The proposed 'tap-and-go' rule in football

Tiocfaidh Armani

Basically whereby if a player is fouled they can tap the ball to themselves and continue playing like they do in rugby on occasions. What does everyone think about it? I think it'll make the game faster and add another dimension to things so would look forward to a trial of it.

Tiocfaidh Armani

Recent story about it:

Tap-and-go won't go away


The tap-and-go rule is still on the GAA's agenda, with a trial to take place some time next year.

While the rule won't be trialled on a full-scale basis, such as during January's subsidiary competitions, and is a non-runner for this year's championship, Christy Cooney has admitted that it is under consideration:

"We're looking at a tap-and-go situation to see will it work, what type of penalties we should impose, what effect it will have on a team, and we haven't even made a decision. It is a suggestion.

"We're going to try it out. Would I say it's going to happen? I don't know.

"If it'll improve the game, if it'll cut down fouling, if it'll create more scores and a more free-flowing game, which we all want - great.

"If it doesn't, it won't happen. All we can do is try.

"We're going to try it in the New Year. We'll probably put on a special game to try it out first before we see it in some sort of competition.

"But it's not going to be coming before Congress because there's a lot of issues around it and we've got to make sure it can work. It's worth looking at."

bruschi

Tiocfaidh Armani wrote: »

Basically whereby if a player is fouled they can tap the ball to themselves and continue playing like they do in rugby on occasions. What does everyone think about it? I think it'll make the game faster and add another dimension to things so would look forward to a trial of it.

definitley. in aussie rules you can play on from a free or a line ball. it means you can just keep going, rather than having to stop, let the ref tick the players number and let the defence filter back and thereby stopping all the attacking progress and giving a free hinders the attacking team and gives them no advantage.

keane2097

This is potentially an extremely positive step.

When football is bad, 99% of the time it's because there are a lot of frees being given and the game isn't flowing. This is not something I would have thought of to alleviate that problem, but it's a great idea that I can't wait to see tried out.

WesternZulu

Can't see any negatives to it...would be a great idea and make tactical fouls somewhat not as effective.

Great idea!

rebel girl 15

I'm pretty skeptical about it tbh - no change in the advantage rule, which I'm not too happy about. We'll see how it goes

mariano rivera

Stoopid Idea i think

Its just going to lead to MORE handpassing

Just what the game DOESN'T need

doc_17

tap and go isn't the answer to the constant fouling by teams. There should be a trial with some sort of team foul sanction first. Too often teams are rotating the player doing the fouling or they are fouling way out the field.

Brendan97

good idea but really its just advantage because all the player has to do after he is fouled is solo the ball and continue

primastar

Will it apply to both codes or just Football?

davidc9546

Nice option to have, especially if you're fouled from behind with space in front. Wont stop players tryin to slow the game down either...

jackcee

I don't want to be negative - but I foresee it's introduction bringing new problems to the game.

A player coming at speed who is fouled, will end up many yards from where the foul is committed. The proposed benefit that the player can just tap and go, to maintain the momentum of the attack, will lead to players trying to tap and go from the wrong place. This is actually starting to become a increasing problem in rugby.

A further knock-on effect will be that the fouler will make sure that the fouled player cannot get up quickly to "tap and go". Will lead to to increased aggro with yet more outcomes resting on the different interpretations of referees.

A far simpler approach would be for the referee to postpone issuing cards, ticks and admonishments until the ball goes wide or a score is registered.

A change of rule would help where all efforts at delaying the taking of a free should be punished by a close in free - regardless of where on the pitch the offence takes place. This would ensure that the fouler's main priority would be to get back into position. The same would go for the would be third-man-tacklers.

A further simple ploy to decrease the clutter in our game, would be for the referee (actively aided by his linesman), to strictly enforce a 15 metre exclusion area for all throw ups. Punishment again to be a close in free. This would concentrate minds - and make the refs job easier. A the moment, throw-ins are a complete mess, with the ref throwing up the ball and then blowing for a lottery driven free.

