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Replying To Freethinker: "Seems like the 3 back rule was a contentious issue last weekend with a top referee in charge. Reads as it was a fiasco with the crowd calling out if a team didn't comply. I literally will be fun and games. That's a good point about club league games with no official linesmen and umpires. Imagine a Jun C or D game ?? Who would want to be a ref." These rules have the potential to damage football beyond repair the only thing that should have been trialled was 13 a side at junior club level only for 1 year would have given small clubs a better chance to field and kept the same rules this amount of rule changes in one go is pure lunacy Sinbin (Wicklow) - Posts: 22 - 09/01/2025 20:45:49 2585257 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Seems like the 3 back rule was a contentious issue last weekend with a top referee in charge. Reads as it was a fiasco with the crowd calling out if a team didn't comply. I literally will be fun and games. That's a good point about club league games with no official linesmen and umpires. Imagine a Jun C or D game ?? Who would want to be a ref." It's not 3 back it's 3 up…. you can have 12 back if you want… ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3360 - 09/01/2025 21:23:46 2585263 Link
Replying To ForeverBlue2: "It's not 3 back it's 3 up…. you can have 12 back if you want…" Probably you are right but I think that confusion was the game on Sunday with Kildare, Galway, D Gough and spectators. That's where I read the 3/3 rule. But, if you could clarify, is it not the case that if my team are going forward, I have to keep 3 back ?? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 09/01/2025 22:09:38 2585270 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Probably you are right but I think that confusion was the game on Sunday with Kildare, Galway, D Gough and spectators. That's where I read the 3/3 rule. But, if you could clarify, is it not the case that if my team are going forward, I have to keep 3 back ??" There has to be three forwards in the opponents half of the field. So if Wicklow were playing Carlow today and Carlow are attacking the Wicklow goal, Wicklow have to have three players in Carlow's half of the field. The rules will take some adapting to and in my opinion there should be no need for them but unfortunately coaches and managers destroyed the game with their over emphasis on defensive play to the exclusion of football. In particular I'd blame the northern counties who were very focused on a rugby league style lines of players across the field. This style was successful for a number of counties winning All Ireland particular Armagh in 2024 but the game as a speculate was horrendous to watch. I don't think players and managers should be afraid of the new rules. I think the new rules will benefit teams that have the ability to transfer the ball quickly and can score from out the field. There will be more space available to forwards. There will be an extra onus on referees to officiate the game. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2046 - 10/01/2025 09:15:09 2585299 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "There has to be three forwards in the opponents half of the field. So if Wicklow were playing Carlow today and Carlow are attacking the Wicklow goal, Wicklow have to have three players in Carlow's half of the field. The rules will take some adapting to and in my opinion there should be no need for them but unfortunately coaches and managers destroyed the game with their over emphasis on defensive play to the exclusion of football. In particular I'd blame the northern counties who were very focused on a rugby league style lines of players across the field. This style was successful for a number of counties winning All Ireland particular Armagh in 2024 but the game as a speculate was horrendous to watch. I don't think players and managers should be afraid of the new rules. I think the new rules will benefit teams that have the ability to transfer the ball quickly and can score from out the field. There will be more space available to forwards. There will be an extra onus on referees to officiate the game." Ok, let's go back to this 3 up or back hypothetical game with Carlow. If Carlow are attacking, we have to keep 3 up front ? So, if Carlow don't keep 2/3 back to cover our, and the ball gets turned over, they are completely exposed to a quick ball in to our forwards - or am I overthinking this ? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 10/01/2025 11:00:42 2585317 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Ok, let's go back to this 3 up or back hypothetical game with Carlow. If Carlow are attacking, we have to keep 3 up front ? So, if Carlow don't keep 2/3 back to cover our, and the ball gets turned over, they are completely exposed to a quick ball in to our forwards - or am I overthinking this ?" As far as I know a team can only have twelve players defending and one player must be the goalie. The only scenario where an attacking team can outnumber the defending team is if the attacking team's goalkeeper joins in past the half way line. The reason I specify the half way line is because an outfield player can't pass the ball to their goalkeeper in their own half but they can pass the ball to the goalkeeper in the opponent half of the field. I think they may change that particular rule at some stage. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2046 - 10/01/2025 12:00:07 2585333 Link
