News
October 21, 2025
Pat Spillane: The FRC has done a lot for football, but the scourge of hand-passing has to be tackled
After being distracted by non-GAA issues last week, in the form of Jim Gavin’s shock withdrawal from the presidential race, I promise to stick to what I know.
Pat Spillane, the renowned GAA pundit, has returned to his familiar territory, setting his sights on a persistent issue plaguing Gaelic football: excessive hand-passing. In his latest column, Spillane acknowledged the significant contributions of the Football Review Committee (FRC) to the sport, but emphasized that the reliance on hand-passing needs urgent attention.
Last week, Spillane found himself drawn into the unexpected drama of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the GAA presidential race, a deviation from his usual football analysis. However, he assured readers that he would refocus his attention on the game itself, starting with a critical examination of hand-passing.
Spillane argues that while the FRC has implemented positive changes that have improved the overall structure and competitiveness of Gaelic football, the over-dependence on hand-passing has become a detrimental tactic. He believes it slows down the game, reduces the opportunities for high catching and skillful kicking, and ultimately makes for a less exciting spectacle for fans.
"The FRC has undoubtedly done a lot of good," Spillane writes. "We've seen improvements in areas like tackling and the advantage rule. But the hand-passing issue remains a blight on the game. It's become a crutch for many teams, a way to retain possession without actually progressing the ball effectively."
Spillane doesn't offer specific solutions in this particular piece, but hints at a need for the GAA to explore rule changes or interpretations that would encourage more kicking and reward players who take risks with long, accurate passes. He suggests that a balance needs to be struck between possession-based football and a more direct, attacking style.
The debate surrounding hand-passing is not new, but Spillane's intervention is likely to reignite the discussion among fans and analysts alike. His passionate views and deep understanding of Gaelic football have made him a respected voice in the sport, and his call for action on this issue will undoubtedly be taken seriously by those in positions of power within the GAA. The question now is whether the association will heed his warning and take steps to address what he sees as a growing problem.
Last week, Spillane found himself drawn into the unexpected drama of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the GAA presidential race, a deviation from his usual football analysis. However, he assured readers that he would refocus his attention on the game itself, starting with a critical examination of hand-passing.
Spillane argues that while the FRC has implemented positive changes that have improved the overall structure and competitiveness of Gaelic football, the over-dependence on hand-passing has become a detrimental tactic. He believes it slows down the game, reduces the opportunities for high catching and skillful kicking, and ultimately makes for a less exciting spectacle for fans.
"The FRC has undoubtedly done a lot of good," Spillane writes. "We've seen improvements in areas like tackling and the advantage rule. But the hand-passing issue remains a blight on the game. It's become a crutch for many teams, a way to retain possession without actually progressing the ball effectively."
Spillane doesn't offer specific solutions in this particular piece, but hints at a need for the GAA to explore rule changes or interpretations that would encourage more kicking and reward players who take risks with long, accurate passes. He suggests that a balance needs to be struck between possession-based football and a more direct, attacking style.
The debate surrounding hand-passing is not new, but Spillane's intervention is likely to reignite the discussion among fans and analysts alike. His passionate views and deep understanding of Gaelic football have made him a respected voice in the sport, and his call for action on this issue will undoubtedly be taken seriously by those in positions of power within the GAA. The question now is whether the association will heed his warning and take steps to address what he sees as a growing problem.
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Sports