Cork GAA: New football rules will put pressure on club referees
An umpire waves a two-point flag in a recent challenge match. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
There will be extra interest in the Cork footballers' opening league game against Meath at the end of the month.
As well as its importance in terms of giving Cork a platform for Division 2 promotion, it offers Leesiders a chance to see the new rules in action. There have been competitive games featuring Cork teams already this month in the Corn Uí Mhuirí and Sigerson Cups, but the Football Review Committee's revamp doesn't apply to those.
John Cleary's charges have played challenge matches to adapt to the rules but they've been behind closed doors.
Anecdotally, keeping three forwards up top and the two-point rule has opened the game up a bit more for attackers, and we certainly hope that's the case. However, it'll only be when the stakes are higher that we'll see if the rules end the negativity that has plagued the sport in the modern era.
In an interview with the Irish Examiner, veteran referee Paddy Russell, officiating for 50 years now, has concerns about how the GAA will operate under the new rules, especially changes such as punishing dissent. On-field the ball will now be brought up 50 metres while any issues from the dugout will see a 13-metre tap-over free award.
“At inter-county, it’s fine, the majority of lads are not bad but in a junior B game you could be bringing the ball up a lot," he told John Fogarty.
“It’s fine when you have all the officials, linesmen and the fourth official. You have plenty of people there. But when you go down to club level my own reading on it that it’s going to be very hard to implement them.
“If they had tried it out for the league and championship at inter-county level just to see what way they go but I think it is too soon to bring them in at club level. There are a lot of rules and they are fine but it’s the implementation of them and what you do and don’t do. To bring them in so quick to club level it’s going to be difficult.
“If you are up in the forward line and you don’t know if there are three outfield players from each team in the other half of the field. You’ll have fellas shouting in and what are you to do?
“If you are doing a club league game, you’re not going to have (neutral) linesmen or your umpires who would able to police what happens. You just don’t have the manpower."
Kildare referees co-ordinator Ger Arnold said: "We have 47 rule changes that the referees need to re-learn. For example, if a player had delayed a kick-out before we would have thrown the ball up, now you’re conceding a free in front of the posts. It will take a lot of work for referees, but the players have a lot to take in as well..."
Patience will certainly from required from everyone in the GAA community.
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