Hurling- what’s gone wrong and where do we go from here.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 12:26am #1

Hurling as we used to know it is gone.

Kelly scored a point today from well inside his own 45. In almost no case is allowing play to continue more of an advantage than a free, almost never, because frees are so scoreable.

The ball is just not suitable, a heavier one is needed if inter county hurling is to be worth watching again. Limerick got 30 something points today and around 20 wides. Ball is only ever in play without a break for a few seconds now.

Lot of skills are seen rarely any more, hooking for example. Defensive skills are not focused on, backs only roles now are to prevent goals and to keep possession. No role for ground hurling because everyone just wants to keep possession.

There has been a lot of tinkering with the rules, most of it led by self important, arrogant former players, they’ve given us yellow sliotairs, unmissable penalties, new punishment for cynical fouling, but no improvement in the game at all.

I can’t see how anyone would think hurling is better now than ten years ago, despite a massive amount of tinkering, most of it utterly reactive to the issue of the day and half thought through.

There was too much eulogising of the game for a long time also, telling us good games were the greatest ever, that type of hyperbole.

This is mot the great game we once had.

So what can be done? The first thing is to come up with a committee on the crisis, but one not dominated by the usual suspects, and not all former county players. The Donal Og’s need to be sidelined now. This would work for three years, take sounding from ALL stakeholders, figure out what is worth keeping from the contemporary game, what has been lost and needs to be restored.

After that we need a GAA willing to stand behind changes, not pander again and again to people whingeing. And the organisation needs to realise that even in an era of short attention spans, people won’t be entertained by games where every few seconds there’s a score, it just doesn’t work as well as the game we used to enjoy.

My youngest lad is still very small and couldn’t watch a game yet.

But if it stays as it is why would he ever become a hurling fanatic like the last two generations of his family?

Slieve Gullion · 06-06-2021 3:05am

Never post here again you clown.

06-06-2021 6:45pm

Unfortunately its true. The skill level of players in combination with the sliotar is now such that scoring is too easy. Many games now resemble basketball such is the ease of scoring, exempt with 3 pointers from the halfway and endless free throws. Tony Kelly is a great player, but 20 points! Possession alone, rather than the skills that made the game great, is enough to put up a big score.

Time to redress the risk reward balance. Heavier sliotar? 5 point goal? Both? Something needs to change.

Jizique · 06-06-2021 7:07pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Unfortunately its true. The skill level of players in combination with the sliotar is now such that scoring is too easy. Many games now resemble basketball such is the ease of scoring, exempt with 3 pointers from the halfway and endless free throws. Tony Kelly is a great player, but 20 points! Possession alone, rather than the skills that made the game great, is enough to put up a big score.

Time to redress the risk reward balance. Heavier sliotar? 5 point goal? Both? Something needs to change.

Wasn’t much wrong with today’s game; even last night, allowing for limerick’s dominance was better than some recent offerings.
Would a heavier sliotar not turn it into an even more physical battle?

zetecescort · 06-06-2021 7:09pm

Not sure what the answer is but making a goal worth 4 or 5 points would surely only lead to more sweepers and cynical fouling?

Realt Dearg Sec · 06-06-2021 7:15pm

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

After that we need a GAA willing to stand behind changes, not pander again and again to people whingeing.

You make a lot of good points here but you'd have to admit this was pretty funny.

Wrinkly runner · 06-06-2021 7:20pm

I heard some clown on newstalk today reading out a text saying limerick are ruining hurling with this tip tappy Barcelona type passing.
Someone texted in,there should be a limit on the amount of hand passes allowed.
What's next.Start limerick -5 points before throw in.

One_More_Mile · 06-06-2021 7:24pm

Wrinkly runner wrote: »

I heard some clown on newstalk today reading out a text saying limerick are ruining hurling with this tip tappy Barcelona type passing.
Someone texted in,there should be a limit on the amount of hand passes allowed.
What's next.Start limerick -5 points before throw in.

