Posters it's getting worse than ever it's handpass after handpass in every game I know it's obviously a safer way of retaining possession but surely it's time now to bring in a rule that limits the handpass? Like let's make it a bit more exciting cause you know 9 times out of ten a team can handpass the ball all the way up the field and then shoot without risking losing possession which for me is just boring plus there's absolutely no skill involved in a handpass. Our posters happy to watch teams handpass the ball all night?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 08/02/2015 18:35:49    1691302

I don't know man. A well executed handpassing move can be brilliant to watch.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 08/02/2015 18:46:32    1691309

A lot depends on the ref. If your attackers arent getting looked after by the ref, or the linesmen, then you will be kicking the ball away 9 times out of 10. at least with handpassing, keeping the ball means that you dont fall into the above risk. Not very satisfactory, but that is the way the game is a lot of the time.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 08/02/2015 18:52:55    1691317

No, its cr*p, Its got to the stage where i wouldnt bother watching unless my own team were playing. They should bring in a trial rule limiting it, instead of farting around with rules for black cards, etc that dont really do anything for the game (see last years showpiece final!). at least try it out, the rules have to evolve as the game does. Its funny because the Gah are mad quick to bring in rules to annoy players (eg obligatiry helmets, ginormous bans for twitter, etc.) and painfully slow when change is actually, and desperately, needed

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 08/02/2015 19:07:32    1691330

The option was always there, it just wasn't used as much as it is now, and that's down to tactics and fitness levels, I say keep it, enough rule changes in our game already.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8589 - 08/02/2015 19:09:42    1691335

How could you keep count though ?

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 08/02/2015 19:28:01    1691344

Well said realdub we've had enough changes.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/02/2015 19:35:31    1691351

Its long overdue but new rules will bring problems of their own. How many frees have been awarded due to an incorrect hand pass in football. Almost none. So are we willing to change the rules at the expense of more frees, debates and controversy???

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 08/02/2015 19:37:49    1691354

It's truly awful stuff alright but I just don't think you could come up with a rule that would deal with it. Forcing a team to kick after x hand passes would cause chaos and balls would just be punted anywhere to avoid being penalised. It's a difficult one. Hand passing is effective in today's running game. It's rugby with a round ball. Not sure why anyone playing the game would be interested in it except maybe for the prospect of silverware. It's a shame that, because it has been effective and rewarding for some teams, it is now being taught at underage level in some clubs. You would have to fear that if foot passing continues to be discouraged then the game could start losing kids to a more skilful past time i.e. Soccer. Time will tell.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 08/02/2015 19:52:56    1691370

it is not easy to handpass the ball the whole way up the pitch without risk of losing the ball...it's a high risk strategy especially when opponents press high up the pitch...it's actually a much better strategy to kick pass but thats getting morte difficult when opposition are pulling men back...vicious circle lads...you can't have it both ways!

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 08/02/2015 20:12:28    1691383

its largely about retaining possession which is hugely popular in soccer especially at the top level...its quite useful when you dont have the class inside forwards to beat a good defence..likes of dublin and mayo are very good at the running game..for all the criticism of tyrone and armagh back in the 00s they were brilliant kick passers

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 08/02/2015 20:15:02    1691384

I would argue that Dublin are very good with the kick pass too!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8589 - 08/02/2015 20:25:05    1691396

the root of the problem is the packed defences where every team is now swarming there defence with players and leaving very few players forward, so the attacking teams have no one to kick the ball to, What about a rule a rule that you must keep a minimum of 4/5/6 players in the oppositon half/45 at all times?

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 08/02/2015 22:01:47    1691463

Something has to be done

Was at the Sligo v Fermanagh game yesterday. Lots of good footballers on show but were they let show it. Bar Donnelly lad at midfield for Fermanagh (an excellent performance of fielding and running with ball) it was just like a game I used to play in my younger days, basketball. You get the ball and no tackle till midfield then go into one corner and work it out and around the other corner. It was gruesome to watch.

The handpass is a shuffle pass now. No striking motion at all. All handpasses should be fist as times past. Both teams parked the bus at the 40 and even if you broke up the play no one kicked it in to the scoring forwards, instead they looked behind them for the "runner" as they say in rugby.

