The proposed Football Review Committee changes to rules will apply throughout the GAA in 2025. At Saturday’s special congress in Croke Park, there was near unanimity on universal implementation with 93 per cent in support.
Motion one on the clár was an enabling provision that the changes would be introduced on a temporary basis and at all levels but allowing a derogation until March 31st for counties to comply and also flexibility to modify or restrict the rules for under-18 or younger grades.
GAA president Jarlath Burns set out the argument for the enabling motion. “If we go ahead with the rules at all levels, we can tweak them if things go wrong. If we don’t and wait until next year, we’re going into 2026 blind.”
Speaking in support, Cork CEO Kevin O’Donovan said the universal application of the rules “sends a message to club players that they are part of this process and respects referees right down the lowest level”. He also pointed out that later proposals in the report contain motions “hugely supportive of referees”.
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Former president Liam O’Neill argued that “if we refuse to change, we can’t improve.”
Sligo chair Sean Carroll and Longford delegate Derek Nolan expressed reservations. The former questioned how evidence-based the proposals were and what would be the metrics of change, adding that he “was expecting problems” and arguing that “the national league was not a place for experimentation”
Nolan was supportive of the changes but expressed doubts about Longford’s ability to find referees to implement them.
Galway chair Paul Bellew spoke in favour: “It is a leap into the unknown but it’s badly needed.”
Conor O’Donoghue from Meath told delegates that the county had implemented the proposed rules in competition. “I can’t overestimate how transformative they were,” he said, adding that “dissent had collapsed” under the influence of the new proposals.
Tom Parsons, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association, said the players were in favour of the proposals, as they made for “a more progressive, dynamic game”. On the issue of problems in adapting to new rules, he cautioned: “Don’t underestimate how smart players are. It’s vital that this is introduced at club and county levels.”
There were also supporting contributions from Seán O’Regan (Waterford), Patrick O’Sullivan (Kerry), Gearóid O’Neill (Kildare), Declan Flanagan (Monaghan), Paul McArdle (Armagh), Seán McLean (Louth) and Philip Flanagan (Fermanagh).
The motion was passed by 93 per cent to seven. The scale of support for what had been expected to be the most contentious provision was a fairly positive indication of how the rest of the proposals would fare.
None of the motions failed. Only four did not achieve at least 90 per cent and the lowest approval – for the introduction of the countdown clock and hooter was 73 per cent.
Motions:
Enabling Motion (motion number 1): To implement the proposals on a universal basis within the association. Passed 93-7%
1 v 1 Throw-in (2, 3, 4): Throw-ins to be between two players with the other two centrefielders positioned on the sideline. Passed 91-9%
Kick-Outs (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12): Must go beyond the new 40-metre arc. Defending player not allowed pass the ball back to the goalkeeper who has taken the restart. Passed 95-5%
Goalkeeper (13, 14, 15): Cannot receive a pass except from a team-mate in the large rectangle or in the opposition half of the field. Passed 94-6%
3/3 Structure (16, 17, 18): The major innovation, which requires teams to have at least three players in each half of play. Passed 96-4%
Advanced Mark (19): Awarded for a catch inside the 20m line from a kick outside the 45m. Defender can also be awarded it but attacker gets advantage to go for goal, knowing that the original mark remains available if he doesn’t score. Passed 88-12%
Scoring (20, 21, 22): Awarding two points for a kick from outside the 40-metre arc. Passed 91-9%
Delay Fouls (23, 24, 25): Holding up play by blocking opposition from taking a free or not handing the ball back on concession of a free – to be punished by the free being brought forward 50m. Passed 85-15%
Solo & Go (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32): Another significant innovation, allowing a player to play on immediately when awarded a free. Passed 96-4%
Black Card (33): Adding to the category of black card infractions, any holding up of a player trying to play the ball. Passed 94-6%
Fouls (34, 35): Allowing a player to take a free from outside the 40m arc even though free awarded inside, Also, third man into a melee gets a black card – unless he is trying to remove a team-mate. Passed 97-3%
Advantage (36): Extending the advantage period from five seconds to at the discretion of the referee Passed 92-8%
Dissent (37, 38, 39): To be punished by moving the free forward 50m and at under-age level, black carding the player responsible. Passed 93-7%
Captain (40, 41): Only a captain or nominated deputy may communicate with the referee. Passed 86-14%
Pitch Markings (42, 43, 44, 45): Accommodating the additional markings required for the proposed rule changes. Passed 96-4%
Clock & Hooter (46, 47): Introduction of a countdown clock and hooter. The least popular of the proposals but everything is relative. Passed 74-26%
Line Umpires (48): Empowering linesmen to bring foul pay and other infractions to the attention of the referee: Passed 98-2%
Crossing a Line (49): Defining that both feet must be inside or outside – as appropriate – a particular line. Passed 96-4%
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