Davy Fitz doesn’t like new freshers hurling rules but has one suggestion from rugby

Davy Fitzgerald is not a fan of the two new rules that are currently being trialled in freshers hurling.

The puck-out rule will lead to more rucks according to the Waterford manager, who straight-up isn’t a fan of the other rule relating to hand-passes.

All puck-outs must pass the 45 before being played by one of the goalkeeper’s team-mates in freshers hurling this year, and Fitzgerald feels all it will do is slow the game down by leading to rucks.

As for the hand-pass rule, where players can only hand-pass off the hurl or with the opposite hand, Fitzgerald doesn’t think it’s necessary.

“The last thing we want is rucks and rucks and rucks and that’s what the puck-out rule is going to cause,” says the Ireland’s Fittest Family co-founder.

“What’s going to happen is you have your half forward line pulling out to 50 or 60 yards.

“By the time the ball is pucked, you’re going to have the opposition half forward line back on top of you. We’re going to have rucks, rucks, rucks.

“I don’t see too much wrong with the game we have. There is very little wrong with it,” says the Clare man.

“The hand-pass, yeah, it went out of control for a bit. As a manager and a coach, and I still coach a lot, even with Waterford, I concentrate very hard on doing the proper hand-pass.

“I think we’re looking at stuff we don’t need to look at.”

“I trust the referees to make that call re. hand-passes but yeah I don’t agree with it. Make sure we’ve no throws, yes. The defined hand-pass is a good thing,” he said.

If there was one rule Fitzgerald could bring in, it comes from the game of rugby. In rugby, there is communication between manager’s and refs on the week leading up to big games, while teams can also send footage to refs after games explaining their point of view.

Fitzgerald feels that a more open communication-channel with refs would ultimately lead to more respect for refs. At the moment he feels that some refs are too reluctant to engage in communication with managers.

“I honestly think we need to follow the rugby in terms of communication with the referee and I’m very serious with this.

“I think it would lead to less hassle in games if you could have a chat with the referee before and after the game.

“It has to be totally in a calm environment, I get that, but I do think there needs to be more communication.

“Because yeah I mightn’t agree with a few decisions but if I understand where the ref is coming from, fine.”

The 2013 All-Ireland winning manager would like to have a chat with refs before games, giving officiators the opportunity to let managers know what they’ll be focusing on in the game.

“If you got the two managers beforehand and you tell them ‘right, I’ll be blowing on the hand-pass, I’ll be blowing on this.

“If we know that, that’s fine. Just say then, after a game, if I felt strongly about a decision, I can say ‘well ref, can you just explain that to me?’

“And he can say well ‘this is how I saw it.’ Whether it’s wrong or right, or if he just says ‘I got that wrong,’ I’d accept it way more.

“There’s certain times you can’t even look and ask them a question calmly.

“I think, from both sides, the chat would get rid of a lot of stuff in the game, if we adopted that style that rugby have in terms of before and afterwards. I think it’s something that’s really worth a look at.

“I think it would be good for the referees too,” reasons Fitzgerald.

“Before the game, you get to see what he’s looking for.

“If you say boo to them sometimes, some of them look at you as if you’ve two heads ‘go away Davy,’

“I think we’re entitled to ask questions.

“There would be more respect from both sides that way. Some refs would say to me, give me a ring afterwards and we’ll have it out, and I respect the hell out of that.

“I think we’d alleviate a lot of problems, and you’d actually have managers backing up referees then after the game.”

Ireland’s Fittest Family will make its return to RTÉ One on Sunday, October 29th, proudly sponsored by leading community retailer, Londis. Now in its 11^th season, veteran coach and co-creator of the hit television show, Davy Fitzgerald was in Dublin today (Wednesday) to tease the most competitive season so far.  

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