My team can't keep up so ye are ruining the game. Ye are bigger and stronger than my team so maybe we should make it tag hurling

Rosita · 06-06-2021 7:28pm

Wrinkly runner wrote: »

I heard some clown on newstalk today reading out a text saying limerick are ruining hurling with this tip tappy Barcelona type passing.
Someone texted in,there should be a limit on the amount of hand passes allowed.
What's next.Start limerick -5 points before throw in.

The Limerick starting 5 points down is a bit of leap isn't it? The suggestion you mention regarding handpassing presumably was meant to apply to all teams?

Wrinkly runner · 06-06-2021 7:37pm

Rosita wrote: »

The Limerick starting 5 points down is a bit of leap isn't it? The suggestion you mention regarding handpassing presumably was meant to apply to all teams?

Yes,but obviously a means to curtail limerick.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 7:50pm

Wrinkly runner wrote: »

Yes,but obviously a means to curtail limerick.

But why should it matter to them if they are on a level playing field with other teams? Any change should suit better teams?

Pete_Cavan · 06-06-2021 7:57pm

Change the core density so that the 65 is about the limit for scoring from.

Wrinkly runner · 06-06-2021 8:04pm

Rosita wrote: »

But why should it matter to them if they are on a level playing field with other teams? Any change should suit better teams?

It's clear as day limerick are streets ahead when it comes to the hand passing side of the game.
It's like telling Barcelona,after 5 short passes you foul.
To be honest I was shocked the newstalk lads even read out the text.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 8:27pm

Wrinkly runner wrote: »

It's clear as day limerick are streets ahead when it comes to the hand passing side of the game.
It's like telling Barcelona,after 5 short passes you foul.
To be honest I was shocked the newstalk lads even read out the text.

I wouldn't worry about the reading out of the text. We're not in North Korea. It's just an opinion. I'd be more concerned if opinions were suppressed just because they don't suit people.

randd1 · 06-06-2021 8:38pm

- Increase weight of the sliothar by 33%.
- Remove sin bin, instead have a rule to give a penalty for pulls down within 30 yards of the goal.
- Where the hand pass comes from the ball released from the hand, the receiving player can’t catch it. All other forms of passing are ok.
- 40 seconds to take a dead ball
- 6 subs allowed, but no more than 4 a half
- No subs allowed after time moves into injury time
- Reduce and standardize the size of the bás. Any player found in breach received an immediate 2 match ban.

Worth trying out I reckon.

TheMilkyPirate · 06-06-2021 8:53pm

randd1 wrote: »

- Increase weight of the sliothar by 33%.
- Remove sin bin, instead have a rule to give a penalty for pulls down within 30 yards of the goal.
- Where the hand pass comes from the ball released from the hand, the receiving player can’t catch it. All other forms of passing are ok.
- 40 seconds to take a dead ball
- 6 subs allowed, but no more than 4 a half
- No subs allowed after time moves into injury time
- Reduce and standardize the size of the bás. Any player found in breach received an immediate 2 match ban.

Worth trying out I reckon.

Not disagreeing but why 33%? And why not catch it after a hand pass? Surely only 3 hand passes and then has to be off the hurl would be better

WesternZulu · 06-06-2021 8:56pm

Half the problem is that hurling fans are so reluctant to criticise the game that ultimately nothing worthwhile will change. Phrases like there is no such thing as a bad game of hurling only stunt its progress.

Football suffers from the other end of the spectrum where people are almost afraid to praise the game and consequently a whole raft of stupid rule changes have been brought to the sport in recent years.

