Managers approve plans on discipline

County managers have voiced their approval of the GAA's proposed rule changes on discipline. The recommendations of the Disciplinary Task Force were presented as part of the customary pre-season meeting with managers in Croke Park on Monday night, and there was general enthusiasm for the proposals, which now go before GAA congress in April.

"I would certainly describe it as a constructive meeting, with a mostly positive reaction to the proposals," said Pat Daly, the GAA's head of games, and task force member.

"Plenty of different views were exchanged but, on balance, managers felt the proposals were well thought through and would achieve the desired outcome, which of course is more consistent application of the rules, and less fouling as a result."

Monday's meeting drew "in the region of 60 to 70 per cent turnout of county managers", and although some high-profile faces were absent, Daly was nonetheless pleased with the level of attendance, and the outcome of the discussions.

"Several managers stood up to welcome what was being done, and that it was a major step in the right direction. Others stood up and expressed a reservation or two. But certainly the overall view was positive, and has been almost everywhere. That doesn't mean every single person agrees with every single thing.

"But in terms of the principles of these recommendations, and the broad thrust of what is being set out, I think we can say on the back of this meeting, and the meetings we've already had in the provinces, that the general thrust would be positive."

The Disciplinary Task Force have already taken their proposals to three of the four provinces (with Connacht to come), and are also making presentations to several other interested parties such as the national referees' committee, and if the new rules are agreed at congress, they will come in across the board from January 1st, 2009.

"That also leaves plenty of time for some tweaking or whatever else is necessary," added Daly. "One of the reasons we met the managers on Monday night was to tell them this was a work in progress, and that we wanted their feedback. Maybe in the past we haven't engaged enough with people at that level, but that's definitely not the case this time, because we've had as broad a discussion, with as many key stakeholders, as possible.

"We're not going to get total unanimity on everything. But I think in terms of the broad rules we've outlined, we can largely say that these proposals are being widely welcomed, and that it will lead to greater consistency in the application of rules, and also cut down on foul play.

"We've gone out of our way to get these proposals to the broadest cross-section of people possible. We've been totally up front about it, explained the logic, and backed it up with video clips as well. So people now know exactly what we're trying to do, and more importantly why we're trying to do it.

"There's not much more we could do. In fact, a few stakeholders will have heard the recommendations a couple of times, so there'll be no excuse for anyone to say they didn't know what was coming up."

The most notable proposal is for the abandonment of the "tick" or first caution, and, rather than show the player a second yellow card, the referee will instead point both arms towards the sideline, where the player will remain for the rest of the game. Managers will be allowed to replace that player from the substitutes.

It's not too unlike the sinbin rule, which failed on its experimental introduction this time three years ago, but the key difference is that teams aren't reduced to 14, unless the penalty is a red-card offence, which will still mean an automatic sending-off without recourse to substitutes.

Also discussed on Monday night were the general match regulations of the upcoming league and championship, which effectively remain the same as last year, with only some minor modifications.

"There aren't any significant changes this year, no," explained Daly. "The main change concerns hurley and water carriers, in that two water carriers are allowed on either sideline, but only one can come on to the field. That's a change from what we've had. But there's nothing earth shattering in any of these regulations."