Changes in the GAA - super thread

This thread seems quiet but it is the right place for it Niall Morgan of Tyrone wants the new rules re keepers to stay in place. No restrictions on the keeper bombing forward upfield. His main reason “It would ruin my enjoyment of the game”

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41577025.html

My first reaction was play as outfielder instead of Keeper Niall?

Big day today for the future of the football championship structure, details are below.

Basically after the provincial championship the provincial finalists, next seven from the league and previous year TC winners have to win two games to get to the quarter finals but can't afford to lose two games.

I hope it passes as the current group stages and old pre COVID group stages did not work.

The best championship format was the qualifier system and this is closest to it.

Motion 19

This year will be the third of an All-Ireland SFC group stage where three of four teams progress to the knockout stages. What is the name of an American quiz show and the abstract concept felt to be lacking under this system?

Rather than revert to 2/4 progressing, as applied under the Super 8s format, Central Council is proposing to get rid of groups altogether for 2026. The new system would retain the provincial championships, with three subsequent rounds of games played before the Sam Maguire quarter-finals, as opposed to the current four.

Round 1: The eight provincial finalists are at home against the Tailteann Cup winners/seven next highest-ranked league sides.

Round 2A: The eight winners from round 1 play each other. Round 2B: The eight losers play each other. Draws will decide home advantage and avoid repeat pairings of provincial finals.

Round 3: The four losers from 2A play the four winners from 2B (draws for home advantage, avoiding provincial final or round 1 repeat pairings) for a place in the quarter-finals against the winners of round 2A.

So a county that wins its first two games goes directly to a quarter-final but a county that loses will have to play a third match to get there.

The Tailteann Cup would follow a similar structure, though with one round 2A winner drawn to play an additional preliminary quarter-final against New York.

The motion specifies home advantage in the quarter-finals for the Tailteann Cup 2A winners, the Sam Maguire teams will presumably all be at Croke Park.

Will probably confuse casual fans but it's the best available system (without changing the provincials which wasn't on the table)

Thankfully the stupid hurling hand pass motion was defeated.

But in the first round they could equally come up against a good Ulster or Connacht team that didn't make the Ulster or Connacht final.

The current and upcoming systems make the provincial championship as weak as they have ever been, I for one am grateful for that much right now.

I can't believe this was passed. Seems like a bonkers scenario:

Rd1 one will produce 8 of the best teams who then knock each other out and get a nice break of one round - you will get the 4 best teams in the country here

Meanwhile they are waiting for an inferior team who may have beat two even worse teams. Or else they are going to end up with a the same 8 in qtr finals as played in rd2a, with extra steps. This is going to lead to more one sided games at the business end of the championship, not less

They were so close with the current structure- all they had to do was get rid of the link to provincial or get rid of the strange 3rd place additional round.

With the old system you could potentially have a guaranteed 3 games for each team, then qtr final, semi final, final. Very fair on each team and very straightforward for all involved. Everyone gets the same opportunity, you could potentially lose a group game but knockout means knockout. It's a tried and tested format across many other sports and global competitions

This new system separates the top teams from the bottom teams and puts them on different tracks till they meet in the qtr final, and gives a slight advantage to the better teams, it doesn't make sense. Top teams will likely have to win one difficult game out of two to get to a qtr final. Their opponents will have 3 games under their belts, one of which they've lost. How is that fair?

Simple one that I can’t understand has not been done player names on hurling jerseys. Kids would love it. And it makes sense as Hurlers wear Helmets. Easily identifiable with names.

Is it just me or have the new rules made no difference whatsoever? The only slight difference is that instead of having 15 players behind the ball (14 + goalkeeper) teams now have 12 players behind the ball.

Why don't they just ban the handpass and make a rule that the 6 defenders have to stay in position and the 6 forwards have to stay in position? That would solve everything. People say that that would mean no wingbacks coming up to score, but most wingbacks now just get the ball and pass it sideways. And having 6 forwards to score would be enough. It would be a sacrifice to make. But it would mean the end of the blanket defence, which is the biggest problem in the game.

The solution is to ban the handpass.

But there wouldn't be as many players to pass to. It would be 6 players vs 6 in one half. It would be harder to play possession football.

Which bizarrely some people are advocating for. Really does make you question at times.

I think the new rules have made a massive difference. I really noticed it after seeing c.rua v c.usice. (Old rules) Then watched Dublin v Mayo (new rules) straight after.
In the old rules there was loads of handpassing and static stuff numbers funnelled back.

My first reaction to the new rules was it was like a minor match from decades ago. Loads of space more direct stuff, faster. And players running with the ball. I was shocked at the difference.
Put it this way old rules I had plenty of time to mark stuff in programme. New rules - I have to be much quicker for fear I miss some consequential action. Always likely something is going to happen quick now. To the extent I think top football is now a better spectacle than top hurling IMO.

IMO the solo and go is the key difference. It makes a huge difference to the speed of the play and gives the defence no time to reset. I've watched the opening senior club league games and the game barely stops for breath. Forcing the kick-out to go long also helps. The 3 vs 3 needs some minor tweaking, particularly in relation to the GK, and the impact of a black/red card, but also works in that it reduces congestion for the attacking team. The number of subs may also have to be looked at. Overall I think its a big improvement.

You'd still miss the club finals today, Feels like an age ago since they were played

Looking back at the big gaps in the calendar, you have to wonder what the logic was

Not sure they'd risk it but imagine starting the leagues earlier and having a double header with both Division 1 Football and 1A Hurling finals on Paddys Day in Croke Park

Definitely great experience for the young lads

Some classic games on a Paddys day and some massacres too