GAA penalty shoot-outs could be scrapped in favour of FRC concept ‘overtime showdown’

New rule to be proposed at annual GAA Congress

The GAA's Standing Committee on Playing Rules (SCPR) is to propose the scrapping of penalty shoot-outs in favour of a new 'overtime showdown' concept at the GAA's annual Congress in 2023. The proposal, which has been met with mixed reactions from within the GAA community and supporters, would see the introduction of a new format for games that end in a draw after extra-time.

FRC concept: What is it?

The FRC concept, or 'Free-Roving Contest', is a new overtime format that has been developed by the SCPR. The concept would see two teams of six players compete in a 10-minute period of play, with a goal worth two points and a point worth one point. The team with the highest score at the end of the 10 minutes will be declared the winner. If the game is still level after the 10 minutes, the game will go to sudden-death extra-time, with the first team to score winning the game.

Why is the GAA considering scrapping penalty shoot-outs?

The GAA has been considering scrapping penalty shoot-outs for a number of years. One of the main reasons for this is that penalty shoot-outs are often seen as being unfair. This is because the team that wins the coin toss has a significant advantage, as they can choose to take the first penalty.

Another reason for the GAA's consideration of scrapping penalty shoot-outs is that they can be very time-consuming. A penalty shoot-out can take up to 20 minutes to complete, which can add a significant amount of time to a game that is already over 70 minutes long.

What are the pros and cons of the FRC concept?

The FRC concept has a number of advantages over penalty shoot-outs. One of the main advantages is that it is more fair. This is because both teams have an equal chance of winning the game, regardless of who wins the coin toss.

Another advantage of the FRC concept is that it is more exciting. This is because it is a more dynamic and attacking format of play than penalty shoot-outs. The FRC concept also has a number of disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is that it is more likely to result in injuries. This is because the players are more likely to be tired and injured at the end of a game that has gone to extra-time.

Another disadvantage of the FRC concept is that it is more likely to result in a draw. This is because the game is played on a smaller pitch, which makes it more difficult to score goals. Overall, the FRC concept is a new and innovative format of play that has a number of advantages over penalty shoot-outs. However, it also has a number of disadvantages that need to be considered before it can be introduced.

What do you think?

The GAA's proposal to scrap penalty shoot-outs in favour of the FRC concept is sure to be debated by GAA fans for months to come. What do you think? Would you like to see the GAA introduce the FRC concept? Let us know in the comments below!