Et Cetera

I think it's a great idea. Often there is no advantage gained by getting a free, this eradicates that. Anything which prevents teams from using persistent fouling as a tool to break down teams flow is a great step.

keane2097

An easy way to eradicate fouling players slowing down frees being taken is to change the punishment for dissent.

At the moment if the ref thinks you're taking the piss he moves the ball forward 14 yards. This is no punishment at all to a player fouling in the half forward line, as his objective is simply to allow his teammates adequate time to funnel back into defence, and moving a free from the opposition 45 to half way doesn't hurt this process in the slightest.

In Australian rules, the punishment for dissent or slowing down a free is a 50 yard penalty, i.e. any slowing down of the game from the edge of the defensive third forward results in most circumstances in yielding a kickable free to the opposition.

This (or some slightly modified version based on the differing pitch dimensions) would stop this stuff overnight and would stop backchat to refs instantly.

Teams would find it more difficult to get large numbers of players behind the ball without fouling, incentivising fast counter attacking from defence.

Would basically solve most of the problems in modern football in one fell swoop.

corcaigh07

keane2097 wrote: »

An easy way to eradicate fouling players slowing down frees being taken is to change the punishment for dissent.

At the moment if the ref thinks you're taking the piss he moves the ball forward 14 yards. This is no punishment at all to a player fouling in the half forward line, as his objective is simply to allow his teammates adequate time to funnel back into defence, and moving a free from the opposition 45 to half way doesn't hurt this process in the slightest.

In Australian rules, the punishment for dissent or slowing down a free is a 50 yard penalty, i.e. any slowing down of the game from the edge of the defensive third forward results in most circumstances in yielding a kickable free to the opposition.

This (or some slightly modified version based on the differing pitch dimensions) would stop this stuff overnight and would stop backchat to refs instantly.

Teams would find it more difficult to get large numbers of players behind the ball without fouling, incentivising fast counter attacking from defence.

Would basically solve most of the problems in modern football in one fell swoop.

that would be nice! the ****ty play that the likes of Kerry did in 2009 to Cork in the AI Final (there are plenty of examples, this one was the one that hurt the most to me!) has filtered down to Junior A level. As a team trying to win, there is nothing wrong with it at all, the best teams go as close to the limit of the rules as possible.

You should see Bandon in the Junior A West Cork, they are so hard to catch up to if they have the early lead because they have the cheap fouling in useless areas, getting men back and holding their shape down to a tee. Painful to watch. They usually mess up the County too which is even worse!

keane2097

Yeah I really think it would change the face of the game in a very positive way.

yayamark

corcaigh07 wrote: »

that would be nice! the ****ty play that the likes of Kerry did in 2009 to Cork in the AI Final (there are plenty of examples, this one was the one that hurt the most to me!) has filtered down to Junior A level. As a team trying to win, there is nothing wrong with it at all, the best teams go as close to the limit of the rules as possible.

You should see Bandon in the Junior A West Cork, they are so hard to catch up to if they have the early lead because they have the cheap fouling in useless areas, getting men back and holding their shape down to a tee. Painful to watch. They usually mess up the County too which is even worse!

JEEZ get over yourself

A Big :rolleyes: for you

corcaigh07

yayamark wrote: »

JEEZ get over yourself

A Big :rolleyes: for you

try to add to the discussion next time buddy, get over yourself :rolleyes:

I think 99% of Football fans realise the game is in dire need of major changes as the game is getting far too bogged down by negative tactics, its not just an inter-county problem anymore, its all grades of football played all over the country.

Tap and Go could definitely work but only if other measures are included. Cynical tactics like stopping the quick tap and go would surely happen without other measures to go with it.

I'd love to see the Sin Bin come back, abolish the pick-up and introduce a clock similar to Rugby. Situations like the complaining about Cluxton's winning free and the time it took or my favourite, Canavan and Mulligan "discussing" who should take the winning free, in injury time, would just disappear and we would get more football!

We have to improve the ball in play stats, any major inter-county game usually has less than 30 mins of actual ball in play. actually watching more stoppages than football is a bit sad!