The discussion and explanation regarding the kickout, ie player could retrieve it inside the 20 meter line, was news to me to be honest, I always though it not the case. It got me thinking about another rule I'd read and re-read many times, but I'm not sure I've ever seen it allowed, always penalised.


1.2 When the ball is on the ground, it may be played by any part of the body except the hand(s). It may be lifted off the ground with the feet.

Exceptions
(i)The goalkeeper may play the ball on the ground with his hand(s) inside his own small rectangle.

(ii)Any player who falls or is knocked to the ground while in possession of the ball may fist or palm the ball away on the ground, and may score by so doing.


Am I interpreting this wrong? To me it seems you can play the ball on the deck with your hands. Would this be a way of getting rid of the ball when tackled by a group, fist/palm the ball away between someones legs? And how would you score, fist it over the bar from the ground?

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 31/08/2015 21:09:07    1779462

One of the lesser known rules alright.

Image the roars from the stands if a player fell and punched the ball away on the ground and the ref didn't give a free? Even better if he was able to score a goal from doing so.

On a referees course a few years ago we were told that this rule was usually only implemented if the player in possession had been fouled - so a nice a clear rule there...

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 01/09/2015 09:20:31    1779552

(ii)Any player who falls or is knocked to the ground while in possession of the ball may fist or palm the ball away on the ground, and may score by so doing.

the wording though doesnt say the player can touch the ball on the ground
if he is on the ground while in possesion
and then may fist or palm the ball away on the ground
it could mean while the player is on the ground they can play the ball without having to return to their feet first
if they are in possesion the ball wouldnt be on the ground
just a thought?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 01/09/2015 09:55:27    1779579

He has to be in possession of the ball - i.e. on his backside with the ball in his hands. That isn't punching it on the ground, that is him on the ground with the ball in his hands.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/09/2015 09:58:27    1779584

I think Master is right on this one.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 01/09/2015 10:29:12    1779626

I though that too, regarding sitting on the ground say. But the rule is about touching the ball on the ground, and this is an exception to the rule, ie the ball can be touched on the ground?

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 01/09/2015 10:33:05    1779630

And thanks to if_in_doubt, about the referees input. I'd like to know more from that source, seems to be another very dodgy interpretation rule!

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 01/09/2015 10:34:58    1779634

The other related one that people always get wrong is that lifting the ball from the ground between your knees is not allowed. You have to use the foot.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 01/09/2015 10:43:56    1779640

m_the_d

you are right. it's an exception to the rule about not being allowed to play the ball on the ground. the idea is for player safety ie if you fall and are in a vulnerable position on the ground with the ball beside you, you can use your hands to play it away from you.

Meath referee co-ordinator had a presentation on the rules a couple of years ago where every club had to send representatives. Having played football for years I thought I knew them all, but there was lots that was news to me. Most of the uproar at matches is caused by people who don't know the rules.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 522 - 01/09/2015 11:30:26    1779700

If a player is fairly tackled while in possession, falls to the ground and the ball spills in front of him, the player may play the ball on the ground with his hand / fist. If a score is achieved the score will be allowed.

Torcaill (Australia) - Posts: 204 - 01/09/2015 11:35:24    1779710

1.2 When the ball is on the ground, it may be played by any part of the body except the hand(s). It may be lifted off the ground with the feet.

Exceptions
(i)The goalkeeper may play the ball on the ground with his hand(s) inside his own small rectangle.

(ii)Any player who falls or is knocked to the ground while in possession of the ball may fist or palm the ball away on the ground, and may score by so doing.

I don't think the wording is the big problem here (well not in comparison to some other rules). The rule itself is rarely, if ever, enforced.

It's like when the black card was first introduced, any time a foul was committed people were just shouting at the ref and calling for a black card regardless of what sort of foul had just taken place.

Again though like a lot of the rules the problem is in the application and consistency of the rule. There's too much scope for referees to use common sense (which isn't always that common) and it leaves a lot of things open to interpretation. With 6 other officials around the sideline and numerous tv cameras providing instant replays at a range of angles there needs to be something done to actually take away some of these decisions from refs.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 01/09/2015 11:51:46    1779736

So yes, you can play the ball on the ground, and score, but be cautious of the ref not knowing this rule :)

Torcaill (Australia) - Posts: 204 - 01/09/2015 11:53:06    1779740

I've posted about this numerous times. It is a rule that I have never seen enforced once and I doubt 99% of people know about.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 01/09/2015 12:08:30    1779760

Maybe Rory could put together and educational video on how this could effect a major championship match!

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 02/09/2015 09:18:41    1780371

If the ball is on the ground you aren't in possession of it... You have to have the ball in your hands for this to apply.


Another thing that occurred to me watching the Dublin - mayo game. When andy moran got the block on cluxton, and cluxton kind of swings around him a bit - say for arguments sake, moran goes to ground there and cluxton gets a black card. The sub cant come in until the next play - so who goes in goals for the penalty?!

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 02/09/2015 09:29:58    1780381

The meath sub goalie came on this year before play restarted, so there must be an exception.

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 02/09/2015 09:39:27    1780392

There is an exception to the black card sub rule if its the keeper who receives it

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 02/09/2015 10:01:40    1780414

One of the lesser known rules alright.

Image the roars from the stands if a player fell and punched the ball away on the ground and the ref didn't give a free? Even better if he was able to score a goal from doing so.

Been there, done that, awarded the goal. Ended up under siege in the dressing room for 20 minutes after the game...

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1055 - 02/09/2015 10:15:45    1780428

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 13749

If the ball is on the ground you aren't in possession of it... You have to have the ball in your hands for this to apply.

You have to be in possession of the ball before you hit the ground. If you hit the ground and you let go of the ball you are allowed to play the ball away with your hands while both you and the ball are still on the ground.

Eddie the Exile
County: Monaghan
Posts: 391

One of the lesser known rules alright.

Image the roars from the stands if a player fell and punched the ball away on the ground and the ref didn't give a free? Even better if he was able to score a goal from doing so.

Been there, done that, awarded the goal. Ended up under siege in the dressing room for 20 minutes after the game...

Almost not worth the hassle of following and applying this rule unfortunately.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 02/09/2015 11:09:55    1780476

It will probably take a big incident before the media is brought in and people become aware of this rule. Likely one where a player does something legitimate, is penalised by the ref and then argues to the point of being sent off or something. But even then I'd say very few players are either a) aware of the rule or b) actually expect refs not to penalise it enough to put up an argument

Just another example of how the rules in GAA are only general guidelines and what actually happens on the pitch is something completely different. Though this is part of the reason why refs get such a hard time and by the same token why its an impossible job (if refs blew every foul to the letter of the law there would be a free every 15 seconds and it would be basically impossible to dispossess a player legitimately.)

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 02/09/2015 11:37:21    1780504