Number of Handpasses
According to the GAA's own statistics, the average number of handpasses per match in the 2023 men's senior football championship was 421. I think it is fair to say that very few Gaelic football spectators are enthusiastic about the prospect of watching that quantity of handpassing. Simply put, backwards and lateral handpassing has negligible entertainment value.

If Ban Consecutive Handpassing was implemented, it will simply be impossible to play Gaelic football that way. Instead, a player receiving a handpass must shoot or kickpass, even after embarking on a solo run, to avoid conceding a free kick to the opposition.

Possession Obsession & No Risk Taking
The obsession with retaining possession is undoubtedly a key component of the modern style of play. This means that players are taking the safer option of a lateral or backwards handpass instead of a long kickpass into a contest for possession.

Risk taking is one of the great entertainment factors in any sport; the anticipation of not knowing what the most skilful and audacious players will do next. Risk taking in modern Gaelic football has diminished significantly, with the consequent effect on entertainment value. The general trend is that teams will handpass until a shooting opportunity close to goal is created, taking as much risk out of the game as possible.

The necessity of taking risks should be built into the rules of any game. A Ban Consecutive Handpassing rule will have that exact effect on Gaelic football, in my opinion.

The Mass Defence & Stagnation
It is quite a common tactic in the modern game to bring many players into the defensive half of the field, to make it more difficult for the opposition to score. This has led to much stagnant play and uncontested possession further out the field, in the form of consecutive handpassing. Quite often I have attended matches where crowds have voiced their disapproval as this occurs. I feel the same displeasure watching matches on television too.

The ability to adopt the mass defence tactic is predicated on the ability to consecutively handpass the ball once the opposition’s attack has been thwarted. The defending team initiates a consecutive handpassing move to get the ball back up the pitch to an attacking position for them.

A Ban Consecutive Handpassing rule will eliminate the mass defence because it will not be possible for the mass defence to counter-attack using consecutive handpassing. Instead, teams will be forced to keep a reasonably even distribution of players throughout the pitch, since they will need to kickpass the ball out of their own defensive area.

Winding Down The Clock
As a match nears its end, and one team has established a lead that they wish to maintain, there is the option to wind down the clock using consecutive handpassing, thereby preventing many contests for possession that might benefit the opposition. It is fair to say that no neutral spectator, and many non-neutral spectators, have no interest in seeing a match end in this manner. Unfortunately, some recent all-Ireland football finals have ended in this most unentertaining fashion.

A Ban Consecutive Handpassing rule will significantly limit the ability to wind down the clock, since kickpassing, and the associated risk of losing possession, will be required.