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Topic: Change to Square Ball Rule – Football Only
Site Admin
(Administrator)
Posted: 01-May-2012 11:08
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At GAA Annual Congress in Killenard, Laois on Saturday April 14, 2012, a change was made to the square ball rule in Football only.

This change will become operative in all club and intercounty games from May 14 next. We would ask that you notify all club players and coaches of the change below and the relevant implementation date.

Football Only – “Square Ball”
This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e. as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter. The rule is unchanged with regard to “Set Play” i.e. Free Kicks, Line Balls and 45s – in these instances players are not permitted to enter the small rectangle before the ball.

The full text of the new rule is:
Rule 4.9 Official Guide Part 2 – Rules of Foul Play – Rule 4 Technical Fouls:

“For an attacking player to enter opponents’ small rectangle:
(a) During Play (excluding Set Play), before the final play of the ball into the small rectangle
(b) In Set Play, before the ball enters the small rectangle.
Exception:
(i) If an attacking player legally enters the small rectangle, and the ball is played from that area but is returned before the attacking player has time to leave the area, provided he does not play the ball or interfere with the defence, a foul is not committed.
(ii) When a point is scored from outside the small rectangle and the ball is sufficiently high to be out of reach of all players, the score shall be allowed even though an attacking player may have been, otherwise illegally, within the small rectangle before the ball – provided that the player in question does not interfere with the defence.”
Remy Martin
(129 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:01
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This should be great fun
ballygowan
(1,987 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:06
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the level of complexity introduced here is highly questionable
m_the_d
(1,199 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:06
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Clear as mud! Not much change there.
Carry on Hurling
(513 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:40
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This rule is now too complicated, un-enforceable, and generally a complete arse of a thing. They literally could not have made a bigger balls of it.
This message has been edited - 01-may-2012 @ 12:40
Star Gazer
(161 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:49
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Why should there be such great problems as posters are suggesting. This was tried out in the National League a couple of years ago and worked fine at any games that I was at.
Fine bit of Ash
(215 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:56
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FROM CORKGAA WEBSITE

Please note the following Playing Rule changes which were passed at Congress on Saturday, 14th April. These changes will become operative one month from Congress (i.e 14th May) and are to be implemented in all competitions. (They are also operative in Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship on Sunday next, 6th May). All club referees particularly need to be aware of these changes and the implementation date.

1. Football Only - "Square Ball"
This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter. The rule is unchanged with regard to "Set Play" i.e. Free Kicks, Line Balls and 45s - in these instances players are not permitted to enter the small rectangle before the ball.
The text of the new rule is attached as an Appendix to this correspondence.

2. Hurling and Football
An additional Power of the Referee has been added as follows:
"To consult, on a needs basis, with a linesman or umpire(s) - where neutral - in order to establish matters of fact. In the case of the Umpires, this shall include consultation concerning the validity of a score when the Referee is in doubt".

This rule change gives the referee power to consult with the linemen and umpires and will be particularly relevant in the adjudication on "square balls".

3. Hurling and Football - Rule 2: The Players, Rules of Specification
This has been amended to allow substitutions be made when the referee has stopped play after a score or wide or for a free, sideline puck/kick or where the Referee has stopped play for medical attention to an injured player.

Previously substitutions could only be made when the ball had gone out of play following a score or a wide, or when a stoppage in play was called by the referee for medical attention to an injured player.
If you have any queries then please give me a call.

Appendix

Rule 4.9 Official Guide Part 2 - Rules of Foul Play - Rule 4 Technical Fouls:

"For an attacking player to enter opponents' small rectangle:
(a) During Play (excluding Set Play), before the final play of the ball into the small rectangle
(b) In Set Play, before the ball enters the small rectangle.
Exception:
(i) If an attacking player legally enters the small rectangle, and the ball is played from that area but is returned before the attacking player has time to leave the area, provided he does not play the ball or interfere with the defence, a foul is not committed.
(ii) When a point is scored from outside the small rectangle and the ball is sufficiently high to be out of reach of all players, the score shall be allowed even though an attacking player may have been, otherwise illegally, within the small rectangle before the ball - provided that the player in question does not interfere with the defence."
Heshs Umpire
(450 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 12:58
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Originally posted by Star Gazer:
Why should there be such great problems as posters are suggesting. This was tried out in the National League a couple of years ago and worked fine at any games that I was at.

