New Rules?

Well what does everyone think of the new rules?

And more importantly - should they be kept for the Championship?

According to the GPA the players don't like the rules (See here)

The big one is the yellow card and off rule - is it too harsh, and do people think the referee's are applying the rules right? (I think that they are at the lenient side, given how draconian the rules if applied fully can be.)

Heard an interesting comment on the radio the last night. Dunno who it way but he was basically saying that no one is really arguing that the rules themselves are bad i.e. most people want those fouls punished. The issues people have seem to relate to the application of the rules and that is something that will come over time.

So it's a yes from me but more work needed.

Was just about to start a thread on this myself actually!

Hmm, I'm in two minds about this to be honest. I was completely against them at the start as I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old rules. But I'm beginning to wonder if these new rules would actually benefit us(Monaghan that is!). At the start it looked like they would be very bad for us, I remember thinking Dessie Mone would be lucky to see a game out! But in some ways they seem to have suited us, in that we scored a good bit more than usual, for the most part anyway. Most forwards seem to like them, I know a few of ours have said they love the new rules! Banty's still against them though!

But I'm still not sure of them at all, the yellow card rule is ridiculous I think, the worst part of the new rules. One small mistake and you're off. It's bad enough when a normal yellow card offence effectively gets you the line but we've seen cases of players being sent off in the wrong. Tommy Freeman for example in the Armagh game, 30 seconds had hardly passed and he was off for an innocuous shoulder. Imagine if something like this happened in an All-Ireland final, a player who had prepared and looked forward to this all his life and he's off for nothing. Absolutely ridiculous rule and for that reason I vote to get rid of the new rules. There is merit to alot of it but the yellow card rule in particular annoys me. It may only be one part of the new rules but an important one.

Is it not a bit harsh that a player should be sent off for doing the following twice:

5.16 To push an opponent or hold an opponent with
the hand(s).
5.17 To use the fist on or around the body of an
opponent for the purpose of dispossessing him
of the ball.
5.18 (a) To charge an opponent in the back or to the
front.
(b) To charge an opponent unless:-
(i) he is in possession of the ball, or
(ii) he is playing the ball, or
(iii) both players are moving in the direction of
the ball to play it.
(c) To charge an opponent for the purpose of giving
an advantage to a team-mate.
(d) To charge the goalkeeper in his small rectangle.
(e) For a player in possession of the ball to charge
an opponent.


Referee's are damned if they do, and damned if they don't. But people do NOT want to see the rules applied as they are written. A good ref is said to

"Let the game flow"

mid-mon man wrote:Was just about to start a thread on this myself actually!

Hmm, I'm in two minds about this to be honest. I was completely against them at the start as I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old rules. But I'm beginning to wonder if these new rules would actually benefit us(Monaghan that is!). At the start it looked like they would be very bad for us, I remember thinking Dessie Mone would be lucky to see a game out! But in some ways they seem to have suited us, in that we scored a good bit more than usual, for the most part anyway. Most forwards seem to like them, I know a few of ours have said they love the new rules! Banty's still against them though!

But I'm still not sure of them at all, the yellow card rule is ridiculous I think, the worst part of the new rules. One small mistake and you're off. It's bad enough when a normal yellow card offence effectively gets you the line but we've seen cases of players being sent off in the wrong. Tommy Freeman for example in the Armagh game, 30 seconds had hardly passed and he was off for an innocuous shoulder. Imagine if something like this happened in an All-Ireland final, a player who had prepared and looked forward to this all his life and he's off for nothing. Absolutely ridiculous rule and for that reason I vote to get rid of the new rules. There is merit to alot of it but the yellow card rule in particular annoys me. It may only be one part of the new rules but an important one.

I looked around the forum expecting to see one to be honest!

Other then the yellow card one what rules are there??Rules according to RTE, doesn't mention any other ones

The thing is, referees don't use them effectively, often especially for higher profile teams they are to (excuse the pun) yellow to give a yellow. E.g. in Healy Park PJ Quinn, tripped or held Eoin Bradley back every single time he went for the ball, not only was it until the second half was he reprimaned on this and rightfully yellow carded (as a result of two blacks)In the 1st half this happened 3 times in 7 minutes and two of those times EB was fouled in the space of 60 seconds. If you're not up to marking the player you don't have to foul him.

Anyway my point is, this warranted a yellow card in the 1st half the ref chose not to and yellowed out. That was just an example and I didn't mean to lamblast on Tyrone, but it happens across the board.

Also, can you imagine in the 5th minute of a championship match Paddy Bradley, Sean Cavanagh, Mattie Ford, Michael Meehan or Gooch Cooper charges with the ball, is the referee going to given him a yellow card? By the letter of the law it is but will it be implemented? 9/10 times No. But had it happened it the dying minutes 9/10 times it probably would have been implemented.

Referee consistency is key here, changing the rules isn't going to change the lack of consistency.

I think the thing with the new rules is that there are now clearly defined punishments for the various different offences that are committed over the course of a match, whereas in the past the ref had to basically make up his own mind as to the punishment. Hence the inconsistency we are used to! But the new rules are still being interpreted differently by different refs for some reason. I remember seeing a slideshow detailing all the aspects to the new rules but can't remember where that is.

It's good that the GAA is trying to cut out the dangerous and cynical fouls that have crept into the game over the last while, but the yellow card thing is still nonsense. If a foul is very dangerous give the player a red, why send someone off for a bookable offence?!

I agree MMM sin bin is a better option, did they not have it a few years ago for a trial period? 10 mins for the foul?

