DECLAN MCCOY: Whatever you’re having yourself!

We’re in the second season of the new rules and, while they have been well received, there is a hierarchy when it comes to their application. You have the gold standard deluxe model of County Championship. The referee has a team of officials that are miked up, and there’s a hooter and all the trimmings.

Next up you have your premium club championship package. No hooter, but the referee has their umpires and line officials to help them.

Finally, there’s the economy class version in club league.

The new rules cannot possibly be implemented universally in Gaelic football as they require resources that are simply not universally available. I will try to give a flavour of my experiences of their application over the past two seasons, by breaking them into their constituent parts.

Kickouts

This has been relatively smooth in terms of officiating. The ball clears the 40-metre arc, or it doesn’t. My only experience of confusion was when the ball cleared the arc and blew back into it. The referee was unaware of the rule and gave a throw-up. I’ve no issues with this as it’s a new concept and referees have had an awful lot to take on board.

Advantage rule

This has been infuriatingly inconsistent at club level. Some referees put the hand up for five seconds, some for 30 seconds, some don’t even call it until the play is dead. This rule must be addressed as, by definition, it cannot be applied consistently.

The offensive mark

For me, at any level, this rule is an abomination. It is having the exact opposite effect of the purpose of the new rules. They promoted attacking football and one on one contests. A forward now can claim an inside mark and has a free play. The defender is expected to fight for their lives to stop the forward. Their reward for succeeding?

The ball is given back to the forward for a free kick. The defender simply can’t win. The rule should be altered to allow the forward to take a mark or play on, not both.

Tap and Go

This has been excellent at all levels. The game has been sped up, and referees have stomped out the ‘head down and run into the man’ merchants.

The Mark

Generally fine, though some inconsistency in application. Depending on the referee, some cynical contact may be allowed on the catching player to slow them down after they take the mark.

The Breach rule

This rule virtually does not exist at club league level, unless on the rare occasion the referee has their own line officials. Referees simply cannot turn their back constantly to gauge a breach if they have no support. I have been repeatedly told that any calls from the sideline on the breach will be ignored.

Who could blame referees? A club manager screaming breach in a league game is often not the most credible evidence. I found out, to my cost Friday night, that the breach rule is perfectly implemented at club championship level when resources allow.

Dissent Rule

This has been a roaring success. Referees should not have to put up with any form of abuse, and this rule has completely eradicated it.

The Hooter

This rule does not exist at club level, and it is causing serious problems. At championship level injury time is announced and is at the referee’s discretion. Some will allow a play to finish, some will blow the whistle mid play.

At club league level it is worse than ever. I have witnessed referees refuse to answer when asked how long is left, others have indicated ‘one more minute’ then blown when the kick out is caught. It all depends on ‘whatever you’re having yourself’. Rules should be rules and not open to interpretation. We are beginning to see different tactics depending on how referees applies the rules.

For instance, Mayo knew McNally would allow them to robustly hunt down the Kerry defenders. Other referees may not have allowed the contact.

Who would be a referee?