Tweaking likely but sin bin not for binning

The GAA remain firmly committed to the experimental rule changes for the upcoming National Football and Hurling Leagues. Despite another weekend of some confusion and controversy, specifically regarding the sin bin, the chairmen of the two task forces behind the rule changes were adamant their adoption would still prove worthwhile.

There were also strong words from the GAA's Head of Games, Pat Daly, who acted as secretary to both task forces. It would, he said, be irresponsible of the GAA not to pursue the stricter policy towards indiscipline, and the sin bin was a necessary weapon against cynical, deliberate fouling.

The football rules task force, under the chairmanship of Connacht Council president Tommy Moran, have agreed to meet next Monday to discuss the initial impact of the experiments. Moran said the sin bin was set to stay for the National Football League, although he agreed that some modifications were likely.

"We wanted to wait for another round of games before discussing the impact," said Moran, "but right now the sin bin will definitely be in for the leagues. As will all the new rules. Central Council have already approved that, and obviously you can't have the sin bin in hurling and not have it in football.

"I know there was some more criticism this weekend, especially after Meath against Kildare game in the O'Byrne Cup. But the whole idea of an experiment is to find out more about something, and I think it's just a question of tidying up the approach to it. So we will be looking at the definitions of the rules and it they're not clear enough then there is still time to change them before the leagues.

"But we're not trying to spoil the game. We'll be discussing all aspects of the rules, and taking on board the comments from managers and players and supporters. And we'll try to come up with a best formula for the leagues."

Although hurling counties won't benefit from as much pre-assessment before the National Hurling League starts on February 20th, the chairman of the hurling rules task force, Leinster Council chairman Nicky Brennan, had no doubt the sin bin was still the way forward in addressing certain disciplinary problems.

"First of all I think there'll be a lot less problems in hurling," said Brennan. "It's still a physical game, but I think there's less physical contact. To dispossess someone in football there is an element of pulling and dragging, but in hurling it's more about the ball.

"But I also think some of the criticism has been over the top. People should wait at least a few more weeks before they shoot it down. I was at the Louth-Dublin game on Saturday, and it was very clear that both of those teams had already played a game under the new rules. There were only two sin binnings late in the game and they certainly had no impact on the result. Players were certainly far more conscious of what was going on.

"So I believe the principle of the sin bin is right. The way it's applied at the moment may not be 100 per cent right, but let's see it out, and seek the opinions when the experiment is over. We've certainly no plans to change anything into the hurling league."

The strongest commitment to the new rules came from Pat Daly, who as secretary to both task forces had already got considerable feedback from managers across the provinces.

"There is a steep learning curve here for everyone involved," said Daly, "and anyone who thought we could crack down on deliberate, cynical fouling without some problems would be deluding themselves.

"I was in Newbridge for the Meath-Kildare game and the foul count was around 35, a little less than the average of around 45-50, and which sometimes goes as high as 70. And there were only 44 fouls in the Louth-Dublin game on Saturday, despite the difficult conditions.

"In essence what we're saying here is that body-checking and fouling away from the play are now sin binning offences. Referees are comfortable with the concept of a sin bin, but what will require a little more refinement is what gets a player a tick, a second tick, and then a yellow card. The rule of thumb we'd giving to referees is two deliberate fouls."

Yet the Meath-Kildare game, where Meath appeared to be heading for victory before losing three players to the sin bin, highlighted some of the ongoing difficulties. Afterwards, the Meath manager Seán Boylan went as far as to say the sin bin would soon dictate the game, not the football. Yet Daly disagreed that Meath's situation of 12 players against 15 could become the norm.

"I wouldn't envisage that on an ongoing basis. I understand the Meath camp were seeking some sort of clarification at half-time on the rules, and that there was some confusion. But I know Kildare had brought in some referees to ensure they were conversant with what was being done.

"In fairness to everybody the rules went out shortly before Christmas, so there wasn't much of a lead-in. Everybody has to be prepared to learn from this, but ultimately what we're attempting to do is deal with the cynical fouling. If anybody believes we shouldn't be dealing with that they should stand up and be counted."

The bottom line, said Daly, was that the GAA had to do something about the growing problems of indiscipline: "We're in the situation where we've had a number of court cases in the last year, and the one thing players are saying to us is that something must be done about this off-the-ball stuff. That and body checking. We're trying to address those issues, and put the emphasis back on playing the ball, and rewarding the player who does. I believe that can be done, but I don't believe it can be done under the old system.

"So I think it would have been very irresponsible of us, getting the feedback we were getting, and given the trends that we're developing, not to do what we're doing. It's ultimately up to the delegates at Congress to accept or reject this, but at least we're trying to get that fine balance in terms of rewarding the skilful player, and that cynical player doesn't win out."