COMMENT: Four-point goal and four-point flag on the way in new GAA rules? 

They haven’t gone away despite what you might have thought. They are back again, with some more changes, some more tweakings, some more adjustment, some more ideas; all just proposals I must add, nothing decided yet.

And you thought the game couldn’t be improved.

What are we talking about? Rule changes. Gaelic Football rule changes.

There is no doubt that football has benefitted enormously from ‘Jim’s Changes.’

Few, maybe with the exception of Jim himself and his Football Review Committee (FRC), could have foreseen the enormous effect, beneficial effect, that those changes could have brought to the game.

Remember, not too long ago, football was a game, for the want of a better phrase, dying on its feet.

Looking back on the way it was being played and coached one could wonder how in the name of God did the game survive at all. Defensive football had become the norm. Around the country, in every county, in every parish, in every school yard coaches-cum-managers were imitating that defensive ‘style’ like sheep on the Curragh.

Did you ever notice sheep on the plains? If one went to cross the road, the rest would follow. If one stood under a bush, the rest would follow. If one decided it was time to sit down the rest would follow.

GAA coaches/ managers were doing the identical thing as sheep. Blindingly following, in this case defensive football, regardless of the consequences.

Thank God for Jim Gavin that’s all I can say. The man is a genius.

Anyway, back to the New Rules. Not sure why they are still called New Rules. Surely at this stage it is time to drop the ‘new’ bit, especially now with another review is about to get under way.

I cod you not. More changes. More experiments. More Sandbox games.

Sandbox? Have to hold me hand up here and admit that I never heard of a ‘sandbox’ game until Jim began his experiments.

Thought it was something to do with the Army or the Air Corps with Jim involved. Something these lads might have done when they were abroad on overseas duties.

That was my ignorance, sure the world and his mother knows now what sandbox games are.

Anyway to get back to where we came in, get settled, get prepared, the sandbox games are on the way back.

And while one would have thought at this stage it was time to let things lie, maybe in fact change one or two, in particular the handing-over the ball after a foul; putting the ball on the ground, immediately, would surely suffice?

Gaelic Football’s Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Kevin McStay, was set up last year, and asked to monitor and review trends in the game in the wake of ‘new’ rules being implemented.

Now Mr McStay and his disciples are to experiment with nine different proposals in sandbox games due to be held in the autumn in 3rd Level competitions.

Incidentally McStay’s new committee includes David Coldrick, John Tobin, Conor McManus, Maurice Fitzgerald, Pat Doherty, Seamus Kenny and Johnny Bradley.

(No Ladies or Kildare folk need apply).

Now the first thing to say is there is not a hope in hell of implementing all of the nine rule proposals that are being looked at, but don’t rule out one, two or possibly three, at the very most. And who knows, maybe it will be decided to let well enough alone.

And the rules that will undergo scrutiny in the sandbox games?

No fisted points; a four point goal; three consecutive handpasses only; kickouts to travel a mere 13m; no kicking back into one’s own half; six subs; the arc to be extended to the end lines; an impeded mark to be punished with a 50m advancement; to be taken from the 13m line; taking a sideline kick, a player must have one foot on or behind the sideline (definitely one of the sillier ones). But that’s a lot of changes.

Some probably worth a try but most, at first glance anyway, over the top. Then again, few if any of us, never contemplated what Jim’s Rules would do to the game.

Could these proposed changes, even a few of them, advance the game further? Rule nothing in, or out.

And what pray I, if the four points for a goal is accepted.

Will there still be a three-point goal, along with a four-point goal, as in a single and a two-pointer point, if you get me drift.

And if so, will be looking at another flag for the four-pointer goal? Surely.

And what colour would a four-point goal flag be? Half and half green and orange? Maybe a full red?

Or better yet, a green, white and orange flag. Perfect I would have thought.

Interesting times ahead. Again!

GATHERING OF THE GRASSROOTS

Kildare Co Board have certainly take the wind out of the sails of a gathering of the grassroots prior to this Tuesday evening’s Co. Board gathering with an unprecedented statement, confirming Brian Flanagan’s tenure will continue into 2027. The statement came “after a prolonged, extensive review of 2026” while insisting the Executive and Management have full confidence in the man who has guided The Lilies for the past two seasons.

It’s called getting your retaliation in first!