The hand pass is one of the skills of gaa football. a player running on to a forward hand pass and either kicking or fisting it over the bar ,what is wrong with that.would ye like that gone from the game ,i wouldn't.Only problem at the moment is the amount of times in a row it happens before a player trys to find another player with a kick pass .this can take away the emphasis on coaching the kick pass. maybe after third hand pass is received player with ball has to kick ,this would give enough time for players to have looked up to find a man in space. ref would also have enough time to see if a fourth hand pass was done.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 09/10/2011 14:10:41    1048998

the game would die if the handpass is banned. it is clear most ye don't play the game as ye would understand how vital it is. there is noting better seeing a good hand passing move up the field. even handpassing it over the bar is a joy to watch it takes as much skill to handpass it then it does to kick a ball. there is to much of a knee jerk reaction because 1 or 2 teams over use it i tink we should leave well enough alone.

westside93 (Sligo) - Posts: 6 - 09/10/2011 15:39:15    1049029

Ban the forward handpass?????? Yea Cork would love that 1!!!!!

richiej (UK) - Posts: 1430 - 09/10/2011 18:07:44    1049108

It is one of the skills alright I guess, I'd agree with that. I was asking the question more in putting it out there after an article I read. The simplest solution I can see is just to rule that no consecutive passes are allowed. If you receive the ball from a hand-pass, you know not to hand-pass yourself.
It was a pity the mark from kick-outs didn't pass at congress, thought that would've been a good rule to reward good fielding in the game.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8942 - 09/10/2011 19:17:40    1049150

Over use of the handpass can have it's negative outcomes for teams as well. Look at Armagh, they had one of the best forward lines in the country over the past few decades in Stevie McDonnell, Oisin McConville and Ronan Clarke but spent most of their games handpassing sideways and backways between their midfield and backs. When they should have been getting quick, low passes into their brilliant forwards Francie Bellew, Paul McGrane and Kieran McGeeney were basketballing amongst themselves at the other end of the pitch; that's why Armagh really underachieved in this era.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 09/10/2011 20:27:35    1049190

Banning consecutive hand passes would ease the pain of those having to watch those games. The previous two comments are right on the hand pass being a skill, especially running on to a pass. It'll be tough on officiating to monitor 2 or 3 hand passes, they've enough to watch out for already, even badly. We've seen with the square ball, the rule trialled for once the ball is kicked is best but didn't pass at congress but is likely to get through now. The mark for kick-out should be revisited and trialling the ban of consecutive hand pass.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8942 - 09/10/2011 20:51:16    1049205

why ban the "forward" handpass. surly it would make more sence to ban the backward handpass.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 09/10/2011 21:24:42    1049232

Will we be introducing scrums if there is a forward pass? As the last comment suggests, you could ban the backward pass if that's the way people are looking at it. The solution is simple as I say, players can't have consecutive hops, a team as a whole should not be allowed consecutive hand passes. The easiest by far as well, at least it should be, for officials to officiate.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8942 - 09/10/2011 21:57:55    1049256

This is a ridiculous proposal. What's next?? If a team lines out with players seven feet tall and keep kicking high balls will we ban them. Bottom line is that the GAA change the rules too often and the referee's are having enough difficulty with the current rules never mind introducing this, think about it....the ref will spend the entire game counting one, two ok that was a kick pass, one...kick pass, one, two three...missed that one. It's ridiculous and you must be having a laugh at the backwards pass, the rugby world cup is over!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 10/10/2011 09:25:49    1049271

Sure we'd win nothing then!!

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 10/10/2011 09:58:10    1049283

Some lads here quite obviously never played the game. The handpass is an integral part of Gaelic football and no kneejerk silly rules regarding restricting the handpass are required. As for the suggestion to ban the backward handpass, that's just plain crazy. Think about it: the full forward gathers a high ball with his back to goal but is well marked- banning a backward pass would mean that he couldn't lay off the ball to an incoming team mate. Anyway, how would a referee monitor the legality of a backward (or forward) pass?? They have it hard enough already!

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 10/10/2011 10:28:38    1049312

Cannot see any other outcome than a complete mess and shambolic games if the forward handpass was banned. Sounds ridiculous & troublesome to me. Plausible solutions are as posters have already said, reduce to 13 a side or make a kick-pass obligatory after a handpass or something like that. And what's wrong with fisting a point over the bar? I think that's a decent skill under pressure from defenders, why discourage it?

Still, I can't help thinking are we on to a misnomer here? I know we'd all love to see far more kick-passing and far more football in the true sense of the word but is that unrealistic?

The fact is the game has changed over the years, it's gotten a lot more defensive, a lot more tactical, much more focussed on man-to-man, hence handpassing is used to spread the ball much more. Perhaps the increase of handpassing is due, at least in part, to progression of the game through the ages that has led to this style now and you can argue whether that's a natural progression or not

So as much I'd like to see the kicking coming back into the game, perhaps it is in the past and wishful thinking is all we're at here

Just a thought.....

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 10/10/2011 10:37:24    1049315

Banning consecutive passes should be as easy as counting a double hop. With 3 or 4 there is room for error and the officials have enough on their plate already, whether they are doing that well or not is a different matter.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8942 - 10/10/2011 10:52:11    1049319

so what would a player do when after receiving a handpass and is on the ground with three or four men around him? most would hand pass it out of that situation, but if new rules like some of ye are suggesting to ban "consecutive hand passes" that would be a free. that would be ridiculous! there be no other way to get rid of the ball to one your team mates. A lot of ye would want to wakening up and think your "great suggestions" through. it may look good on paper but a whole different story when put into practice! instead of trying to discourage handpassing why not try and encourage kick passing with marks like Aussie rules. however i think are games is just perfect every team have there own style would hate to see the day when every team were the same with long-balls

westside93 (Sligo) - Posts: 6 - 10/10/2011 18:16:04    1049701