'Solo and go' a game-changer as new football era begins

History was made on Friday evening as Westmeath club games began under the new rules, introduced by the Football Review Committee (FRC) last year.

For the first time ever we had ‘solo and go’ in competitive club games, as well as a number of other changes and the people at the coalface gave a largely positive appraisal of the impact the enhancements may have on the game. It will take time and there is just one round of club leagues over, but it was interesting to get the feedback of players, coaches and referees - the main protagonists in the considerable change that is taking place.

In an interesting link, Westmeath had its very own representative on the FRC in the form of Patrick Doherty, Head of Operations in the county.

Perhaps the most positive of the seven rule enhancements is the ‘solo and go’ which has the potential to cut out a lot of needless fouling in the game. Basically a player who is fouled can solo immediately, within four metres of where the foul occurred, and continue to attack. If they solo and go they cannot be challenged for four metres. A solo and go is not permitted inside the opponent's 20m line. Any player can avail of the solo and go - it is not confined to the player who was fouled. However, the solo and go must be done instantly and in either a forwards or sideways direction.

The player who is fouled may pass/throw the ball to a teammate who can take the solo and go, once this happens without any delay.

It was interesting to observe the rules on Friday evening for the first time at club level and the player who stood out was Fionn O’Hara on the St Loman’s side, whose fielding was impressive and his use of the solo and go underlined the potential of this change. O’Hara has been in with the Westmeath footballers this year and has an edge on other players, while his background as a professional athlete in Australian Rules football is an obvious boost.

There were no two-pointers in Friday’s game at Lakepoint Park and the strong breeze was a factor, but as the league opens up and more rounds are played, this will really come into play. It will be extra difficult now for teams to close out games.

The two teams didn’t seem to know what to do with the goalkeeper and that is something that will improve as the rounds are played. Who knows, the FRC, upon feedback, may well tweak this particular rule - it will be interesting to see.

Coaches can now set their defensive line around the arc which benefits their role, but the 12 v 11 scenario opens up new possibilities and it has the potential to be more exciting.

Other rule changes such as the 1v1 throw-in, kick-outs and 3v3 structure up front seemed to work well. There was one free for dissent to the referee, a costly one for St Loman’s, who gave away a definite point and in the end they lost by exactly that margin. Referees are going to have to be uniform and consistent with dissent - is a player shouting ‘how long’ really dissent? If that is applied across the board, players will have to quickly learn new habits.

St Loman's also suffered on the kick-out rule (kick-outs must travel beyond the 40-metre mark) and again the concession of a free meant a certain score. There was a breach of the 3v3 rule also, but the St Loman's player didn't deliberately step into his own half and it was only a free in midfield. It seemed that the ball was thrown away at that point but there was no 50-metre penalty, the referee not spotting the incident.

Referees turning up with no linesmen for games should be a concern as there is now simply too much for just two eyes to watch. The officials need more resources or there will be inevitable mistakes. The 50 or so new referees that were introduced in Westmeath last year could play a role and be involved as linesmen, especially in Division 1 and Division 2 league games. Referees can also punish verbals from mentors which heretofore had little or no consequence, so it will no longer be such a horrible place for linesmen, one suspects.

The seven core enhancements in football are: 1 v 1 throw-in; kick-outs; limiting back passes to a goalkeeper; 40M scoring arc; 3 v 3 structure; solo and go; advanced mark. A number of rules to cover the disciplinary side of the game are also in force.

Westmeath Examiner got the views of the main people impacted by the rule enhancements following Friday’s Division 1 league encounter, St Loman’s v The Downs.

Player’s perspective - Joe Moran (The Downs).

The man to get the winning score for The Downs deep in added time on Friday, Joe Moran, feels the new rules are a positive step for Gaelic football. There are new attacking options and it’s faster, he feels, but the goalkeeper’s role remains a challenge.

“I do find it is a better game. There were definitely changes needed in the game, just from watching it for the last couple of years: it's been hard enough on the eye.

“It's just kind of over and back and very slow with everyone behind the ball.

“I think the new rules that they have brought in have been very beneficial.”

What is the best part of the changes?

“The first rule I am fond of is keeping three players up. It stops 15 lads behind the ball, which was happening, so you have more space to attack especially on a counter attack.

And another rule I really like is the solo and go. If you're on the counter attack and you get fouled and you want to go quick, you can just tap and go, and you can go straight away. It really speeds up the play. It's a lot quicker and it's more exciting; it's faster and quicker for the game.

“I like the long kick out as well, it stops lads going short or passing the ball back.

“Another rule I like is when the goalie can't get the ball in your half. So if you go short, you can't give the ball back to the goalie; you have to try and beat your man, or you need support straight away. I think that rule was needed. It was a bit of a cop out getting the ball short and hand passing it back to the goalkeeper.

“The two-pointer is positive as well. If you're down by three points and you get a two-pointer, it's a quick swing around. It obviously promotes players shooting from outside the arc as well, which is obviously a good skill to have, if you have lads on the team to kick them.”

Is there anything you'd add or take away?

“The one rule I'm not too mad on is where the goalie can come up the field as an extra man. I know they're probably trying to promote trying to get more scores where you have an extra man and that, but I disagree with this one.

“I'd kind of prefer if it was 11 on 11 or 12 on 12 attacking. It may have stopped that bit of passing over and back. I felt in the league game on Friday, at some stages when Trevor Martin or Jason Daly came up, we were passing it over and back and it slowed down the game.

“If it was 11 on 11 it would be a bit quicker. It may have stopped that lateral passing which slows the game. So that'd be the only change.”

Coach’s perspective - Dermot Power (The Downs)

How are the changes impacting your role?

“It's a consideration that you think about daily, but the core skills still need to be executed so there is no change in that regard.”

Are they a positive move?

“The game had become somewhat stale and predictable so a level of change was required, though what was brought in, all at once, was more than I'd have expected. They are in now so we just have to get on with it and whether they are good for the game or not will only play out over time.”

What is the best change in your opinion?

“I like the solo and go and it gives a huge impetus to forward play.”

Is there anything that you'd change?

“Personally I don't really like the new 'perceived' role of the goalkeeper. Every ‘keeper now thinks they have to come out and become a quasi-forward.

“The 50m free can at times be too penal - however the sideline is a quieter place for most referees.”

Referee’s perspective - Barry Kelly

"Discipline wise and respect wise, managers and players are very quickly adapting which is a significant positive. It’s more challenging for referees in terms of fitness as the game is faster, there’s fewer stoppages, there’s obviously new rules awareness that will take time to get used to.

I’ve only refereed one competitive match and two challenges and the competitive league game was certainly more challenging to officiate. Having a couple of umpires is even more important now, when everyone is fully au fait with the rule enhancements it will become easier.

“Pitches are not easily marked and markings not as visible at this time of year, and that will also improve matters for officials.

“As a spectator these new rules have been excellent thus far; game is faster, more contests on kick-outs, greater emphasis on kicking the ball and fouling is less as the tap and go discourages fouling. Overall though, a hugely encouraging start for everyone, players, spectators, managers and referees."