Pitch Layout

Browning

Is there a recommended distance for the placement of fencing surrounding a GAA pitch ? Where space is at a premium what is the minimum safe distance from the sideline to avoid potential danger to both players and spectators ?

Clareman

I've seen pitches where players couldn't take a sideline cut from on the line because the fence kept hooking them so I don't think there are hardline rules in place. I would recommend having a supporters side and a "far side" if you are tight on space. I would allow 1 meter at both sides (for linesman if nothing else) and another couple of feet to allow for waterboys or others to get around, imagine a player goes over on his ankle and needs to be "shouldered" off, you don't want to have 1 of the people supporting the player on the pitch walking off, so I would say allow enough for that

Clear as mud I know but you have to remember that pitch dimensions have quite a lot of leeway in them so you should be able to bring the pitch in a bit if you need be.

This reminds me of a time I was umpire at a match in 1 of the larger pitches in Clare, I arrive out and go for a walk around to notice the goal posts were moved in to around the 14 yard line and the pitch was narrowed a lot, so I questioned the local club about the dimensions, which they duly supplied to prove the pitch was "legal", talking to 1 of the locals I discovered that they were worried about the speed of the other team, particularly 1 of their midfielders and wing forwards, so they figured if they made the pitch as small as possible it would help, the lengths people goto for an under 16 game.

ShamoBuc

Clareman wrote: »

I've seen pitches where players couldn't take a sideline cut from on the line because the fence kept hooking them so I don't think there are hardline rules in place. I would recommend having a supporters side and a "far side" if you are tight on space. I would allow 1 meter at both sides (for linesman if nothing else) and another couple of feet to allow for waterboys or others to get around, imagine a player goes over on his ankle and needs to be "shouldered" off, you don't want to have 1 of the people supporting the player on the pitch walking off, so I would say allow enough for that

Clear as mud I know but you have to remember that pitch dimensions have quite a lot of leeway in them so you should be able to bring the pitch in a bit if you need be.

This reminds me of a time I was umpire at a match in 1 of the larger pitches in Clare, I arrive out and go for a walk around to notice the goal posts were moved in to around the 14 yard line and the pitch was narrowed a lot, so I questioned the local club about the dimensions, which they duly supplied to prove the pitch was "legal", talking to 1 of the locals I discovered that they were worried about the speed of the other team, particularly 1 of their midfielders and wing forwards, so they figured if they made the pitch as small as possible it would help, the lengths people goto for an under 16 game.

professionalism in an amateur sport:D

Clareman

Off topic (majorily), but GAA is 1 of the most professional sport in the world, the players maybe amatuers because they don't get paid but they are some of the most professional sportmens in their prepariation and execution of their craft.

nice_guy80

In the 1998 Connacht Final between Galway and Roscommon the Galway groundsmen in Tuamcunningly moved the sidelines out as close to the perimter fence as possible as Galway had a fast, nippy team and Roscommon were seen as a bigger, slower team. The game ended with Galway espcaping with a draw following some dodgy refereeing decisions in their favour

In the replay in the Hyde the Roscommon groundsmen moved the sidelines in from their normal width to now afford Roscommon a perceived advantage. That too ended in a draw and went to extra time.
Galway won with a lucky goal and went on to win the All Ireland

So the dimensions of a pitch has little influence on result of games

However, for hurling I would say it definitely does.
midfield could be a lot further from the goalposts on a short pitch or long pitch - so shooting for points is harder/easier
sideline cuts - the wider the pitch the more difficult
puck outs - on a short pitch you could drop them onto the half/full forward line

theoneeyedman

nice_guy80 wrote: »

In the 1998 Connacht Final between Galway and Roscommon the Galway groundsmen in Tuamcunningly moved the sidelines out as close to the perimter fence as possible as Galway had a fast, nippy team and Roscommon were seen as a bigger, slower team. The game ended with Galway espcaping with a draw following some dodgy refereeing decisions in their favour

In the replay in the Hyde the Roscommon groundsmen moved the sidelines in from their normal width to now afford Roscommon a perceived advantage. That too ended in a draw and went to extra time.
Galway won with a lucky goal and went on to win the All Ireland

So the dimensions of a pitch has little influence on result of games

However, for hurling I would say it definitely does.
midfield could be a lot further from the goalposts on a short pitch or long pitch - so shooting for points is harder/easier
sideline cuts - the wider the pitch the more difficult
puck outs - on a short pitch you could drop them onto the half/full forward line

much less than the Laytrum ref did anyway.