17.5 Minute Quarters in All Ireland League

johncoxon 10
keely 9
bigmick 7
John 6
Snoody 6
Paul Watts 5
foozbear 5
majwalrus 5
Goalie64 5
Rutter 4

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[Grumpy]

I have just come from talking to people who watched a youth tournament which used this 17.5 quarter system. They felt that fitness was more important than skill and full press was the order of the day and the front 3 got changed every 8 to 9 mins. The coach did not think the format would breed skill and develop the game into a spectator sport.
Even more breaks he felt was good, so that sponsors could to do adverts but as a spectator he was not convinced in the darkest winter he would be watching the match.
Again is is early in its conception obviously the powers at be have rigerously researched this format and consulted with the hockey community and feel it has a spectator pulling ability.

[UKSS]

thanks for that grumpy very interesting, I shall bear this in mind on our trip in  4 weeks time

[Grumpy]

just watched the first match using the EHL rules.
both teams rotated their forwards after 8.5 mins, plus one midfielder and defender at the same time.
Though i did like the pass the ball to yourself and get on with it.
No need for the one metre rule and liked the bring the ball outside the dotted 5 metre line for frees on the edge of the circle.

But reading the rules 45 seconds at sc to give time for tv replays is a sell out.

[UKSS]

Well its offical I don't like playing 1/4s!!

From a coach point of view great as you get 3 chances to talk to the team as a whole/make changes.

Bad as if its taking the team a while to make an impression in the game the breaks dont help.

Good if your totally under the cosh as it gives you some restbite.

Definately would not want to play this format in the Scottish league. Games seemed to last for ever!

Didn't rate it from a spectator point of view either

[Grumpy]

As a spectator i think it will be very hard to keep the interest going.
It is designed to get brakes in the game for tv adverts and as i said before it is written in the rules 45secs minimum for tv replays at short corners.
Even if camaras are not about 45 seconds was used.
But we shall see if it works in the long term.

[UKSS]

It was definately interesting to try but i think all the boys were in agreement and a lot of the Irish boys as well weren't to keen on it

[Grumpy]

Yes i know but the importent thing is the continatals seem to like it and players who played on the continent seemed to like it. But the thought of Dublin, Belfast or Cork with the sleet and rain driving down will be a real tested. The same for the Scots i would feel at some of their wind swept grounds.
It would be ok if we played in the summer and we could get crowds, but 3 men, and his or her dog in winter will not make it a great spectator sport.

[UKSS]

thats true I never though about it from the Europeans perspective with their comfortable seated stadiums etc ;o)

80 folk turned out to watch us against cookstown in the heaviest rain i've ever played in. its not far off 90mins now from start to finish with stoppages etc

[controller]

 I don't think they will use this at the grass roots end of the game, this is for the national league and European games and that way as all of you have been saying for the adverts on TV.

As we look at the whole end of the market, this will bring in more money for the game that hopefully would be passed down the line to the grass roots club.

Umpire would have to have an input as then you would have 3 umpires appointed to each game plus a MD. Sooner or later there will be more officials at a game than players.

For me, I would be interested to see and be part of a game to see how it works. That way I have got the knowledge to understand it by being there.

[Grumpy]

Just watched an AIL match and it was very interesting. The auto start of the ball worked well as did the frees around the circle.
The three team talks as well was interesting and after each break you could see a difference in the style of play by each team.
The one thing that did strike me that one team carried 6 forwards and rotated them every 3 minutes. Very high tempo and pressure on the opposition, but when talking to the players they are still not sure as all they do is pressurise and hope the opposition make mistakes.
Fans unsure if the format works but for it to really work all the leagues and cups should really be played in this format was the general concensus.