do with the fact that positivity is being rewarded, or perhaps just that negative possession football provides so few advantages compared to a year ago.


EDIT: there's a fascination among Gaels for focusing on aspects of the game that could be improved. It's always been there I suppose, hence rule changes and adaptations every year since forever.

But my basic, core point about the rule changes is this: when put together as a group they've increased entertainment value by tenfold. So people should, for now, focus on the positives. Over the coming years, coaches will find ways to abuse the rules to their own advantage, and they'll need tweaked. But one thing we really don't need - for now - is cherrypicking a handful of rules to change based on what you think ideal football should be. We had ideal (or nearly ideal) football in the noughties, then Jimmy and Co destroyed the game. Devising / relaxing rules to take us back to re-enable those ideal football conditions probably won't have the outcome you're wishing for.  For Jimmy and Co are ready to pounce and destroy our game again. They can't help themselves.

[Rossfan]

I can now watch and ENJOY football matches as a neutral.
Last few years I couldn't.

[johnnycool]

I can now watch and ENJOY football matches as a neutral.
Last few years I couldn't.

what is more enjoyable about football this year is that if a team is 6, 7 points up with say 10 minutes to go, it's still a contest right to the wire given the ability to take the 2 pointers.

In other years teams would have just parked the bus inside the 14, no goals at any cost and held out for the win more often than not.

I also think the 50 metre penalty for dissent etc is a blessing and something hurling may need to look at or an alternative to that. I'd say that rule has improved the refereeing experience at club level in particular.

It might soften the cough of a lot of sideline gobshítes.

[gallsman]

Harsh punishments for dissent I've no issue with whatsoever. The abuse ref's get has been a blight on the game for far too long. It's the "innocent" things where, as mentioned above, someone gets punished for interfering with a mark that may not have had the slightest clue about but ends up gifting their opponents two points that is problematic. If a lad catches a ball over someone else contesting the ball and then deliberately runs through his opponent who has barely landed back to earth, that should not be punished as interference.

There was an interesting one in the Dublin-Armagh game on Sunday. An Armagh player (McQuillan possibly) caught a Cluxton kickout but landed out over the sideline as a result of contact while catching the ball. Debatable whether it was a genuine contest for the ball or a bit of a push, but probably not enough to give a free (from what I saw live, haven't seen it since.)

The Armagh player kept the ball. Now, he may have been given a free for the push, but it appeared to be a mark and Fitzmaurice started waffling on about him getting the mark in accordance "with the spirit of the rule". That sort of thing is absolute nonsense that they can't be allowed make up on the fly. It's either an Armagh free or a Dublin line ball.

[Armagh18]

I can now watch and ENJOY football matches as a neutral.
Last few years I couldn't.

what is more enjoyable about football this year is that if a team is 6, 7 points up with say 10 minutes to go, it's still a contest right to the wire given the ability to take the 2 pointers.

In other years teams would have just parked the bus inside the 14, no goals at any cost and held out for the win more often than not.

I also think the 50 metre penalty for dissent etc is a blessing and something hurling may need to look at or an alternative to that. I'd say that rule has improved the refereeing experience at club level in particular.

It might soften the cough of a lot of sideline gobshítes.

Armagh fans have known that feeling for years anyway

[EoinW]

Define "working"? Higher scoring? I would much prefer a few scores came off the board if it meant we saw fewer nonsense tap over frees for incidents or technical fouls that occurred half a mile away.

"Working" as in adult football has gone from being one of the most boring sports on this earth, to being very entertaining.

Nothing to do with an increase in scoring. Everything to do with the fact that positivity is being rewarded, or perhaps just that negative possession football provides so few advantages compared to a year ago.


EDIT: there's a fascination among Gaels for focusing on aspects of the game that could be improved. It's always been there I suppose, hence rule changes and adaptations every year since forever.

But my basic, core point about the rule changes is this: when put together as a group they've increased entertainment value by tenfold. So people should, for now, focus on the positives. Over the coming years, coaches will find ways to abuse the rules to their own advantage, and they'll need tweaked. But one thing we really don't need - for now - is cherrypicking a handful of rules to change based on what you think ideal football should be. We had ideal (or nearly ideal) football in the noughties, then Jimmy and Co destroyed the game. Devising / relaxing rules to take us back to re-enable those ideal football conditions probably won't have the outcome you're wishing for.  For Jimmy and Co are ready to pounce and destroy our game again. They can't help themselves.

I consider soccer/football to be the most boring sport in the world.  Yet it's also the most popular.  Point being: it's all subjective.

"cherrypicking a handful of rules to change based on what you think ideal"

Isn't that what you're doing, supporting rule changes that you think are ideal?

While we've seen some good rational arguments for or against some of the rules, we've also seen alot of "I was bored last year and now I'm not bored".  That carries no weight.

[EoinW]

What's wrong with simply giving players yellow cards for dissent?  Giving teams a 2 point free for dissent is ridiculous.  Of course I think deciding championship games on penalties is ridiculous too.  I must just be old.

[EoinW]

Keep the 2 pointer but only for scores from play.

This will only encourage more frees outside the arc to prevent attempts of 2 pointers from play

Why?  Past year's a foul outside the arc would only be rewarded with a 1 point free.  Did we see a plague of outside fouling?  The team in possession doesn't have to attempt the free.  They can simply retain possession.

[Armagh18]

Keep the 2 pointer but only for scores from play.

This will only encourage more frees outside the arc to prevent attempts of 2 pointers from play

Why?  Past year's a foul outside the arc would only be rewarded with a 1 point free.  Did we see a plague of outside fouling?  The team in possession doesn't have to attempt the free.  They can simply retain possession.

You didn't have the 2 point threat last year so there was no advantage to fouling outside the arc.

I would trial only 1 point for a free, come down hard if the foul is cynical with cards etc.

A free from the top of the arc is a handy enough kick for most club free takers, intercounty it's easy barring a big wind.

[onefineday]

Define "working"? Higher scoring? I would much prefer a few scores came off the board if it meant we saw fewer nonsense tap over frees for incidents or technical fouls that occurred half a mile away.

"Working" as in adult football has gone from being one of the most boring sports on this earth, to being very entertaining.

Nothing to do with an increase in scoring. Everything to do with the fact that positivity is being rewarded, or perhaps just that negative possession football provides so few advantages compared to a year ago.


EDIT: there's a fascination among Gaels for focusing on aspects of the game that could be improved. It's always been there I suppose, hence rule changes and adaptations every year since forever.

But my basic, core point about the rule changes is this: when put together as a group they've increased entertainment value by tenfold. So people should, for now, focus on the positives. Over the coming years, coaches will find ways to abuse the rules to their own advantage, and they'll need tweaked. But one thing we really don't need - for now - is cherrypicking a handful of rules to change based on what you think ideal football should be. We had ideal (or nearly ideal) football in the noughties, then Jimmy and Co destroyed the game. Devising / relaxing rules to take us back to re-enable those ideal football conditions probably won't have the outcome you're wishing for.  For Jimmy and Co are ready to pounce and destroy our game again. They can't help themselves.

The current rules are on trial until October, whatever is decided in October will be in place for the next 5 years - I think we'd all be remiss if we weren't thinking about what tweaks can be made to the new rules that will enhance the game even further, be that simple changes that make refereeing it easier or tweaks to make it less demanding on players, more enjoyable for players or even attempt to close off in advance, potential for coaches to game the rules as we know they will (it's their job in fairness).