Minor footballers face Offaly with experimental rules on trial

Meath minor football manager Barry Callaghan will see his players using experimental rules in this year's Leinster MFL with the first round set for this Saturday in Clonbullogue against Offaly at 2.30pm.

Under the 'new rules' a team will only be allowed three consecutive hand passes before the ball must be kicked, unless attempting a score.

A ‘mark’ will be allowed if the ball is caught cleanly from a kick-out, once it passes the 45-metre line. The player fielding the ball has the option to play on as normal if he wishes, but he may opt for the ‘mark’ and if he does, then opposing players must immediately retreat 13 metres.

The third 'new rule' prevents the football from being passed back to the goalkeeper. For a breach of this rule, or the rule restricting the number of hand passes, a free-kick (indirect) will be awarded to the opposition - a player cannot score directly from that type of free which is similar to the rule that applies at the moment when a team is in possession and play is stopped.

Some 16 teams have entered this year’s Leinster MFL, including two teams from Kildare while Cork, Clare, Tipperary and Limerick will also participate in four groups of four teams each with games on 13th, 20th and 27th February.

Fixtures For Saturday, 13th February (2.30pm)

GROUP 1

Hawkfield - Kildare v Wexford.

Parnell Park - Dublin v Cork, 1pm.

GROUP 2

Clonbullogue - Offaly v Meath.

Ballymahon - Longford v Limerick, 12.00pm.

GROUP 3
Dr Cullen Park - Carlow v Cill Dara.

Cusack Park - Westmeath v Clare.

GROUP 4

Darver - Louth v Wicklow.

Killeshin - Laois v Tipperary, 1.00pm.

EXPERIMENTAL RULES - THE DETAILS

1. Only three consecutive hand passes will be allowed while a team maintains possession before the ball must be kicked.

The count restarts only after the following events:

The football is kicked
The opposition gathers possession
The football crosses the end line or side line
A free is blown
The football comes back into play from the post/crossbar after an attempted score
If three hand passes have occurred and a player decides to hand pass a point as the 4th hand pass the score will stand. If the football is ‘flicked; or ‘palmed’ to a team mate or for a score, it does not constitute a hand pass.

Penalty for breach of above rule: A free to the opposition from where the 4th pass is caught. The kicker cannot score directly from the kick.

If inside the 13m line, the free must be taken from the 13m line in line with where the 4th pass is caught. The kicker cannot score directly from the kick.

2. No pass back to the goalkeeper.

The football may be passed forward to the goalkeeper

Penalty for breach of above rule: A free is awarded to the opposition from where the pass is touched by the goalkeeper but the kicker cannot score directly from the kick. If inside the 13m line, the free must be taken in line with where the pass is touched by the goalkeeper.

3. A mark will be allowed if the ball is caught cleanly from a kick-out, which passes the 45m line.

The referee will blow his whistle to signify the player has caught the ball cleanly and earned the mark. The player has the option to play on immediately or if he intends to avail of the mark he must indicate this to the referee. If he elects to take the mark, he must then kick the ball from his hands

Once he indicates he is taking the mark, the opposition must retreat 13 metres to allow the player space to take the kick.

If an opposition player deliberately blocks or attempts to block the kick within 13 metres, or if an opposition player impedes the player while he is taking the kick the referee will penalise the opposition and bring the ball forward 30 metres.

Once the player indicates he is taking the mark the referee will allow up to five seconds for the player to take the kick.

If the player delays longer than 5 seconds the referee will cancel the mark and throw the ball up between 2 players.

If the player gets injured in the process of taking the mark, and is unable to take the kick, his nearest teammate may take the kick but cannot score directly from the kick.