Replying To stringfellohawk: "Lads let's get real here the Wicklow County Board will do zero about this just like in the huge number of similar brawls throughout the County over the years. We will hear the usual defenses from the clubs iinvolved I.e. it was only one or two lads fighting and the whole club shouldn't be blamed for their actions etc erc. There will be no bans of players or mentors involved, no fines for the clubs, nothing to see here let's keep drifting along the same way we always do" Gaelic football needed changes but now we have a raft of changes which in my opinion are far too many at one time. I feel it will be impossible for one referee to oversee all these changes while still trying to keep the game flowing. How can he keep tabs on 3 forwards keeping to the designated area of the field or adjudicate that a player hadn't a foot the wrong side of the line before he received the ball.etc etc. What constitutes dissent ? A shrug of the shoulders ?...The time wasted bringing the ball forward 50 metres? How many times will that happen in a game to disrupt any continuity to a game ? Imagine trying to implement all the new rules on a wet winters night in a clubs grounds where at the moment in many cases the referee cant find umpires and linesmen and the pitch isn't clearly marked out. In my opinion the biggest bore in gaelic football was the incessant use of the handpass. The stats of games analysed clearly showed hundres of handpasses compares to a few dozen kickpasses. It is football after all and I think the gaa have now further diluted the game and skills we used to call gaelic football. I fear that many referees will now give up as they will face more abuse and criticism from pundits and the sideline. How many games will now end in controversy. Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 135 - 10/01/2025 20:09:35 2585407 Link
Replying To Sinbin: "These rules have the potential to damage football beyond repair the only thing that should have been trialled was 13 a side at junior club level only for 1 year would have given small clubs a better chance to field and kept the same rules this amount of rule changes in one go is pure lunacy" It will indeed be an interesting year on the club front trying to police these new rules, particularly the 3 up or back or whatever. The dissent 50mt rule has the potential to be a greater disaster. We all know that certain refs have clubs who they don't seem to like - could be lots of fun with this. As someone has pointed out, what is dissent ?? We all know that shouting your displeasure at a refs decision is wrong and needs to be punished but 50mts ? and would a shrug of the shoulders or a shake of the head also qualify as dissent with some refs. Then as also been pointed out, a junior match with no neutral umpires, who will call if it is a one or two pointer ?? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 11/01/2025 09:25:39 2585449 Link
People worried about scoring 2 pointers at junior level. There maybe 1 or 2 scored per game. Won't be an issue. The 30 attempts will be good to watch! willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 42 - 13/01/2025 11:36:48 2585705 Link
Replying To willielee: "People worried about scoring 2 pointers at junior level. There maybe 1 or 2 scored per game. Won't be an issue. The 30 attempts will be good to watch!" Its the, lets say, "non-neutral" umpires that'll be looking to put up the 2 pointer regardless of where it's kicked from that's going to be the issue!!! Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 150 - 13/01/2025 14:03:56 2585728 Link
Ah hear what are you all on about it shows no one on hear has anything to do with gaa in this county The umpire has no decision to make the ref decides if it s outside the zone. The umpire has to rise the white flag if it goes over and then waits and then the ref rises his hands if it was outside so then the uprise puts up the red flag. Pat Mustard (None) - Posts: 395 - 13/01/2025 20:38:55 2585777 Link
Replying To Pat Mustard: "Ah hear what are you all on about it shows no one on hear has anything to do with gaa in this county The umpire has no decision to make the ref decides if it s outside the zone. The umpire has to rise the white flag if it goes over and then waits and then the ref rises his hands if it was outside so then the uprise puts up the red flag." A fountain of knowledge as always. heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 13/01/2025 22:16:33 2585789 Link
Replying To willielee: "People worried about scoring 2 pointers at junior level. There maybe 1 or 2 scored per game. Won't be an issue. The 30 attempts will be good to watch!" Hardly worried Willie Lee. It's just a comment re how these new rules will filter down. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 13/01/2025 22:51:23 2585792 Link
Replying To Pat Mustard: "Ah hear what are you all on about it shows no one on hear has anything to do with gaa in this county The umpire has no decision to make the ref decides if it s outside the zone. The umpire has to rise the white flag if it goes over and then waits and then the ref rises his hands if it was outside so then the uprise puts up the red flag." Just goes to show that you can't follow what's going on as usual PM. Just read the posts. This conversation has nothing to do with who has or hasn't an idea of football or gaa in the county. Or whether they are involved in it or not. It is a good point about the ref calling it and the umpire then putting up the 2 pointer. You can explain all that to the 60plus yr old ref at a Jun C match on a wet night at the end of April when it's nearly dark. I'm sure they will be only too delighted to get a bit of guidance from you. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 13/01/2025 22:59:05 2585794 Link