06-06-2021 8:58pm

What did OP think of the Galway-Waterford game? 7-51 scored and only 8 points from frees

Davys Fits · 06-06-2021 9:11pm

For me the handpass is the medium for the frenzy that is the possession game. Like Gaelic football it allows players to keep possession too easily. People will point to great scores made by hanpasses and slick moves but its not really a great skill, the handpass from the same hand that is. So change or remove it and the game will have less spare hand fouls, more turnovers, more intensity and the ball stays in play longer. If we increase the ball weight the hurley bas will get bigger. Surely at at some point the size of a hurley bas needs to be regulated?
.

Jizique · 06-06-2021 9:29pm

Edz87 wrote: »

What did OP think of the Galway-Waterford game? 7-51 scored and only 8 points from frees

As mentioned earlier, I definitely enjoyed it; if refs blow for all fouls, players will be less prone to foul and give away a 100% score from almost anywhere

puzl · 06-06-2021 9:44pm

I thought Donal Og actually made a very astute point yesterday. The rules of the game are designed such that every 4 steps minimum the ball has to be in play and available for a tackle or interception. When a forward wants to go around a defender he has to time it to protect the ball when he has to play it. The defender has to stand his ground and force the steps and be ready to tackle. But nowadays that's gone....the forward barges and gets tangled up and pins his marker's hurley under his elbow or drops to make the tackle high. The defender is mauling the forward like he's slow dancing at a gaa club disco. the whistle blows and it's a free score for whomever was lucky enough to be judged to have been fouled. Truth is there was probably half a dozen fouls in as many seconds. People talk about changing rules but if we don't actually implement the current rules why do you think new ones we won't implement will help?

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 10:05pm

Edz87 wrote: »

What did OP think of the Galway-Waterford game? 7-51 scored and only 8 points from frees

Listened to some of it on the radio. The OH is going watching Netflix now and I’m not going arguing, will watch League Sunday again but not that pushed.
On the radio Mullane said the ball has to change, it’s gone way too easy score from distance. He also said that the white ball is better than the yellow one, which I’d agree with.
IMO the fact it’s easier to score from range is a big factor that all county teams focus so much on possession now. If you lose the ball, anywhere on the field, there’s a really good chance of conceding a score a few seconds later.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 10:15pm

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

You make a lot of good points here but you'd have to admit this was pretty funny.

The colour of the ball was changed, penalty went from three on the line to one, dismissals for fouls preventing goal chances, all attempts to appease the hurling virtue signallers.
Another factor in the decline of the game has been talk about how great it is, even when it is not. Middling games have been showered in ludicrous levels of praise. County players have been elevated to demigod status, blessed with the discipline of Gandhi and the genius of Michaelangelo.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 10:19pm

Jizique wrote: »

As mentioned earlier, I definitely enjoyed it; if refs blow for all fouls, players will be less prone to foul and give away a 100% score from almost anywhere

A really annoying trait of recent years is refs signalling for an advantage when there is no goal chance and it’s far easier to score a point from a free than from play.
The way it’s being reffed this year is actually a step in the right direction, giving advantages to players who are fouled rather. For the last four-five years this awful refereeing was excused with facile ‘let the game flow’ semi-logic.

06-06-2021 10:26pm

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Listened to some of it on the radio. The OH is going watching Netflix now and I’m not going arguing, will watch League Sunday again but not that pushed.
On the radio Mullane said the ball has to change, it’s gone way too easy score from distance. He also said that the white ball is better than the yellow one, which I’d agree with.
IMO the fact it’s easier to score from range is a big factor that all county teams focus so much on possession now. If you lose the ball, anywhere on the field, there’s a really good chance of conceding a score a few seconds later.

The reason county teams focus so much on possession is the lack of quality ball winning ability

Hurling has something like 97 or 98 different skills,so basic ball winning in air suffers in coaching terms......a mixture of physique/reffing quality stifles this coming trough from underage to senior

A lad can win primary possession and be bottled up to likely give away a free upon landing,the "mark" rule wouldnt be appropriate as it would amount to a score and cause even bigger issues.....

