Former Meath, Louth and Kildare senior football coach Colm Nally says that player feedback to proposed new Gaelic football changes has been instrumental in the Football Review Committee’s trial process.
Nally is part of the FRC, chaired by Jim Gavin, who are currently in the midst of running the most radical set of rule trials that Gaelic football has seen.
The trials include a 40-metre scoring arc allowing two points for a score beyond that arc, four points for a goal, a revised advanced mark and a limit of three players in the opposition half at all times are being monitored.
After an exhaustive consultation process which is still running and garnered 7,000 public survey replies, along with meetings with provincial councils, Central Council, referees and other stakeholders, the FRC is currently running trials, called ‘Sandbox games’ until the end of this month.
Already games have taken place in Mullingar (15 June) and Claremorris (22 June).
Last weekend, Celbridge took on Castleknock in a challenge game played under a selection of proposed new rules at Abbotstown.
That match was divided into four quarters and saw the advanced mark under specific scrutiny.
Nally says the feedback from players was both immediate and thought-provoking.
“Defensive players saw our proposed tweaks to the advanced mark and wondered if there were any provisions for the defence minded players so it’s feedback on the fly and it’s brilliant,” he said.
“By now we have had 7,000 responses to our survey with over 5,000 offering additional feedback so the enthusiasm has been huge all round,” he added.
Further rounds will take place in Armagh (6 July) and Limerick (20 July).
The FRC’s plan is to study the data, trends, feedback and reaction to a number of rule trials in these games and draw a set of proposals.
“The key thing is that players are enjoying the tweaks and really enjoying the games,” Nally adds.
“They learn very quickly in games and are constantly trying things. Last weekend we played a three v three inside the ‘65 and one player kept coming out and asking what the punishment was for doing so.
“So we are taking everything they say on board but they are really enjoying the games and that’s a big thing.
“We had another scenario with the ‘solo and go’ concept where the player tapped the ball with his boot and went rather than solo and go. That was the player’s interpretation of that tweak and it gave us something more to think about also.”
Another rule being tried out is after a foul the player has to hand the ball to his opponent instead of throwing it away.
“Not only does that tie in with the respect ethos of our association but it also quickened the game up and didn’t give the defending team time to retreat in numbers, so that was interesting too, it changed the whole dynamic of the game,” Nally continued.
While several tweaks are being considered – such as vanishing foam to mark where frees are taken from – it’s anticipated that three to four key proposals, including scrutiny on the goalkeeping role, a new scoring arc and the three v three directive, will go forward for trial at competitive inter-county level.
After the remaining Sandbox Games are played, there is a possibility of two more trials taking place in September or October.
From there the FRC will make their proposal to Central Council.
Depending on approval from Central Council, the proposals will then be implemented in next year’s Allianz League with a view to being cemented for the 2025 championship.
After five games are completed there will be with an option to review the success of the tweaks before they potentially become a permanent fixture in the GAA rule book.
Alongside Gavin and Nally on the FRC are influential figures like Seamus Kenny (Meath), Eamonn Fitzmaurice (Kerry), James Horan (Mayo), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Malachy O’Rourke (Fermanagh), Michael Meaney (Carlow) and Alec McQuillan (Antrim).
