Clock-hooter system will only be used for televised games as some grounds not ready
The FRC says that the clock-hooter system has helped address "concerns regarding time-wasting tactics, especially when a player has been black-carded". Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The new clock and hooter system will only be used in Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup games which are either televised or streamed by GAA+.
An audit conducted by the GAA's Games Administration department and one of the companies which provides the system to the association found that some county grounds are not suited to its use.
"It is unfortunate," Football Review Committee chairperson Jim Gavin said during a media briefing on Wednesday evening.
"Obviously, from an FRC perspective, we'd like to see it everywhere but the harsh reality of it is, some grounds aren't ready, according to the Games Admin. So they've taken a pragmatic view."
The FRC estimates that 25 - 30 grounds will use the system this summer. During the Allianz Football League, it was only used for Division 1 and 2 games.
"It has had the intended positive impact, particularly in enhancing clarity and transparency in timekeeping," the FRC said in a new report.
"It has also helped address concerns regarding time-wasting tactics, especially when a player has been black-carded. While some issues have been identified, the FRC anticipates improvements as the GAA community becomes more familiar with the Public Clock and Hooter timekeeping system. Continued refinement and adaptation will further enhance its effectiveness."
Former inter-county referee Maurice Deegan, also a member of the FRC, believes the new dissent rule - which punishes "dissent with the referees decision to award a free to the opposing team" with a 50m free - could ultimately make the recruitment of referees easier for the GAA.
Statistics from the Games Intelligence Unit show that an average of six dissent fouls were committed per round across the four divisions of this year's National League.
In its report, the FRC says "continued reinforcement across all referees is still needed, particularly in ensuring consistency when moving the ball up 50m and addressing dissent situations on the field. Maintaining uniformity in these areas will help ensure the rule's ongoing effectiveness. There is also no evidence yet of a team official conceding a free kick by challenging the authority or using abusive language to a match official. Both this rule and its implementation have received unanimous support and been positively received overall."
Laois native Deegan has refereed several club and challenge games since the new rules were introduced.
"It's made a massive difference to refereeing the match number one and also to the referees," he said regarding the dissent rule.
"You have to remember also, the knock-on effect of this with the dissent rule, which will help the actual recruitment of referees. It might actually help the recruitment of referees down the line, if the rules are applied correctly by referees at club and county level. We do have an issue with recruitment of referees. I can see the recruitment of referees becoming a lot easier in football."