.a reasonable protection/acceptance of charging for the landing ball winner to keep game flowing would be a fair compromise.....(afaik this is how wexford won several all irelands in the 50s)

threeball · 06-06-2021 10:28pm

There's very little wrong with hurling and progression of tactics is inevitable. I believe the crack down on spare hand fouls is correct and should continue indefinitely. Teams will cop on to it quickly and it will disappear from the game. The slapping of elbows, forearms and hands needs to be stopped too. Take those out and enforce the steps rule and we'll start to take alot of the issues out of the game.

I'm not sure why people are so up in arms about high scoring. Todays game was exceptionally exciting and very high scoring. Had it been played in front of 30,000 the place would have erupted. The drawn Clare Galway semi in 2018 was similar in terms of being end to end. Heavier sliothars are just dangerous and a heavy ball will actually carry further if struck well so that will solve nothing. If anything its probably too heavy and easy to control. Its harder to control a kids sliothar than a size 5.

The reality is, up to the 80s hurling was played by lads who went to work, trained an hour a day if that when they came home and played a game at the weekend. Now its played by guys who are being coached heavily from 6yrs old, when they reach the next level theyre doing 2hrs hurling and an hours S&C per day and playing more games. Theyre just better players due to being much closer to professionalism. The mistakes are less and the quality of coaching and tactics is higher. You can yearn for the days of yore but hurling isn't ever going back.

Clareman · 06-06-2021 10:39pm

The big thing for me is the ball is so easy to drive a long distance, this is down to a lot of factors (size/weight of the ball, quality of hurleys, strength of players), the easiest fix for me would be to increase the ridges on the ball, it's almost smooth now which makes it a lot easier to drive further.

After this, the game has way too many scorable frees, should look to bring in some kind of indirect free where you can't score directly from certain types of frees. Another thing that could be tried is to ban too many hand passes or the ball being played backwards, once the ball goes past a line it can't be played backwards over the line again.

For me however the biggest blight on the game is the persistent fouling, the tactics now is the condense the play as much as possible but if you lose possession or your opponent gets past you you then foul but tugging or pulling. I also think that there's a need for 2 refs, the game is too fast now that 1 person can't be expected to ref it on their own.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 10:54pm

Clareman wrote: »

After this, the game has way too many scorable frees, should look to bring in some kind of indirect free where you can't score directly from certain types of frees.
/QUOTE]

I acknowledge and agree with what you are trying to achieve with this but indirect frees would only reward fouling.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 10:58pm

threeball wrote: »

You can yearn for the days of yore but hurling isn't ever going back.

Not sure this is helpful. Plenty of people have raised legitimate points that are worthy of consideration. This smacks of the Dónal Óg thing of 'I'm great because I love change'. It's a bit more nuanced I think.

threeball · 06-06-2021 11:13pm

Rosita wrote: »

Not sure this is helpful. Plenty of people have raised legitimate points that are worthy of consideration. This smacks of the Dónal Óg thing of 'I'm great because I love change'. It's a bit more nuanced I think.

Adding in all these rules to try to bring back what a sport once was never helps. Look at the state of football with stupid marks and whatnot. Let the game evolve. Some of the best games I've ever seen were in the last decade, some within the last 5yrs. The sports past is inevitably viewed through rose tinted glasses where a quick look at classic games of the 70s and 80s just shows that in reality the games were crap compared to the quality today.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 11:27pm

threeball wrote: »

Adding in all these rules to try to bring back what a sport once was never helps. Look at the state of football with stupid marks and whatnot. Let the game evolve. Some of the best games I've ever seen were in the last decade, some within the last 5yrs. The sports past is inevitably viewed through rose tinted glasses where a quick look at classic games of the 70s and 80s just shows that in reality the games were crap compared to the quality today.

Why do you keep mentioning 70s and 80s? Nobody cares about that.

