Fixing LGFA, how to make games better

Tombo2001 · 13-08-2025 09:47AM #1

Specifically, what I mean here is that games become a better spectacle.

One problem is that it seems to be too hard to score from play in LGFA, time and time again I go to these games where more than half the scores are from frees. The women play the same pitch dimensions as the men. They cant kick as far (I think thats reasonably factual).

In other words, there is a smaller area of the pitch they can score from.

Which means, that with the 15 players - the defence has a much smaller area of the pitch to defend, if they want to prevent scores.

Which means they can just crowd it out completely.

Something needs to give, but I'm not sure what. Its obviously not feasible to change the dimensions of pitches up and down the length and breadth of the country.

Maybe introduce an LGFA two pointer line a bit closer to the goal.

Another obvious problem is the number of frees - two potential solutions are (i) redefining the tackle, not sure what this would look like or if its possible. (ii) real quick solution would be tap and go. Badly needed imho.

….

I know this is just forum talk, but worth a discussion I think.

14-08-2025 08:44AM

But is this lack of scoring from play putting off fans?

If it's not then why change anything.

gigantic09 · 14-08-2025 09:18AM

Need to bring through more female coaches, doesn't seem to be many particularly at inter county level.

In Mayo were just after parting ways with Liam M chale who's spent his whole career in the men's game. We had great success with our ladies team a generation ago but very few of these players went on to manage. I know Diane I hora is one that has and cora is starting out but we need much more to stay involved.

Tombo2001 · 14-08-2025 10:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123721283#Comment_123721283

Outside of All Ireland Final day there are very few fans. Average gate a couple of hundred for intercounty games.

Tombo2001 · 14-08-2025 11:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123721387#Comment_123721387

On this - I have a really big bugbear with this - need to 'bring through' more female coaches? Women need to step up and start (i) coaching (ii) refereeing (iii) administrating and (iv) attending games. Its not about 'bringing through'. Coaches in gaa are all volunteers, people volunteer to become coaches.

People bang on about equality between codes, when they are not open to equality of effort. Men put in huge time towards volunteering in GAA and LGFA and Camogie. Nearly every underage girls team is coached by a man. Thats far from ideal, but it happens because women dont step up to coach.

And the narrative then is always about barriers, when for the most part they really mean excuses.

Sorry for the rant - its just in my view one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem with womens sport is that outside of the actual playing, women dont do enough to support it. But that view is contrary to the popular narrative and so never gets discussed.

14-08-2025 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123721678#Comment_123721678

The size of the field or a 2 point arc will not make a massive difference in attendance at LGFA games.

gigantic09 · 14-08-2025 03:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123721699#Comment_123721699

I should have said there needs to be more females involved rather than brought through sor.

They're the ones who've played the game so should in theory have a better insight in how to coach it

NIMAN · 14-08-2025 03:28PM

Theres little interest in women's gaa games, let's call it like it is.

Lidl can ask us to break inequality in sport, but if the product doesnt attract fans then theres not much can be done with it.

As Bill Burr said, its on women to start attending games. Check out any mens inter county game, theres thousands of women at them. Yet these same women won't go and watch their ladies team. You have to ask them why not?

Tombo2001 · 14-08-2025 08:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123722524#Comment_123722524

Understood and apologies if it came across personally, didnt mean that at all.

padd b1975 · 23-08-2025 11:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123722598#Comment_123722598

Same reasons men don't go.

Skills and Intensity.

Kicking and goalkeeping are particularly weak right up to the highest level.

CaboRoig · 25-08-2025 11:49AM

Bad and all as the men's game is for consecutive handpasses, the women's game is twice as bad. Almost unwatchable at times.

Limiting the number of handpasses allowed would be a help.

Tombo2001 · 25-08-2025 07:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123748901#Comment_123748901

whatever about skills - intensity is partly down to rules of the game. That can be changed.

leath_dub · 15-10-2025 08:39PM

First off - lose the clean pick up off the ground. What is the point of this?

celt262 · 19-11-2025 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123908968#Comment_123908968

Ladies' Gaelic football introduced the rule allowing players to pick the ball up from the ground in 1992

This rule change was a direct result of a severe injury to Tyrone's Sile McSavage, who broke her back while attempting to pick up the ball during a championship match in 1992

ipitydafool · 19-11-2025 01:43PM

In Cavan, LGFA has never been more popular especially at underage- https://www.anglocelt.ie/2025/01/03/registrations-continue-to-soar-in-cavan-ladies-football/ so definitely there is no concern with participants not enjoying playing the game. However from watching ladies club games I definitely think there is way too many frees in the game and mostly comes from the way the tackle is reffed, not saying that you need to allow the same physicality as the men's game but certainly looking at the tackle and how it is defined and reffed would improve the flow of the game. Lastly inter-county the attendance's are generally very poor but club and underage games in Cavan are well attended.