In various strands of life, Christmas is regarded as the silly season. Referring, of course, to the shopping and spending and socialising that seems to consume the entire month of December, if not beforehand.
In a sporting sense, there are a number of incarnations of the silly season. From the Transfer Windows in soccer to the equivalent trade deadlines in NBA and NFL.
In GAA terms, the silly season can stretch from the end of one playing season to the beginning of another. Including when it does actually recommence.
The definition of the silly season in GAA terms is usually the time of year when the Brains Trust decide to experiment with the playing rules. Over the years, some very worthwhile additional dictums have been brought in via this route.
Such as the introduction of red and yellow cards, the kicking of frees and sideline balls from the hand and the inculcation of the ‘Mark’ – albeit belatedly – into men’s football. However, for all the good advancements which have been made, some temporary little arrangements were culled which never should have been.
Foremost among them, one the culling of which has been a long held bugbear of mine. In the 1993/’94 National Football League – which Meath memorably won with the aid of two Bernard Flynn goals against Armagh – a rule was trialled, the implication of which was that the ball had to be kicked after two consecutive handpasses.
For reasons best known to themselves, once its probationary period had elapsed, it was discontinued and never seen again. However, time and experience have proven that if change is absolutely desired within the GAA, perseverance and patience eventually do pay off. So I will not stop believing that the greatest blight on Gaelic football will one day be dealt with.
On the hurling side, advances have been made in terms of the compulsory wearing of helmets. Though it will be admitted there was serious difficulty here acclimatising to that particular stipulation, if only due to memories of players like Johnny Pilkington and John Troy and John Power and Anthony Daly and many more going into battle open headed!
As with the football experimental rules, for all the improvements that were brought about to hurling by various introduced adjustments, there were some patents tested which should have been retained but were catapulted onto the dust gathering shelf.
The awarding of two points for scores accrued directly from line balls being the most obvious. But also other initiatives like the countdown timer and, possibly even, the introduction of inter change substitutions.
Mind you, there could be even greater change afoot within the small ball code because, not for the first time, lady GAA players have been proactively afforded the opportunity to trial some highly innovative changes in Camogie which, if adopted, could seriously improve the ash and sliotar discipline for the lads as well.
The regulations being given a run out in camogie in 2024 are as follows:
Rule 1: Quick Puck Out
Goalkeepers will now have the option to take a quick puck out after a wide or a score signalled by the referee. However, the goalkeeper must remain within the small parallelogram. Deliberate obstruction of the goalkeeper’s quick puck out will be penalised. Additionally, players from either team will not be required to be outside the 20-meter line for a quick puck out.
Rule 2: Rough Play and Dissent
To encourage fair and physical play, shoulder-to-shoulder contact will now be permitted. Players will be allowed to tackle opponents using shoulder-to-shoulder contact from a side-on position. However, aggressive or cynical contact will remain prohibited. Charging into a player, with or without the sliotar, is strictly not allowed.
Rule 3: Handpass
A clarification has been made to the handpass rule. Players must demonstrate a clear striking action when handpassing the sliotar. Any violation of this rule will result in a free awarded to the opposing team, with the free being indirect.
Rule 4: Sideline Puck
Teams will have the option to take a side line puck from either the hand or the ground when the sideline puck is within their own 45-meter line. If the sliotar crosses the sideline outside the 45m line, the sideline must be taken as a ground puck. A score from a side line puck from the ground is still rewarded with 2 points. No player must be within 10m of the side line free taker.
Rule 5: Clean Catch
Players can call a Mark from a clean catch past the 45m line from their own team’s puck out only. The player who catches the ball cleanly on or past the 45m line, must immediately call a mark by holding the sliotar in outstretched arm above their head and will be awarded a Mark by the referee, signalled by the referee’s whistle. The player awarded a Mark can choose to take a free (indirect) or play on immediately. If the player takes the free, they must strike it from the hand at the point where the Mark was awarded. If the player chooses to play on, they may not be challenged until they carry the sliotar up to four consecutive steps or make one act of striking or handpassing the sliotar. Players can choose not to call a mark.
Rule 6: Concussion Substitute
In the event of a concussion or suspected concussion, teams can make a permanent concussion substitution in addition to regular substitutions. A player who is concussed or has had a suspected concussive incident must leave the field of play immediately (once cleared to move from relevant medical professionals) for medical attention. The referee has the authority to prevent a player from returning if they believe the player is unfit to play due to concussion. Teams can make multiple concussion substitutions.
Those of us who’ve been about long enough will remember the occasion on which two points were awarded for a score direct from a line ball. You’d hope that its re-appearance on the horizon via camogie might prompt a rethink with regard to the same situation in hurling.
If there’s one of the proposed changes I would have slight reservations about, it’s the one seeking to allow the taking of line balls from the hand.
Right, so a score from the sideline no matter how it’s struck is a highly commendable skill no matter how it’s hit, but, I think there’s something particularly unique about the sideline cut off the ground.
That said, it was indeed pleasantly surprising to hear mention of a Mark in the small ball code, for the ladies at least. It has, if not else, brought the idea of a Mark in hurling at least up for discussion.
If you take it that the Mark in football rewards high fielding, doesn’t it stand to reason that the high fielding of sliotar is an even more noteworthy accomplishment and therefore worthy of acknowledgement whether executed by hurler or camogie player.
It’s something I’ve wanted to see introduced in hurling for a long time but honestly never thought the purists would go for it.
Granted, it hasn’t come up on hurling’s radar yet, but, lady GAA players and their governing bodies have pointed the way to positive change in the past and can do so again.
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