Rules have always been brought into sports to deal with prevailing conditions. That's all that being suggested. Sport does not evolve in a vacuum. Rules have a fundamental impact. Helps move a game forward. You are the only one mentioning the past. Even the past five years is irrelevant. It's the next 5/10 that count now.

RedRochey · 06-06-2021 11:39pm

Why do people hate the yellow sliothar so much?

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 11:42pm

There were some very good, close games in 2018 and that’s still papering over the cracks. There were a couple in 2016 too.
The adjustments in football have worked rather well, much better game now, but the dominance of Dublin has overshadowed that.
The 02 and 2011 All Ireland’s were in Eir sport, hurling was a far better watch in those years than now unfortunately.
To compare it to other sports, watching it used to be a bit like watching a big heavyweight fight, you couldn’t take your eyes off it or there was a good chance of missing something significant. Now I think that tension has gone from most games, you could have a chat with someone, look at stuff on your phone, and not really worry that much about it.

threeball · 06-06-2021 11:43pm

Rosita wrote: »

Why do you keep mentioning 70s and 80s? Nobody cares about that.

Rules have always been brought into sports to deal with prevailing conditions. That's all that being suggested. Sport does not evolve in a vacuum. Rules have a fundamental impact. Helps move a game forward. You are the only one mentioning the past. Even the past five years is irrelevant. It's the next 5/10 that count now.

Hang on, there's been numerous references to sliothars being much heavier in the past and ground hurling which hasn't been a factor in the game since the mid eighties so no its not me bringing it up. The game is evolving, its in a good place apart from the rules that aren't enforced. That's where the conversation should start, not bringing in new rules.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 11:46pm

RedRochey wrote: »

Why do people hate the yellow sliothar so much?

Find it a little harder see, not that much, but definitely a step in the wrong direction. If they were going to change the colour I think yellow was a poor choice, at certain times of the year and particularly in summer the grass will also have a yellow hue.
Was glad to hear Mullane raise this on the radio, again tinkering to appease TV analysts got taken too far and a new issue arose.

threeball · 06-06-2021 11:50pm

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

There were some very good, close games in 2018 and that’s still papering over the cracks. There were a couple in 2016 too.
The adjustments in football have worked rather well, much better game now, but the dominance of Dublin has overshadowed that.
The 02 and 2011 All Ireland’s were in Eir sport, hurling was a far better watch in those years than now unfortunately.
To compare it to other sports, watching it used to be a bit like watching a big heavyweight fight, you couldn’t take your eyes off it or there was a good chance of missing something significant. Now I think that tension has gone from most games, you could have a chat with someone, look at stuff on your phone, and not really worry that much about it.

Hurling hit a sweet spot around 2010 where players were exceptionally skilful and coached but not a physically powerful as now. We've entered a different phase with a settling in period where big powerful men using the ball really well is a new phenomenon and its needs time to come good. Today was a great example of where we're heading.

You mention heavyweight boxing and whilst that may be box office it ignores the fact that the best fights were always in the light and middle weights where skill was far more essential. The same is true of hurling. The skill we see now would blow away teams from 15years ago.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 11:50pm

There was a bit of ground hurling in the 02 final which was on Eir tonight. Nowadays when there’s a stalemate on the ground you just get a ruck, no one ever pulls on it, because given the ease in getting scores, possession totally trumps territory. You can’t risk pulling on it cos possession could be lost. The fact that there are heaps of rucks is an unfortunate side effect.

Sunny Disposition · 06-06-2021 11:53pm

randd1 wrote: »

- Increase weight of the sliothar by 33%.
- Remove sin bin, instead have a rule to give a penalty for pulls down within 30 yards of the goal.
- Where the hand pass comes from the ball released from the hand, the receiving player can’t catch it. All other forms of passing are ok.
- 40 seconds to take a dead ball
- 6 subs allowed, but no more than 4 a half
- No subs allowed after time moves into injury time
- Reduce and standardize the size of the bás. Any player found in breach received an immediate 2 match ban.

