Cathal Dunbar of Wexford during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Cork and Wexford at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
The GAA will trial an alternative rule relating to the handpass in hurling during the forthcoming Higher Education Freshers 1 hurling competition later this year.
This is the result of a close examination of the unlawful use of the handpass in hurling by the Standing Committee on Playing Rules.
The SCPR established a sub-committee and tasked it to consider solutions.
The wording of the proposed handpass trial put forward by the sub-committee is as follows:
1. Amend Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling) to read:
(b) Released from the holding - hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand, either by:
(i) The other hand
Or
(ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand.
The process of striking the ball with the non-original holding hand involves the transferring the hurley from one hand to the other.
2. Amend Definition 10 Hand Pass (b) Hurling to read:
(b) Hurling
The ball shall be released from the holding-hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand by, either by:
(i) The other hand
Or
(ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand.
3. Amend Rule 4.2 (b), Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) by adding:
"As specified in Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling)".
The process of striking the ball with the non-original holding-hand involves the transferring the hurley from one hand to the other.
Tipperary goalkeeper Barry Hogan in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
The GAA will also trial a second experimental hurling playing rule during the fothcoming Higher Education Freshers 1 hurling competition that will require all puck-outs to travel past the a team's own '45 yard line, that is the '45 nearest the goalkeeper taking the puck-out.
The wording of the proposed puck-out trial is as follows.
(i) Amend Rule 2.6 - Set Play (Hurling) by amending the final sentence to read:
"The ball shall travel outside the near 45m. line before being played by another player of the defending team".
(ii) Amend Rule 4.29, Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) to read:
"For another player on the team taking the puck-out to play the ball before it has travelled outside the near 45m.
line".
Penalty
(i) Cancel puck-out.
(ii) Throw In the ball on defenders' 20m. line opposite the scoring space.
(iii) Amend Rule 1.2(i), Rules of Specification, by deleting the word "(Football)" in the first line.
(This provides for the marking of a 45m.line in Hurling.)
