National Forum

New Rules

(Oldest Posts First)

It has to be said that the new rules have seriously levelled the playing field. Division 1 against Div 4 doesn't seem as big (it is still significant ) but not as daunting as before. I love the fact that honest kick out football to the middle is now where the game is at... Cute short kick out strategy seems easy enough now to push up on forcing keeper to go long. Teams with limited midfield strength may be better off letting keeper go short and defend further up the pitch. Any team out muscled in the middle now are pretty sure to lose the game. Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much

SligoScot (Sligo) - Posts: 84 - 27/04/2026 11:56:43    2669152

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Replying To SligoScot:  "It has to be said that the new rules have seriously levelled the playing field. Division 1 against Div 4 doesn't seem as big (it is still significant ) but not as daunting as before. I love the fact that honest kick out football to the middle is now where the game is at... Cute short kick out strategy seems easy enough now to push up on forcing keeper to go long. Teams with limited midfield strength may be better off letting keeper go short and defend further up the pitch. Any team out muscled in the middle now are pretty sure to lose the game. Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much"
The kick out is now a big factor, just like it used to be 20 years ago.
The problem a lot of counties (Mayo to name just one) is they dumped their big men for fast mobile midfielders at underage and haven't developed enough big men for catching high ball. The short kick out became so dominant that goalkeepers stopped practicing the long kick out.

It will take mayo 3-4 years to start producing Aiden O Sheas/Barry Moran/Liam Mchale/David Brady types again. A similar problem in Dublin and a few other places too.

So any county with a few big catch and kick midfielders will do well.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1778 - 28/04/2026 16:54:48    2669591

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Replying To SligoScot:  "It has to be said that the new rules have seriously levelled the playing field. Division 1 against Div 4 doesn't seem as big (it is still significant ) but not as daunting as before. I love the fact that honest kick out football to the middle is now where the game is at... Cute short kick out strategy seems easy enough now to push up on forcing keeper to go long. Teams with limited midfield strength may be better off letting keeper go short and defend further up the pitch. Any team out muscled in the middle now are pretty sure to lose the game. Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much"
I think your last line pretty much sums up how games seem to be going now, with the new rules...

Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much

Have to say, this crowded midfield we now see is not a great spectacle.
Bodies everywhere - lads bulling through to get the ball.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a tweak in the rules, coming down the line.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4902 - 28/04/2026 18:04:53    2669609

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Replying To Fionn:  "I think your last line pretty much sums up how games seem to be going now, with the new rules...

Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much

Have to say, this crowded midfield we now see is not a great spectacle.
Bodies everywhere - lads bulling through to get the ball.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a tweak in the rules, coming down the line."
Maybe 2 x 2 midfielders in midfield zone for kick outs only...... regardless of where keeper kicks it ??????????

SligoScot (Sligo) - Posts: 84 - 29/04/2026 10:15:26    2669693

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Replying To SligoScot:  "
Replying To Fionn:  "I think your last line pretty much sums up how games seem to be going now, with the new rules... <i><b>Midfield wins you the game, the forwards by how much</b></i> Have to say, this crowded midfield we now see is not a great spectacle. Bodies everywhere - lads bulling through to get the ball. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a tweak in the rules, coming down the line."</div>Maybe 2 x 2 midfielders in midfield zone for kick outs only...... regardless of where keeper kicks it ??????????"
Yes, I think they will definitely think about limiting the amount of players to contest a kick out.

It is mayhem at present...

The skill has been completely taken out of it in some games....
Get a load of big strong men in there to fight for possession of the ball for kickouts...

Kickout rule needs tweaking.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4902 - 29/04/2026 11:37:15    2669718

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And please - get rid of that palming the ball into the net...

Drives me mad.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4902 - 29/04/2026 13:23:28    2669749

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Replying To Fionn:  "And please - get rid of that palming the ball into the net...

Drives me mad."
And hand passing over the bar

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 518 - 29/04/2026 13:38:10    2669752

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