More experimental rules

The law is sometimes an ass and on the face of it, the new disciplinary measures introduced by the GAA for the forthcoming subsidiary provincial competitions, O"Byrne Cup and Kehoe Cup, and the National Football and Hurling Leagues hold up that old theory. The introduction of the three-tier system will see players walking a tightrope. Yellow cards will result in dismissal, but the player can be replaced, up to a maximum of six players. That means that if a manager has to change three players because of yellow cards then he only has three other substitutes available no matter how many other injuries or yellow or red cards are issued. Given the inconsistency when it comes to the distribution of yellow cards this new rule could lead to a total farce, similar to the one that erupted a few years ago when the authorities introduced a sin-bin. However, the GAA are confident their new initiatives will work and in an effort to curtail the persistent fouling, they have produced a guide which outlines the new regulations. This includes a DVD which demonstrates the forbidden fouls and what cards are deemed relevant for which offences. The aim of the new regulations is to allow the players that best use the skills of the game to be allowed to demonstrate those skills. Red card offences will undergo no change in the referee"s rule book, but seven additional offences will be punishable by yellow cards. These are yellow cards with a different result. The recipient of the yellow card will be sent to the line and at the next break in play can be replaced. This new yellow card method aims to punish the individual more than the team and thus become self-regulating through players and managers themselves. The yellow card offences are: pulling down an opponent, tripping with a hand or hurl, deliberately body checking an opponent after he has played the ball away, bringing an arm or a hurl around the neck of an opponent on the ground and away from play, remonstrating in an aggressive manner with a match official and using a hurl in a careless manner. The black book (tick) will remain in place for many lesser offences and two black books will remain the equivalent of a yellow card. 'We constantly hear about teams who play to the rules or play to the edge in whatever way. Well, we want to make that edge a lot sharper now and anyone who plays to it will get cut,' said Task Force chairman Liam O"Neill. 'We want to make a bargain to our younger players that you grow up in a game where persistent fouling won"t bother you one bit, where you solo by a person without having your head taken off, where you can take the field without fear of being pulled down, where you can part with a ball without being pasted. 'The bargain we are making with young players is - play your game skilfully and we will protect you,' concluded O"Neill. The presentation DVD is available on the GAA website, www.gaa.ie.