Gaelic Football - Rules & Regulations discussion/clarification

[twohands!!!]

I'd hope they're minor tweaks as won't anything passed in October be in for 5 years?
Last thing you'd want is something untrialled in the real world becoming a permanent rule.

I'd say some very minor tweaks if even that - maybe some tidying up of the wording of some rules.

[blanketattack]

Some team will discover an ultra-defensive, boring way of playing under the new rules. Mightn't happen for a few years - it took 125 years for it to happen under the old rules.
Or it might happen Sunday.

Teams playing keep ball for extended periods is one potential area. No passing to the goalie in your own half has made it more difficult, but pushing the goalie beyond halfway gives you 15 players to play keep ball with vs 14 opposition outfielders.

[thebigfullforward]

Some team will discover an ultra-defensive, boring way of playing under the new rules. Mightn't happen for a few years - it took 125 years for it to happen under the old rules.
Or it might happen Sunday.

Teams playing keep ball for extended periods is one potential area. No passing to the goalie in your own half has made it more difficult, but pushing the goalie beyond halfway gives you 15 players to play keep ball with vs 14 opposition outfielders.

Can that happen? You need 4 defensive players back at all times so not sure how you could bring the keeper or an extra player up to give you a numerical advantage

[Armagh18]

Some team will discover an ultra-defensive, boring way of playing under the new rules. Mightn't happen for a few years - it took 125 years for it to happen under the old rules.
Or it might happen Sunday.

Teams playing keep ball for extended periods is one potential area. No passing to the goalie in your own half has made it more difficult, but pushing the goalie beyond halfway gives you 15 players to play keep ball with vs 14 opposition outfielders.

Can that happen? You need 4 defensive players back at all times so not sure how you could bring the keeper or an extra player up to give you a numerical advantage

Can still use the 4 men in your own half to keep the ball as they can all receive a back pass and obviously use the keeper in the opposition half.

[The Trap]

Showpiece of the year on Sunday. The 2 best teams in the country on show and everyone (me included) expecting an excellent game.

Really hope it delivers, goes to the wire and we can talk about the game for years to come.

If it doesn't though? What if either team wins comfortably and the game is over with 10 to go? What if it is not an exciting contest and adds to the forgetable all ireland quarter finals and semi finals?Then what are we to make of the impact of the new rules on the game?

Can they really ALL be signed in for a 5 year period on the evidence that the biggest games of the year have been poor?

Just posting this before the event as surely there should be a debate after the game if that happens.

[Rossfan]

What if there's an earthquake at halftime?

[Captain Obvious]

Showpiece of the year on Sunday. The 2 best teams in the country on show and everyone (me included) expecting an excellent game.

Really hope it delivers, goes to the wire and we can talk about the game for years to come.

If it doesn't though? What if either team wins comfortably and the game is over with 10 to go? What if it is not an exciting contest and adds to the forgetable all ireland quarter finals and semi finals?Then what are we to make of the impact of the new rules on the game?

Can they really ALL be signed in for a 5 year period on the evidence that the biggest games of the year have been poor?

Just posting this before the event as surely there should be a debate after the game if that happens.

Certainly needs a long debate and some more tweaks before the rules get locked in for a few years. Any new rules are fully judged on knock out championship football and its been food for thought with how the preliminary,quarter and semi finals played out. 

[The Trap]

Great contribution Rossfan 🤣

[GTP]

Maybe the rule that the playing rules cannot be changed for a 5 year period needs to go.

[The Trap]

I would love it if they scrapped that 5 year rule. Surely they can?

Then have another season next year with the same rules minus the arc at both ends and all that entails and see how that would compare to 2025.

Maybe it would be better and maybe it wouldn't.....I think it would lead to a great game.

[Armagh18]

Showpiece of the year on Sunday. The 2 best teams in the country on show and everyone (me included) expecting an excellent game.

Really hope it delivers, goes to the wire and we can talk about the game for years to come.

