GAA give green light for restricted hand-pass rule to be trialled in third-level hurling

The GAA have announced that a restricted hand-pass is to be trialled in freshers third level hurling competitions later this year.

Central Council agreed last Saturday to give the green light to the standing playing rules committee’s experimentation, which will limit players options to transferring the ball from the hand not holding the sliotar as well as after bouncing the ball on their hurley.

The initiative follows a five-year campaign by former Tipperary hurler Conor O’Donovan to tackle the amount of thrown hand-passes in the game.

If successful, the implementation could be trialled at all levels and possibly form a motion with a mind to be introduced on a permanent basis.

The freshers games in both codes will see all puck-outs and kick-outs having to clear the 45-metre line. 

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.