THE HURLING 2020 Review Committee launched their report in Croke Park today and outlined proposals including the introduction of squad numbers, allowing teams to bring on a sub when a player is sent-off for two yellow cards and the creation of a full-time director of hurling.
But what proposals did they decide not to bring to the table?
1. Public Time Clock
There’s been plenty of calls for this to be introduced and the Hurling 2020 Committee notes that 52% of their survey respondents were in favour of the introduction with another 32% giving it their tentative approval.
The conclusion is:
“The Hurling 2020 committee await with interest the outcome of the ongoing review to see if the issues can be ironed out and be implemented as planned before making a recommendation for its use in the game of hurling.”
2. Two Points For A Sideline Cut
The survey results here were 38% saying Yes, 27% Maybe and 35% No. The committee does feel the recent introduction of this rule in camogie should be monitored with interest but doesn’t see ‘the requirement for the introduction of this change in the game of hurling’.
3. The Number Of Steps
The number of steps a hurler is allowed with the ball in hand cropped up in the survey with the following results:
Increase steps to 5 – 18% in favour
Increase steps to 6 – 9% in favour
Decrease steps from 4 to 3 – 3% in favour
The committee felt there was ‘no appetite for change in this area’.
4. Four Points For A Goal
A radical suggestion here from the committee and one that stemmed from the statistics that there were 44 less goals scored in 2013 versus 2012 and 58 less goals scored when you compare 2013 with 2011.
But only 6% of respondents approved and the 2014 statistics showed an increase to 3.1 goals per game, up 0.5 goals per game.
5. Two Referees
The survey results here found 25% Yes, 39% Maybe and 36% No. The committee believes that while the idea is good in theory, the inconsistency amongst hurling referees that players comment on could be exacerbated by two referees on the pitch.
They also note:
“Also, the respect for referees, in particular at club level, is so low that it is already difficult enough to ensure there is one referee at every club game. To expect to get two referees to take charge at even Senior Club Championship level will be difficult.”
6. Twinning – Stronger/Developing Counties
The practice of twinning strong and developing counties together has been done ‘with varying levels of success’ over the past few years. But the committee believes they have ‘limited long term success as the structures are often not sufficient to sustain the effort for any period of time’.
7. Scrap The Provinces, Bring In A Knockout Championship
This has been a hot debate of discussion in recent years but there appears to be little appetite for it. Just 14% were in favour of scrapping the provincial structure and bringing in an All-Ireland open draw knockout competition. Of the other 86% surveyed, 40% would like to see no change to the current system while 29% want an All-Ireland open draw knockout competition based on a provincial structure.
The Hurling 2020 Committee will ‘not be making any recommendations for change to the overall inter-county senior hurling championship structure while the calendar year championship structure is still under discussion.’
