The lgfa have introduced a raft of changes to the sport, essentially copying and pasting the mens frc changes.

This has resulted in an improved season but a bad final. Followed by calls for more changes.

The ladies games suffers from a series of issues, most of which start at underage.

Go games has haf a huge impact on ladies football playing numbers U12, but the way the game is coached and played results in significant drop off.

Problem no 1 : physicality -
The biggest problem has been that referees who ref the mens game, then ref the ladies game and dont call frees for tackles which ate frees in lgfa, but npt in GAA. Unfortunatley, the lgfa decided to chsnge to the mens rules for tackling, instead of getting refs to properly impliment the lgfa tackle.
This has resulted in increased physicality , favouring the less skillful player - a step backwards in having a skillful game.

Problem 2: "low block defending"
At club level, particularly underage, the quality of goalkeeping is poor. To compensate and keep the no of goals conceeded down, teams block up the goal area. This is now coached into girls from a young age, safe in the knowledge that the majority of teams have very limited ability to kick points from long range.
Thr lgfa have adopted the mens 2 point arc, which has had limited impact at adult intercounty and no impact at underage. This will change at adult intercounty level but not at club and definitely not at underage.

Problem 3 : limited kick passing
Kicking is the hardest part of the game. At club level, a very athletic girl can run the length of the field uninhibited. These athletic girls inevitably get "played up" by virtue of this ability, essentially disencentivising kick passing, as those that do less of it play up age groups or play county.
Coaches often reward athletisism and physical power over mastery of basic skills.


The solution
Problem 1: stick to the original lgfa tackle - give more opportunities to smaller, skillful players

Problem 2 : adopt the Kerry U14 rules at all lgfa underage levels : i.e. stop counting goals, once a team has reached 5 - every goal after 5 is valued as 1 point.
Adjust the 3 up rule to 4 up (or more if required).

Problem 3: limit all lgfa football up to U16 to 2 plays maximum. Looking for a kick pass option rather than a solo run needs to be enforced underage so it muscle memory for players moving to senior level.


The 40m arc is too far out to impact lgfa as well as it did in GAA. Rather than have another line 5m inside it, the lgfa should just up the value of it to 3 points. There are more goals scored than 40m shots, therefore having the harder skill valued at 3 points shouldnt be controversial.

They also need to ban the backpass to the goalie, thus promoting the offensive press defense, rather than the "low block"

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2011 - 03/08/2026 16:39:34    2688562