Replying To Pat Mustard: "Ah hear what are you all on about it shows no one on hear has anything to do with gaa in this county The umpire has no decision to make the ref decides if it s outside the zone. The umpire has to rise the white flag if it goes over and then waits and then the ref rises his hands if it was outside so then the uprise puts up the red flag." You've only posted 389 times on this forum, seems like you posted more often. Anyway, some amount of wisdom in each of those posts. Glad to see the new year hasn't dimmed your ability to have a go at other posters. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2046 - 14/01/2025 12:31:04 2585835 Link
PM is right. Umpires have no say in the decision on whether it's a one or two pointer. They help decide if it's over or not. The ref calls where the shot was taken from. HowISeeIt (Wicklow) - Posts: 10 - 15/01/2025 13:16:35 2585963 Link
Pat has unintentionally reinforced the point here. Asserting that decisioning 1 vs 2 pointers is another thing that the referee is now responsible to manage. Remember, this is an era where at the top level , referees have steadily been leaning more & more heavily on their linesmen, umpires, and in some cases 4th official on the sideline to properly keep on top of everything going on and make good decisions. Now , we are going to burden the referees at Junior/Intermediate/Juvenile level who often are without any help with regards Linesmen , Umpires with a raft of rule changes , one of which is going to require being able to be tuned in to what is happening at the other end of the pitch to where the play is at to determine if the required number of players are remaining inside. This is going to be a bumpy ride at club level until referees and players get their feet under them around these new rules. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 150 - 15/01/2025 17:16:00 2586003 Link
Replying To HowISeeIt: "PM is right. Umpires have no say in the decision on whether it's a one or two pointer. They help decide if it's over or not. The ref calls where the shot was taken from." In relation to the new rules, I think there should've been a gradual introduction of the rules at club level. However, the decision to introduce these rules at all levels of the game in a short period of time doesn't surprise me as Croke Park and the GAA hierarchy in their ivory towers have no idea nor do they care about grassroots i.e. clubs. I just wonder what does the county board delegates do or what is their purpose when they attend congress? At intercounty level everyone is semi professional with some counties professional in every sense except payment to players but this is coming and in my estimation, in the next 10 years intercounty footballers will be paid. I think there was merit in tailoring the rules for club level or as I've already said gradually introducing the playing rules over a couple of seasons. I think this would help county boards to prepare for such a dramatic change in the way the game is played and refereed. In relation to umpires, linesmen and referees; they are suppose to work together to help the referee reach the right decision. I know there's always criticism of officials in Wicklow but John Keenan from Aughrim referred the All Ireland hurling final in 2023 so referees are as good in Wicklow as anywhere else. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2046 - 16/01/2025 19:05:54 2586129 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "In relation to the new rules, I think there should've been a gradual introduction of the rules at club level. However, the decision to introduce these rules at all levels of the game in a short period of time doesn't surprise me as Croke Park and the GAA hierarchy in their ivory towers have no idea nor do they care about grassroots i.e. clubs. I just wonder what does the county board delegates do or what is their purpose when they attend congress? At intercounty level everyone is semi professional with some counties professional in every sense except payment to players but this is coming and in my estimation, in the next 10 years intercounty footballers will be paid. I think there was merit in tailoring the rules for club level or as I've already said gradually introducing the playing rules over a couple of seasons. I think this would help county boards to prepare for such a dramatic change in the way the game is played and refereed. In relation to umpires, linesmen and referees; they are suppose to work together to help the referee reach the right decision. I know there's always criticism of officials in Wicklow but John Keenan from Aughrim referred the All Ireland hurling final in 2023 so referees are as good in Wicklow as anywhere else." Correct. We have some very good referees in Wicklow. Problem is we are struggling with numbers. Some are getting on in years. Where I see the main problems are in junior games where anyone who is familiar with these midweek games will know that referees struggle to get linesmen and umpires. No chance of getting neutral ones. Some of our refs struggle to keep up with the games anyway and ref almost the whole game between the 45, so how they might handle the new rules will be interesting. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1351 - 16/01/2025 20:06:32 2586136 Link
Good to see Dunlavin breaking away from st Nicholas ,hopefully more group teams follow suit and stand alone were possible. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 80 - 17/01/2025 07:15:48 2586156 Link