Worth trying out I reckon.

This is a great post, if only two of the proposals were introduced; the size of the bas and the weight of the ball; hurling would be in a much better position.

threeball · 06-06-2021 11:56pm

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

There was a bit of ground hurling in the 02 final which was on Eir tonight. Nowadays when there’s a stalemate on the ground you just get a ruck, no one ever pulls on it, because given the ease in getting scores, possession totally trumps territory. You can’t risk pulling on it cos possession could be lost. The fact that there are heaps of rucks is an unfortunate side effect.

And why would anyone pull on it when you know the outcome is negative. Its no longer a game driven by pure wild passion. Its a lot more considered and no amount of rule changes will change that.

Rosita · 06-06-2021 11:57pm

[QUOTE=threeball;117362457. The skill we see now would blow away teams from 15years ago.[/QUOTE]

So you reckon Kilkenny 2006/07 would be destroyed by the average county team now?

Sunny Disposition · 07-06-2021 12:01am

threeball wrote: »

And why would anyone pull on it when you know the outcome is negative. Its no longer a game driven by pure wild passion. Its a lot more considered and no amount of rule changes will change that.[/quote

Not so long ago it wasn’t likely to be negative, because territory was important. Now with the changed flight of the ball it isn’t really, it’s all about possession, hence no ground hurling and a lot of rucks. But this is something that a change in the ball can improve as it would make the play ore free flowing.
I don’t think you really thought about the post you replied to, you missed the point.

blackcard · 07-06-2021 12:04am

Scoring a point is not anything to get excited by anymore, not when there are going to be 60 points scored in a match, The risk of going for a goal is not worth it either,
3 things that would help are to enforce the steps rule, change the ball so that it doesn't travel so far and award a free for any handpass where you cannot see clear separation between the ball and hand
I would like to see a trial in next year's league for a 4 point goal

threeball · 07-06-2021 12:05am

Rosita wrote: »

So you reckon Kilkenny 2006/07 would be destroyed by the average county team now?

Playing those tactics against a team like Limerick now would play into their hands. No doubt KK had the superior hurlers but a system like that will negate how good the opposition are. Plus they're bigger and physically fitter. That should never be underestimated.

threeball · 07-06-2021 12:09am

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

threeball wrote: »

And why would anyone pull on it when you know the outcome is negative. Its no longer a game driven by pure wild passion. Its a lot more considered and no amount of rule changes will change that.[/quote

Not so long ago it wasn’t likely to be negative, because territory was important. Now with the changed flight of the ball it isn’t really, it’s all about possession, hence no ground hurling and a lot of rucks. But this is something that a change in the ball can improve as it would make the play ore free flowing.
I don’t think you really thought about the post you replied to, you missed the point.

No i think you're just posting from a nostalgic viewpoint. The flight of the ball from 2011 to now hasn't changed. It probably hasn't changed since 2002. What has changed is attitude to possession and use of it. To be honest whilst hurling in 2002 was great to watch the use of the ball was nonsensical. How it survived so long without change is a bigger mystery

Davys Fits · 07-06-2021 12:14am

randd1 wrote: »

- Increase weight of the sliothar by 33%.
- Remove sin bin, instead have a rule to give a penalty for pulls down within 30 yards of the goal.
- Where the hand pass comes from the ball released from the hand, the receiving player can’t catch it. All other forms of passing are ok.
- 40 seconds to take a dead ball
- 6 subs allowed, but no more than 4 a half
- No subs allowed after time moves into injury time
- Reduce and standardize the size of the bás. Any player found in breach received an immediate 2 match ban.

Worth trying out I reckon.