Thought the sin-bin was a better idea, but it never got much of a look-in after the trial. Still, I maintain the rules are grand if applied properly and consistently. But sure we know that's not gonna happen I suppose!

mid-mon man wrote:I think the thing with the new rules is that there are now clearly defined punishments for the various different offences that are committed over the course of a match, whereas in the past the ref had to basically make up his own mind as to the punishment.

The card colours haven't changed with the rules, just that they've introduced the ordering off with replacement.

It was always two noting gets a caution, and yellow and red for the offences. The rules haven't changed in that respect.

The problem that a referee has is that if they apply the rules with no leniency there would be uproar

sin Bin was in 2005 as to did they let you pick the ball of the ground (oh happy days we got to the div 1 league final only to be pipped by the orchard county). New rules are a funny one at intercounty level if a guy pulls a jersey two times he gets a yellow and is off god help the poor ref who does it (correctly to by the way, but every punter will say that boll**ks, he's ruining the game.) A refs job is not to let the game flow that job belongs to the players, a refs job is not to make a game entertaining that to belongs to the players. A ref's job is to apply the rules and look after the welfare of all those involved in the game not those who shout the loudest.
The real problems lies in club matches where teams arrive with 15 players 2/3 act the muppet get yellow carded and the ref is the biggest p***k since the last ref who acted accordingly.

Easy solution educate the players because half of them & management teams do not know the rule and what is or is not a booking offense. i have offered to do this in my club but this has been turnede down because we know it all and yet your asked why was trhis given etc etc etc

See you can watch the Congress on the RTE website, not sure why you'd want to though, I'd imagine for the most part it would be extremely boring!

Anyone have any idea roughly when they'd come round to voting on the rules?

Just heard that the new rules didn't pass Congress!


GAA Congress votes against new rules

Saturday, 18 April 2009 13:09

The experimental rules trialled during the National Football and Hurling leagues will not be retained for the GAA Championship.

In a vote taken at the GAA Annual Congress in Cork today, the motion to adopt the new rules failed to get a two-thirds majority.

There were 177 votes for the motion, with 100 against.

Earlier this week, the Gaelic Players' Assocation came out against the adoption of the new rules.

A statement released by the GPA on Tuesday said: 'The GPA has consulted with its members regarding the new rules being applied to football and hurling and the vote for their continuation at GAA Congress next weekend.

'The majority of the respondents (82 per cent) were opposed to the continuation of the rules. In light of this result, we are urging all County Boards to consult with their county squads if they have not done so already, before finalising their vote for Congress.

'While the GPA understands the difficulties in addressing disciplinary issues within the games and acknowledges the significant efforts made by administrators in this regard, this poll clearly outlines the level of dissatisfaction among the playing body with the new rules.'


Christy Cooney is being inaugurated as the new President of the GAA at today's Congress. He will take over from Nickey Brennan

mid-mon man wrote:Just heard that the new rules didn't pass Congress!

Any idea how much support they had?


Yea - I think that there could be a market for people (Say some of the better referee's) to go around and teach people the rules. The things that I have been asked are mad:

-"He hopped the ball 4 times - you're only allowed 2 hops [with solo's]" (U14's)
-The square ball rule causes confusion (Basically it's not soccer damn it - stay out till the balls arrives)
-I had a referee tell me that there's no footblock if someone is kicking the ball off the ground

177 in favour, 100 against. 64% to 36%. They only needed 8 more votes to get the 2/3 majority! She was a tight one!

mid-mon man wrote:177 in favour, 100 against. 64% to 36%. They only needed 8 more votes to get the 2/3 majority! She was a tight one!

Thanks - sorry I don't know how I missed most of you last post - all I saw was:

"Just heard that the new rules didn't pass Congress! "!

Yea - it was very close this year - maybe we will se something similar coming next year?

Yeah I edited in the rest of it just after I posted, it's the article from the RTE website.

Thought they can only ammend stuff every 5 years to stop all this tampering.
All that is required i think are the following:
1. Better training program put in place to become a ref
2. Make it mandatory for clubs to have a rules session

With those two thingd alone you would have a better "sysyem" why, cause people would understand it better.
Games I hate to ref, Go games no one knows the rules they are chasnged every year, how are you to keep up weith rotating players who was in goal etc.
Anyway common sense prevailed in this case

I agree with Jim in the fact that this is kicked to touch for another 5 years or so.
Am I the only one in the world advocating 13 a side?
I think it's the way to go but of course would be vehemently opposed by the powers that be.
Any thoughts?.

Don't get me started on the Go Games - I would turn up, and ask the managers what rules are we playing today? The powers that be changed the rules every second week, and there'd always be one fecker who'd insist on some mad rule

Just to disagree Box - I advocate going back to 17 a side! More players = more fun! A big argument against 13 is fitness, the pitch is huge in comparison to soccer for instance. and Player burnout is already a big problem...

And Common Sense Prevails!

the one rule which i did like under the now defunct 'new rules' was the stamping out of the bodycheck after a man has played the ball. I really think it contributed to more scores during games and its one i would like to have seen retained.

Cliste wrote:
Just to disagree Box - I advocate going back to 17 a side! More players = more fun! A big argument against 13 is fitness, the pitch is huge in comparison to soccer for instance. and Player burnout is already a big problem...

13 a side creates more space thus reducing the current malaise of pulling and dragging that ruins games.

Boxtyeater wrote:

Cliste wrote:
Just to disagree Box - I advocate going back to 17 a side! More players = more fun! A big argument against 13 is fitness, the pitch is huge in comparison to soccer for instance. and Player burnout is already a big problem...

13 a side creates more space thus reducing the current malaise of pulling and dragging that ruins games.

I think that there is plenty of space on the pitch as it stands - as long as players are not punished for pulling etc they will continue to do it, whether there's 5 or 15 on the pitch.

look what youve done now MMM-argh!!