HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

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Four Steps Rule

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Brian McAvoy has made a interesting point, that given the current pace of football, the 4-step rule should be replaced with a time limit instead (before hop, solo or pass of the ball). I think I'd like it for both codes - 2 seconds is mentioned in a prior failed proposal. Also, I think the streamlined qualifiers for the SFC in 2022 is a good template for the future - with 8 teams getting the last double chance (Prov Finals) and 8 other high NFL teams getting to the 1st Rd Qualifiers. A tweak here for the future could be that only the 4 Prov Champs and 4 other high NFL non Champs get the double chance and the next 8 in the NFL (AFTER 3 up / 3 Down') go to the 1st Rd Qualifiers. omahant (USA) - Posts: 2573 - 06/01/2022 20:05:50 2393867 Link
Replying To omahant: "Brian McAvoy has made a interesting point, that given the current pace of football, the 4-step rule should be replaced with a time limit instead (before hop, solo or pass of the ball). I think I'd like it for both codes - 2 seconds is mentioned in a prior failed proposal. Also, I think the streamlined qualifiers for the SFC in 2022 is a good template for the future - with 8 teams getting the last double chance (Prov Finals) and 8 other high NFL teams getting to the 1st Rd Qualifiers. A tweak here for the future could be that only the 4 Prov Champs and 4 other high NFL non Champs get the double chance and the next 8 in the NFL (AFTER 3 up / 3 Down') go to the 1st Rd Qualifiers." The 2 second rule would be a good rule to bring in, like the man said the game has changed a lot since the day of catch and kick or kick and catch. KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 07/01/2022 11:47:30 2393913 Link
The 4 step rule is a joke: I would say that in the case of the majority of possessions the player exceeds 4 steps. We have numerous examples of significant scores coming from 10 plus steps - especially in hurling. I have no idea why referees do not apply the rule. Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 263 - 07/01/2022 12:53:39 2393930 Link
Too much messing with the rules if you ask me, soon won't be the game we love Michaelcusack2022 (Galway) - Posts: 11 - 07/01/2022 13:15:32 2393933 Link
Replying To Aibrean: "The 4 step rule is a joke: I would say that in the case of the majority of possessions the player exceeds 4 steps. We have numerous examples of significant scores coming from 10 plus steps - especially in hurling. I have no idea why referees do not apply the rule." A lot of refs do not apply the rule because during play they keep their eyes on upper body contact and do not then count the steps. a far bigger problem is lack of definition of the tackle in gaelic football. ifindoubt (Donegal) - Posts: 133 - 07/01/2022 13:39:07 2393943 Link
Why would a time limit be any easier to enforce. The 4 step rule is not easy to enforce and to honest you make an allowance of a few more steps but when it's say ten steps for a goal or ten steps and then a defender gives a way a foul I find that frustrating. If a little more attention was paid to the blatant overcarrying then I'd be ok. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 688 - 07/01/2022 13:42:09 2393946 Link
The proposed 2 second rule would be a farce from start to finish. Youd have some refs saying 'one Mississippi....pause .....to Missississipi..' And then youd have the keen refs going ' one, two' shrill blow of the whistle as the player has barely moved. It would be hilarious. They can't enforce a relatively simple rule as it is. 4 steps and 1 or 2 steps max discretion... Youve also got the ultimate craziness of advantage thrown in and being used ridiculously. For instance a guy in possession is being fouled on his 4th step...ref waves advantage and let's the guy take another 3 or 4 steps as the ADVANTAGE'..LOL... so he allows him break the rules himself. Thats not as prevalent as it was but still happens. . Colin Fennelly has to be the best at the steps ever...hes gotten away with 14 in one match I remember.. bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 07/01/2022 15:25:43 2393980 Link
Leave the game alone. Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 07/01/2022 15:37:18 2393983 Link
Replying To bloodyban: "The proposed 2 second rule would be a farce from start to finish. Youd have some refs saying 'one Mississippi....pause .....to Missississipi..' And then youd have the keen refs going ' one, two' shrill blow of the whistle as the player has barely moved. It would be hilarious. They can't enforce a relatively simple rule as it is. 4 steps and 1 or 2 steps max discretion... Youve also got the ultimate craziness of advantage thrown in and being used ridiculously. For instance a guy in possession is being fouled on his 4th step...ref waves advantage and let's the guy take another 3 or 4 steps as the ADVANTAGE'..LOL... so he allows him break the rules himself. Thats not as prevalent as it was but still happens. . Colin Fennelly has to be the best at the steps ever...hes gotten away with 14 in one match I remember.." Agree 100% that a time-based rule would be impossible. Would we really expect referees to start counting off time in their heads as soon as anybody takes the ball into hand? And one referee counting faster than another....so one might think the time is up after just 1.5 seconds, while another might take three seconds to count to two. And imagine the crack on The Sunday Game when they put a clock on it and discover that somebody held the ball for 2.379 seconds in the build-up to a last-minute winning goal in a big championship match...... Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2229 - 07/01/2022 16:56:48 2393999 Link
Replying To Greengrass: "Leave the game alone." Agree if we are gong to start taking out rules that aren't being enforced we will be at it a long time. Throwing instead of hand passing is rampant in Hurling. Watched Limerick and Cork the other evening Cian Lynch is a master at it. gatha (Kilkenny) - Posts: 318 - 07/01/2022 18:06:08 2394006 Link
Replying To KingdomBoy1: "The 2 second rule would be a good rule to bring in, like the man said the game has changed a lot since the day of catch and kick or kick and catch." Honestly think the four step rules a nonsense. Four steps for Clifford of Kerry or Kennedy of Tyrone would be massive compared to the likes of wee James Mc Carton in the past. His wee legs would have been going like Billy-O to cover the same ground. I'd go for the distance travelled rule. People say we don't need more rules but the 4 step rule doesn't work. In place got rid of the Mark rule and the Black card rule. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2006 - 07/01/2022 21:02:40 2394028 Link
Replying To Michaelcusack2022: "Too much messing with the rules if you ask me, soon won't be the game we love" I'm say, that's a head in the sand, or two in the bush ! omahant (USA) - Posts: 2573 - 07/01/2022 21:30:32 2394036 Link
Replying To Ulsterchamps_32: "Why would a time limit be any easier to enforce. The 4 step rule is not easy to enforce and to honest you make an allowance of a few more steps but when it's say ten steps for a goal or ten steps and then a defender gives a way a foul I find that frustrating. If a little more attention was paid to the blatant overcarrying then I'd be ok." Nothing is perfect - just an improvement. Ref could count 'one potato, two potato, three' while observing other things - if player held the ball, he (or she) is penalized. omahant (USA) - Posts: 2573 - 07/01/2022 21:37:05 2394038 Link
The pick up is another problem - a cm above the turf is a legal fetch, but one less is not - in practice, both are allowed - why have the rule at all - the ladies got rid of it. If we keep it in some form - I'd want to see some space below the ball - say ball must be above half way between sole and knee before a grab - otherwise, it needs to be 'soccerred' ? omahant (USA) - Posts: 2573 - 07/01/2022 21:44:52 2394041 Link