I like that idea.

blackcard · 07-06-2021 12:19am

threeball wrote: »

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

No i think you're just posting from a nostalgic viewpoint. The flight of the ball from 2011 to now hasn't changed. It probably hasn't changed since 2002. What has changed is attitude to possession and use of it. To be honest whilst hurling in 2002 was great to watch the use of the ball was nonsensical. How it survived so long without change is a bigger mystery

What has change hugely also is that the ball is travelling 20% farther. A score from a 100 meters is commonplace, 20 years ago a score from 80 meters was more unusual. If the ball didn't travel as far, you would have far more balls landing in the vicinity of the goals, creating more excitement

Sunny Disposition · 07-06-2021 12:19am

threeball wrote: »

Hurling hit a sweet spot around 2010 where players were exceptionally skilful and coached but not a physically powerful as now. We've entered a different phase with a settling in period where big powerful men using the ball really well is a new phenomenon and its needs time to come good. Today was a great example of where we're heading.

You mention heavyweight boxing and whilst that may be box office it ignores the fact that the best fights were always in the light and middle weights where skill was far more essential. The same is true of hurling. The skill we see now would blow away teams from 15years ago.

The best fights have not always been outside of the heavyweight division, that’s not true. There have been loads of great heavyweight fights. The first White-Chisora fight would be one that would be hard replicate at any other division and was in many people’s opinion the best fight of that year. Skill is not less important at heavyweight either, look at Fury.
Anyway, the comparison is true for boxing in general, across weight divisions. It’s a little more applicable at heavyweight because of the power, but any fight one watches has to be watched all the way through or you’ll at least run a major risk of missing something significant.
The same used to be true of hurling, but that’s gone to a certain extent. More like watching basketball or soccer now, you’ll probably miss nothing of note or nothing that won’t be repeated moments later.
As a spectacle it is far worse than it was, but a few close games over a few years are enough to convince a fairly weak media that the Emperor is not naked.
But the era of hurling snobbery is almost over, maybe forever.
As an aside, the amount of spoofing done about hurling now surely exceeds that in any other sport. Heard people in the radio today saying Cork-Limerick was a great game. It definitely wasn’t, it was over as a contest long before the end.
There is a way back from this malaise, but it needs to be faced up to.

breezy1985 · 07-06-2021 12:20am

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

This is a great post, if only two of the proposals were introduced; the size of the bas and the weight of the ball; hurling would be in a much better position.

Even if it made no changes to the outcome of games and I dont think a smaller bas will change much it is crazy that there is not strict regulation of playing equipment. You would think that would be normal practice in any sport

breezy1985 · 07-06-2021 12:22am

RedRochey wrote: »

Why do people hate the yellow sliothar so much?

Cause they were not that colour when we were youngins

Sunny Disposition · 07-06-2021 12:25am

breezy1985 wrote: »

Even if it made no changes to the outcome of games and I dont think a smaller bas will change much it is crazy that there is not strict regulation of playing equipment. You would think that would be normal practice in any sport

I think there is a rule, but it’s never enforced. Very interesting when you see old games, the bas was way smaller even in the noughties. Having a fella who could point most 65s used to be a big asset to teams, even at inter county.

Sunny Disposition · 07-06-2021 12:35am

threeball wrote: »

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

No i think you're just posting from a nostalgic viewpoint. The flight of the ball from 2011 to now hasn't changed. It probably hasn't changed since 2002. What has changed is attitude to possession and use of it. To be honest whilst hurling in 2002 was great to watch the use of the ball was nonsensical. How it survived so long without change is a bigger mystery

It absolutely has changed.
A club in Clare brought a motion to their convention a few years ago, looking to increase the weight. A report was prepared on the motion but it found the weight on its own wasn’t the issue, it’s the stuff in the core of the ball, which was changed and means the ball travels faster and further now. The ball has actually become marginally heavier but you wouldn’t know it because of how it travels now.
The reason the attitude to possession has changed is because of this and the change in hurleys, territory is nowhere near as important anymore because the scoring zone is now massive. Possession is all that really matters. Which is ruining the game.

Hurling- what’s gone wrong and where do we go from here.

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