New rules a boost
Kelly’s a fan of camogie alterations
FOUR-TIME All-Ireland winner and nine-time All Star Kate Kelly feels the jury has still to decide on the new rules that were trialled during the National Camogie League, but she still embraces the proposed changes.
Six new rules were experimented with, the most noteworthy allowing players to use ‘minimal contact on an opponent’s body from side-on’ to coincide with the sport’s increased physicality in recent years. Shoulder challenges were against the rules until this year.
Also among the most significant of the rule changes is a ban on scoring goals by handpassing the sliothar to the net, although players may still score a point by handpassing the ball over the bar. In addition to this, players were no long permitted to drop the hurley intentionally.
Other changes trialled saw a player allowed to take a free from her hand once she was fouled inside her own 45-metre line.
Only the player that is fouled could take the free from the hand, while it’s also termed as an indirect free, with scoring direct not permitted.
Quick puck-outs were also encouraged. The referee will blow the whistle once to signal a wide/ score, and from that moment the sliothar is back in play and the goalkeeper is free to re-start the game via the puck-out from the correct position.
There are also changes to how penalties are taken. Under the new rules, a penalty must be struck from on or outside the 20-metre line but not inside it.
In addition, only one defending player may stand on the goal-line during a penalty and shall not move towards the 20-metre line before the ball has been struck.
Elsewhere, a provision will be made for persistent fouling whereby a player who is now deemed to have made two deliberate fouls will be given a ‘tick’ by the referee. If that player commits one more foul, it will merit a yellow card.
The other change comes in regard to physical contact. A player may use minimal contact on an opponent’s body from side-on, once they are making a reasonable effort to gain possession of the ball.
The process through which the Camogie Association came up with these rules included a ‘feedback forum’, where players and managers were asked for their views on how the sport could be improved.
Former Wexford star Kelly was quick to point out that the Model county did not get a proper opportunity to trial the rules.
‘Unfortunately, two of Wexford’s league games were postponed owing to weather,’ with the only match that survived being their win against Kerry in Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
‘The feedback so far has been quite positive from counties. They still have to come back to Congress for debate and decision-making before being introduced into the championship,’ she said.
Kate feels that the stop-start nature of the game will be reduced, so it’s a positive from that point of view.
‘The new tackle rule will allow the game to flow. That’s good as frees will not be blown for every touch.
‘Players are super fit and conditioned, so such a rule can only be good for the game. The rule will also bring more clarity for the referee,’ Kate added.
While the rules were tested in the league, Kelly feels the full impact would only be felt in championship games.
‘We want camogie to grow, and the way to do that is to make it a spectacle. Hopefully the rules will carry through to the championship, whenever we return to games again,’ she said.
The most popular new rule is that regarding contact. Players have often called for referees to be more lenient when it comes to blowing up for fouls relating to shoulder charges.
‘It’s not about completely changing the game of camogie, but it is about understanding that it’s not a non-contact sport,’ Kelly explained.
‘It’s a physical game, there are fit, strong individuals playing the game. The game is too fast to not make shoulder contact, so you must legislate for it.
‘These rules are aimed at improving camogie as a spectacle in the hope that attendance figures continue to rise. Hopefully they will come through official channels and be introduced for the championship.’
Such a stalwart in Wexford camogie, Kate hung up her inter-county boots some three years back, following an incredible career, but continues to don the jersey of her club, St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier.
It is safe to say that she will never be lost to camogie.
‘I am still playing with the club, still involved with under-age in the club. We won the Minor championship last year.
‘This is a group of players I have been involved with from an early age right through to Minor. It’s great to see the young players coming through with such talent,’ she said.
Young players will always use the likes of Kate as a sounding board whether as a mentor or an advisor, as there’s no doubt she has achieved it all as a player.
Amazingly, despite such a long career, she still has a real appetite for the game.
After a remarkable 21 years of unbroken service to her Senior inter-county team, Kate took equally as much satisfaction from the success of her own Minor squad last year, as in winning those four All-Ireland titles and nine All Stars.
Through the years Kelly has been a pivotal figure, having won her first O’Duffy Cup with the Slaneysiders in 2007, when they bridged a 32-year gap.
The year 2010 brought the first of three-in-a-row, and Kelly was named player of the match at midfield in the 2012 decider. On top of her championship honours are three National League titles.
Kelly may have hoped to slip away quietly, but the lure of playing with her club never left her, while she also embraces her love of coaching the younger players.