Agreed. Far more straightforward now. Keepers will be less protected now.
Carry on Hurling
(513 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 13:06
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Originally posted by Star Gazer:
Why should there be such great problems as posters are suggesting. This was tried out in the National League a couple of years ago and worked fine at any games that I was at.

Problem in general is that when amending rules they should err on the side of caution by reducing complexity, rather than increasing it.

The other new rule pointed out above about when a substitution can take place is another terrible decision. There were 3 occasions when you could make a substitution, score, wide or injury. This was perfectly ok as you had a window of opportunity to get the refs attention. A sub coming on as a quick free kick was taken was always “shooed” back to the side-line by me. Now this will be legal so if you want to slow down play or momentum, you can attempt your substitution.

Seriously, I can’t think of anything more stupid, except maybe for the hand pass a couple of years ago. In my opinion they open hand should not be allowed, fist only….
This message has been edited - 01-may-2012 @ 13:08
m_the_d
(1,199 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 13:10
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My problem is this interpretation of it:

"This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter."

The GAA keep muddying the water when they try to explain things. If a ball is played INTO the square, it must cross the line, therefore nothing has changed?

Maybe TOWARD should be used. Technicality maybe, but don't us GAA folks love those 'technicalities'.
JohnneyCool
(2,069 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 13:30
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Originally posted by m_the_d:
My problem is this interpretation of it:"This has been amended to allow a player enter the small rectangle once the final deliberate play of the ball has been made, i.e as soon as the player kicks, hand-passes, fist passes or deliberately flicks the ball into the small rectangle then the attacking player may enter."The GAA keep muddying the water when they try to explain things. If a ball is played INTO the square, it must cross the line, therefore nothing has changed?Maybe TOWARD should be used. Technicality maybe, but don't us GAA folks love those 'technicalities'.

Strange one alright, I'd have thought that you are allowed to enter the square once the ball has left a team mates foot or hand.
Say some lad hoofs it in from over 40 metres away. there's nothing to stop a whole herd of lads to be standing in the square well before the ball arrives. If the ball doesn't make it that far and needs another 'play' then it'd be a square ball!

God help the referee's.
About a Bicycle
(1,741 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 13:43
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Originally posted by JohnneyCool:

Say some lad hoofs it in from over 40 metres away. there's nothing to stop a whole herd of lads to be standing in the square well before the ball arrives. If the ball doesn't make it that far and needs another 'play' then it'd be a square ball!God help the referee's.

It will be some craic if a team is down 2 points, time is nearly up and they get a free or 45 - pass it to a team-mate who hoofs it into the square while about 12 backs and forwards charge in at the same time. It's bound to happen. Can you imagine in a local game where lads wouldn't be too fond if each other anyway.
Unlimited_Limerick
(876 Posts)
Posted: 01-May-2012 14:37
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Say the ball is kicked in towards the small square and Johnny Sixfootsix takes up position in the square and stands under it.. if the ball takes any flick off his own player before landing in to him that renders him as being liable for a square ball, but if no one gets a touch he doesn't get penalised. I think it sounds messy and will cause manys the argument up and down the country.

If they were going to remove it for the benefit of referees why did they feel the need to over complicate it for them. The square ball rule has bugged me for years, when the ball is coming down out of the sky, at what height did it have to descend past before it was 'in the square'? The rule book never defined that. If that much was stipulation it would have sorted it. E.g. once the ball crosses down past the height of the cross bar it's in the square?? That I reckon would have cleared it up in a clearer fashion than what they're proposing.

Considering the old square ball rule still exists from frees, I wonder when teams are taking frees will they start developing some kind of 'default' system where the ball is tapped to a second player so's the second player can boot it into the square without being liable for a square ball.
This message has been edited - 01-may-2012 @ 14:40
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