And with our physically small forwards it does not work. And it is awful to watch

overinthewest (Sligo) - Posts: 119 - 09/02/2015 08:16:25    1691467

the only rule that would work would be a complete ban on the handpass altogether. That would be interesting.
I agree it's horrible to see teams handpass, handpass around in circles . I mean at the end you have to kick it anyway so why not just kick it.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 09/02/2015 08:23:38    1691470

NorthKildare
County: Kildare
Posts: 74

1691463 the root of the problem is the packed defences where every team is now swarming there defence with players and leaving very few players forward, so the attacking teams have no one to kick the ball to, What about a rule a rule that you must keep a minimum of 4/5/6 players in the oppositon half/45 at all times?

Spot on.Sadly reading through the media in recent years very few people have pointed this oiut and I have been banging on abaout it for ages.Handpassing is a result of the issue with Galeic Football it is not the issue but unfortunatley people in media and adminstration roles who should no better seem blind to this.

It is not rewarding to kick pass the ball as with the blanket defence it is almost impossible to have an accurate kickpass as unless the ball hits the forward on the middle of his chest it can be easily intercepted if a team has a blanket defense.In order for kickpassing to be worthwhile there needs to be space in front of the forwards to kick into.

introduce a rule where 5 of the 15 players on the field must be inside the 65 of the goal they are attacking at all times and the game would imrpove instantly and it wouldn't be that diffiult foir the officials as teh linesmen and umpires have little to be doing throughout the game and could keep and eye on it.Introduce a harsh penaly for breaking the rule and it would police itself.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 09/02/2015 08:36:55    1691473

I don't mind loosing, but I won't tolerate my own team trying to be Donegal. The setup in Navan on Saturday night was beyond turgid. Meath were negative too but at least they attempted to break at pace. Kildare make Cavan look like they are playing samba football.

Sport is supposed to be enjoyable. I would take no joy if Kildare were successful playing that brand of "football". It's time other supporters were honest with themselves.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1171 - 09/02/2015 08:54:55    1691477

Joxer is right. Would be impossible to legislate for it. A ban would just see endless rucks as players would be unable to get rid of ball - the reason it was allowed from early days of gaelic football under GAA rules in fact.

Any attempt to limit it to 3/4 playes or whatever would only result in ball being kicked away rather than being bottled up. A bit like an NFL quarter back who will throw into touch if receiver is not available to avoid the sack.

Hand pass will always be more of an option this time of year given trickier conditions, but there was no shortage of speed in Dublin and Donegal attacks on Saturday. If Mayo had a problem with Tyrone I suggest it is more to do with their own ponderous build up - their downfall against better teams over last few years - rather than Tyrone parking the bus which Mayo themselves have done against Dublin and others when it suited! Both Dublin and Donegal countered the opposition defence by kicking quick ball into the forwards. Seems to me Tyrone were not dissimilar, dareisayit!

We all admire in ourselves what we consider to be faults in others :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 09/02/2015 09:27:36    1691493

Daith kildare are only doing what every other county in Ireland are doing you either do it or your getting bet because the blanket (sadly) is the way forward and unless the Gaa do something about it it's here to stay. What does every county do after they get a bad beating ? They go ultra defensive; Kerry hammered by Cork in the league they go ultra defensive against Cork in champo Cork hammered by Kerry then go ultra defensive against Mayo in champo ,Tyrone bet by Monaghan last week they go ultra defensive against Mayo, like if a great manager like Mickey Harte only plan is to go ultra defensive then the game is in serious trouble.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 09/02/2015 09:32:32    1691496

Trying to limit the handpass would be hard to police and secondly the danger of things becoming like rugby league would be looming large. 1,2,3,4, 5th pass boot it up in the air and hope for the best. The day the garryowen is adopted by a football team will be a sad day , some may say lumping it in to the big lad is a variant on this but at least there's an aim to that type of pass. It would be very interesting if the hand pass was abolished or all hand passes had to be in a forward direction, get rid of the shuffling to the side / going backwards.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 09/02/2015 09:34:01    1691499