Call for fixed body on rule changes

Binned rulesGaelic Games Discipline: Ian O'Riordan talks to GAA head of games Pat Daly who believes last year's doomed experimental rules actually addressed serious problems

The infamous experimental rules sparked a national debate when introduced for provincial competitions this weekend last year, creating one anniversary the GAA would rather forget.

Central to the controversy was the sinbin, which initially saw players been sidelined for 10 minutes on receiving a yellow card. That was later altered so players getting a yellow card were ordered off with a replacement allowed, but after a few rounds of the National League it was obvious the rules were doomed, and in the end they weren't even debated at Congress.

A year on and Pat Daly, the GAA's head of games, is still reminiscing on a lost opportunity. Daly acted as secretary to the task forces that drew up the experimental rules, and despite some minor flaws, he maintains they had a role to play in addressing the enduring issue of indiscipline.

The five first-round matches of the O'Byrne Cup this time last year saw 25 players being sinbinned. That levelled off during the league, but with most managers eventually losing patience with the rules, Daly believes they were never really given a fair chance.

"They did generate a lot of heat at the time," he says, "and you could argue it generated far more heat than light. But in terms of the outcome I was definitely happy in that we got five very desirable outcomes. We'd more playing time in every game, more scores, as well as less frees, less yellow cards, and less red cards.

"And I believe the issues of indiscipline are still there, absolutely. I'm in the process of writing my Congress report and a lot of these issues arise there. I've heard from a lot of county secretary reports over the last few weeks that discipline is still a huge problem, especially at underage level. That for me is very worrying, because if the problem is taking root at underage level then it's inevitable that it will manifest itself up the line.

"And I honestly believe the system could have worked. The key to it was players taking responsibility for their own behaviour, because if they didn't they'd be no longer part of the game. It's always been a very thin line between what's a cautioning offence and what's a sending-off offence, but that system at least meant if a player stepped over the threshold then he was gone, and substituted."

With the rules task forces now disbanded, there is no body looking at rule changes on an ongoing basis. Moreover, the GAA has just entered its latest five-year moratorium on rule changes. Daly has a problem with both counts.

"I think there is definitely a need for a fixed body on rule changes, which was actually one of the SCR recommendations. Obviously we can't be constantly chopping and changing, but there are still so many issues around discipline there should be a body to deal with it on an ongoing basis. But one of the other lessons I would have taken from the whole thing is that we may well have been better advised to experiment in minor league and minor championship competitions, rather than at adult level.

"I accept that with the changes drawn up in a relatively short period, with one province (Ulster) not using them while the other three did, and then managers kicking up like hell, it wasn't the best backdrop. But I still think there was a huge amount of merit in them."

The experimental rules also allowed for players to pick the ball off the ground, but that too was thrown out, despite more favourable reviews. Daly also believes any future rule changes shouldn't be just limited to matters of discipline.

"In my opinion any body that is charged in this area should have special regard for two central features of the game, and that is kicking and catching. And that doesn't necessarily happen in the way rules are currently addressed, in other words in motions submitted to Congress.

"Look at the increase in the hand pass. The stats bear that out in a significant way, and the level of hand-passing has superseded the level of kicking in the game. It was unfortunate the Mayo motion to Congress last year wasn't passed, which would have restricted the fist pass and I think would have been a step in the right direction . . . I think we're obliged to allow to hand pass, and if you take one you can't insist the player then kicks it. But I would approach it a different way, and find more incentives for catching and kicking."

One of the ironies of the experimental rules was that many of the managers who criticised their introduction had regularly called on the GAA to tackle areas of indiscipline.

"Some people just lacerated them from day one," says Daly. "But in fairness some people did take the time to assess them. I remember hearing Dublin manager Paul Caffrey was approached by another manager after one of the early matches and told to kick up about the rules. Caffrey said he wouldn't, because this was the kind of game he wanted his own kids playing.

"We do have new disciplinary structures in place now, but they can't be any better than the system they're operating in. And in my opinion, that system does require a total overhaul. You only have to think about the obvious weakness, where players can occur yellow cards with impunity. That effectively rewards negative behaviour.

"So I would at least hope that within the association the impetus is there to bring in a standing committee to look at issues like that in their totality."

10 minutes in sinbin for yellow-card offences (later altered to player sent off for a yellow card and a replacement allowed)

Binned rules

* abolition of the pick-up in football

* two points awarded for a sideline cut that goes over the bar in hurling

* use of a tee compulsory for kick-outs in football