The renewed effort to address the flaws which continue to haunt Gaelic football is to be welcomed. Sadly this writer, and many others, have a sense of deja vu in regard to the matter. There is a feeling that, despite the diligence and enthusiasm of the Football Development Committee - under the chairmanship of Noel Walsh - the great maw of the GAA's bureaucracy will gobble up this latest effort, as has happened so many times in the past.

If that is not to happen steely determination by Walsh and his men will be needed.

Something must be done in an attempt to cope with the problems which lead to so many matches being a series of stops, starts, whistles, arguments, bookings and disciplinary committee meetings. The GAA have long been complaining about the lack of coverage in newspapers, radio and television. These complaints seldom, if ever, arise now because of the amount of coverage given to off the field matters.

One need only cast the mind back a couple of weeks to realise how much time, effort and debate were devoted to two recent incidents - the disciplinary procedures against Niall Cahalane and Paul Curran.

The feeling grows daily that the GAA has "taken its eye off the ball" and that the game has become secondary to other aspects of administration - the protracted saga about the appointment of Tommy Carr as Dublin's team manager is a case in point.

On the face of it, the Football Development Committee's proposals, announced earlier in the week, seem brave. They have attempted to address some basic problems, notably the "pulling and dragging" which torments the game at all levels. This problem has been referred to by Eugene McGee, a member of the committee, as the "cancer in the game".

Anyone who watches football on a regular basis will agree with this assessment. Only those who have their heads firmly in the sand will disagree.

The committee recommends the experimentation with a rule which would both curb the constant carrying of the ball, by way of solo runs, and reduce the frustration of defenders who are constantly faced by forwards who hold on to the ball with the sole intention of winning a free kick.

The problem of "pulling and dragging" goes hand in hand (pun intended) with the solo run. The committee propose to limit the solo run to one toe-tap and one bounce to bring back quick and accurate kicking of the ball. One can only wish them the very best of luck.

They have also identified problems relating to picking up the ball from the ground. They see this as creating more problems than it solves. A player who tries to do it legitimately, by means of the pick-up with the toe, usually gets a knee in the back from an opponent for his troubles. Either that, or a player seeking to get the ball into his hands from the ground merely puts his foot beside it and picks it up directly. Policing this rule is a nightmare for referees.

High catching seems to have gone out of the game to a large extent and an attempt is being made to bring it back by making sure that a player, who makes a high clean catch over his head from a kick-out, can claim a "mark" or an unchallenged kick, otherwise they can opt to play on if they have the time and the space.

High-fielding players frequently find that when they return to earth opponents, who have not bothered to contest the aerial ball, will be waiting with more tentacles than an octopus. More often that not the high fielder, who has just demonstrated what used to be a great part of the game, will have a free ordered against him for not getting rid of the ball.

The outcome is that the high ball will be "broken down" and snaffled by a player who will then set off on a solo run in search of a free kick. The awarding of an unchallenged kick to the player who has been skilful enough to catch the ball cleanly in the first place seems a much better option.

The experiment of allowing five substitutes also makes some sense. The pace of the modern game at top level is now such, particularly in major 70-minute matches, that many managers would be grateful for an opportunity to use four extra outfield players. The proposal to use two referees in the McGrath Cup in Munster and the O'Byrne Cup in Leinster should be of particular interest. More and more referees are coming under pressure during matches, particularly those of importance.

Sadly, some players are willing to take advantage of the fact that referees have only one pair of eyes, not to mention one pair of legs. This is confirmed by the growing number of instances of foul behaviour "off the ball". Verbal abuse and intimidation of other kinds are also a growing problem and, although the idea of two referees for all matches is a non-starter, it could be useful to try it with a view to using it in high-profile matches. One of the proposed experiments fills this writer with dread, however. That is the introduction of a rule to say that: "The ball may be played away with the hand, using the fist only".

This has been a bone of contentions for many years and has caused endless problems. There are those within the GAA who would be prepared to argue for months about what constitutes "a fist". Nevertheless, by and large, the attempt to address the myriad of problems within the game should get the co-operation of all concerned.