The Munster and Leinster Councils have agreed to trial a proposal on the penalty puck in hurling whereby only the goalkeeper may stand on the goal-line.
It is one of the proposals of the Hurling 2020 Review Committee and will be trialled in the forthcoming pre-season Provincial hurling competitions.
The trial comes on top of the so-called ‘Nash rule’ which was introduced in June during this year’s All-Ireland Championship which prevented players from striking the sliotar within the 21m-line, it also allowed them to move it up to 7m back.
The ‘Nash rule’ saw a dramatic reduction in the number of penalties being scored – with 8 out of the last 11 taken in the Championship not resulting in direct goals.
The new trial will see just the goalkeeper stand on the line, while the penalty taker can still not advance the ball past the 21m line.
The absence of the usual additional two defenders is likely to see more goals scored or at least attempted.
The full report of the Hurling 2020 Review Committee, which is chaired by former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, will be published in early January.
