Hurling - The Hand Pass Rule - a thread

[glasagusban]

Seems too long a time for the ball to be in the air, it’d be swiped away by opposition. Clear separation of a say three inches should do it.

[StoneCold]

Give linesmen the power to call throws and other fouls also; I’m not sure if there is a rule already allowing them to do so but I’m sure, like in soccer, an animated wave of the flag pointing in the direction the fouled team are playing in can be used to signal a foul.

[maurice_brown]

There’s no rule. The calls for a 2nd ref in hurling is totally uncalled for when there is 2 officials manning the line for the complete lenght of the pitch on each side. Give them the power to flag calls.

[cluaindiuic]

Having 2 referees, 8 umpires and 4 linesman all empowered to make calls is irrelevant if they don’t see the modern handpass as an issue.

[Heyyoubehindthebushes]

3 inches might be a lot for fellas on here

[Fagan_ODowd]

@cluaindiuic

I’m probably up there as being critical of refereeing the hand pass, and steps for that matter, for a number of years. But the handpass has been a problem for about 20 years. It feels we’re getting close to a tipping point seeing how there are competitions experimenting with rule changes. I welcome that but I feel the fix is simpler.

The Cork team of the early 2000s started this trend as part of their short passing/possession based game. That’s why you will not hear Dónal Óg complain about It. He’s Frankenstein and this is his, Dónal O’Grady and Newtownshandrums monster. They probably look on it positively as their legacy to the game. It started as an edge they found in the weakness of rule enforcement and it has continued to evolve over two decades into what you see right now. Everyone has availed of this to a certain extent in that period. E.g. On the peak Kilkenny team Jackie Tyrrell’s handpasses were questionable at best. Very easy to find half a dozen lads on every team today that do it. Which goes to show it’s being coached. You’re now in a situation where it’s more likely that a referee blows a good handpass for a throw than a bad one.

I’ve also talked a lot about steps over the last few years, especially straight line steps. Lads get possession and run 10 steps before playing the ball. Even if there’s nobody in the immediate vicinity to tackle them. And yet, if you have the ball and you pivot a couple of times and have taken 6 steps you’re far more likely to be called than for 10 straight line steps.

To me it’s all a question of enforcement. We’ve all seen at the start of a league there is the flavour of the month enforcement. Sometimes it’s followed through for the summer, sometimes it’s gone by May. About 10 years ago Gaelic Football got very strict on the handpass. It was a bit heavy handed by referees for a few weeks and then something magical happened. Players took responsibility and modified their behaviour for the betterment of their team.

If hurling referees did go hard on this for a month and said before the start of the season:

1. If you handpass the ball it must have a clear and obvious striking action or a foul will be given against you.
2. If you’re carrying the ball upfield in hand be aware, we will be more strict on the steps you take. Make sure you take your touches or you will be called for over carrying.

We may have a week or two of heavy free count but in my opinion the end absolutely justifies the means if we have a better sport as a result.

I’m wary of the unintended consequences of this. I believe though that both of these changes should, on balance, favour defenders and defending which I believe is a good thing. As the high level of scoring shows, scoring and attacking has become easier in the last decade for a number of reasons both tactical and physical. Anything that cleanly tips the scales back in the other direction should be welcomed.

In fairness I think the first team to use the handpass as a tactic was Cyril Farrell’s Galway team of the 1980s. Kevin Cashman christened them the Jennet Express.

[the_man_himself]

I actually quite like rucks in hurling as a player and spectator

[cluaindiuic]

I’m talking about the modern style of handpass. The throw and dramatically open your fingers to make it look like a handpass. I don’t remember that before the Cork team. Open to correction.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@cluaindiuic

I’m talking about the modern style of handpass. The throw and dramatically open your fingers to make it look like a handpass. I don’t remember that before the Cork team. Open to correction.

Fair enough comment

[Ambrose_McNulty]

@Fagan_ODowd

In fairness I think the first team to use the handpass as a tactic was Cyril Farrell’s Galway team of the 1980s. Kevin Cashman christened them the Jennet Express.

Another sly dig at @flattythehurdler

[gaillimhmick]

It was a more effective tactic than jersey kissing all the same.

[flattythehurdler]

You’d need to differentiate between IC and club though, when half the time the linesmen are one from either team. Can you imagine the joy let loose in the east Galway junior C hurling championship final with lads from either club calling fouls from the line ?

[flattythehurdler]

@the_man_himself

I actually quite like rucks in hurling as a player and spectator

I like them when Galway emerge with the ball. I dislike them when they don’t.

[flattythehurdler]

I’m aware of this.

[carryharry]

@StoneCold

Give linesmen the power to call throws and other fouls also

Linesman can flag/call foul play already?

[Elvis_Brandenberg_Kr]

They can bring instances of foul play to the referee’s attention during a break in play only.

They do not have the authority to flag a foul.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@Elvis_Brandenberg_Kr

They can bring instances of foul play to the referee’s attention during a break in play only.

They do not have the authority to flag a foul.

The footix embarrassing themselves talking about hurling.

[myboyblue]

@Elvis_Brandenberg_Kr

They can bring instances of foul play to the referee’s attention during a break in play only.

They do not have the authority to flag a foul.

Be nothing wrong with calling the play back when there’s a break to give a free the other way for an illegal handpass. Be great to see it.

[maurice_brown]

@flattythehurdler

You’d need to differentiate between IC and club though, when half the time the linesmen are one from either team. Can you imagine the joy let loose in the east Galway junior C hurling championship final with lads from either club calling fouls from the line ?

Agreed but it goes on with the soccerball club game like that, the referee assumes all infallibility including offsides and the flags are handed out to a guy from each side to flag the direction of throw in. Very same as the CLG club game at the moment. Gets official as it gets more serious

[glasagusban]

These lads genuinely don’t know what the rules of the game are.