Scoring System
- 2 points scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts outside the 40m arc: the radius centred on the midpoint of the goal line, and arc's back to the 20m line.
- 2 points awarded for a 45.
- 1 point awarded for a point inside the 40m arc or inside the 20m line.
- A goal is equivalent to 4 points (this proposal was dropped by FRC before Special Congress and will not feature int he Allianz League)
Éamonn Fitzmaurice gives rationale for the system
"One of the things that came through big time in the surveys is that people love long-range shooting and long-range scores.
"We see with the new 40-metre arc, a shot from outside that is now going to be worth two points.
"You'll see the referee signalling with two hands above his head and a red flag will be waved after the referee signals that it is a two point.
"We think it's going to be exciting. There's a lot involved in it, there's obviously the score and we're thinking it will work well with the three-up rule.
"If you're defending with 11 players you have to push out and defend those spaces, then if there's shooters outside it leaves a bit of space inside.
"The thing that we saw was possibly an unintended consequence in the sandbox games, but a positive, was when the shots dropped short, there's contests inside around the goalkeeper and the traditional style full-forward, competing with the goalkeeper. So goalscoring opportunities came from that.
"It seems a simple enough enhancement, but, the kind of action of it in those games has been very positive and we're excited about it.
"In the earlier sandbox games, it was funny, players were inside the arc and they were bringing the ball outside the arc to have a cut off this. They were so anxious to, I'd guess, to say to their team-mates within the club that they were the fellow to get the first two pointer.
"But as the games have gone on, there hasn't been that many from outside.
"With the quality of the players that we have now at inter-county level in particular, this is a thing that will develop. You'll have those shooters in the pocket and they'll be out there waiting for the opportunity if they're not picked up and if they're not being marked they'll kick it over the bar for fun.
"It's just on that range that it would tempt you into a shot."