If it doesn't though? What if either team wins comfortably and the game is over with 10 to go? What if it is not an exciting contest and adds to the forgetable all ireland quarter finals and semi finals?Then what are we to make of the impact of the new rules on the game?

Can they really ALL be signed in for a 5 year period on the evidence that the biggest games of the year have been poor?

Just posting this before the event as surely there should be a debate after the game if that happens.

both semi finals- shite
Armagh kerry- shite
Galway Meath- first half shite, second half fairly exciting
Dublin Tyrone- fairly shite all round although conditions were brutal.
Monaghan Donegal- shite whenever Monaghan forgot to come out after halftime.

Thats the long as the short of it.

[David McKeown]

I would love it if they scrapped that 5 year rule. Surely they can?

Then have another season next year with the same rules minus the arc at both ends and all that entails and see how that would compare to 2025.

Maybe it would be better and maybe it wouldn't.....I think it would lead to a great game.

Did they not have a vote at Congress to amend that rule and it was rejected?

[EoinW]

Showpiece of the year on Sunday. The 2 best teams in the country on show and everyone (me included) expecting an excellent game.

Really hope it delivers, goes to the wire and we can talk about the game for years to come.

If it doesn't though? What if either team wins comfortably and the game is over with 10 to go? What if it is not an exciting contest and adds to the forgetable all ireland quarter finals and semi finals?Then what are we to make of the impact of the new rules on the game?

Can they really ALL be signed in for a 5 year period on the evidence that the biggest games of the year have been poor?

Just posting this before the event as surely there should be a debate after the game if that happens.

both semi finals- shite
Armagh kerry- shite
Galway Meath- first half shite, second half fairly exciting
Dublin Tyrone- fairly shite all round although conditions were brutal.
Monaghan Donegal- shite whenever Monaghan forgot to come out after halftime.

Thats the long as the short of it.

Do the math.  If you create a game with twice as much scoring you increase the potential for one sided games. 

For championship games I prefer a one sided win rather than a one point decision, which could have gone either way.  Seeing the best team win is more important to me than being entertained.

We are Gaelic football fans, aren't we?  We'll always find entertainment value watching the best footballers in Ireland play, regardless of the score.

Regarding the rule changes, I respect the FRC for trying to improve the game - as opposed to my previous experience with box lacrosse when those in charge never tried to counter coaches micromanaging games(I've been to only 4 boxla games since 2006).

However I'll be disappointed if every rule change is retained.  Of course the FRC has created a new problem for itself.  For every rule fans, like me, wish to see dropped or tweeked - 2 pointers, 3 v 3, kickouts - there are just as many fans who want them retained.

One thing I've noticed here is that fans, like me, have complained about some of the rule changes, however we're now seeing big supporters of the rule changes complaining about the games themselves.  Those who question the new rules will continue to watch GAA whether it's old rules or new rules.  By their own admission, the new rules supporters had one foot out the door and won't continue to be fans if they don't get their way.

Was the problem really about the rules or was it about the fans?  Maybe a bit of both.

I apologize if I'm being harsh.  I do understand what it's like to see ones favourite sport spoiled.  I walked away from lacrosse 2 decades ago because of it.  In that case, however, there were issues with authority, like divided loyalties, which were a bigger factor.  To its credit, the GAA is standing by its most important traditions.  So it's all about the game on the field.  It's still Gaelic football.  I'm surprised lifetime fans(which I'm not!) can't find enough positives to keep watching no matter what.

[twohands!!!]

People are deluded if they think there's going to be any significant changes to the rules.

The key factor is that attendances for the championship have rebounded significantly compared to a decline of about 10% between 2023 and 2024 numbers.

I saw some article that said there was over a 20% increase in the crowds at the football group stages compared to 2024.

[Rossfan]

There was something around that alright.
This year 2 teams proved themselves well above the rest in the knock outs. Galway and Dublin regressed, Armagh didnt get the bounces they got last year, Tyrone and Louth were about the same as last year.
So there were less close 1 or 2 point margins.

Going back to pre 25 football because we hadn't 10 close knock out games would be madness.