Gaelic Football’s Proposed New Rules: What you need to Know.
24/10/2024 17:38:25
The latest ‘fixing’ of the rules of Gaelic Football will be trialled in Croke Park on the 18th and 19th of October when the Inter Provincial Series returns to the calendar for the first time since 2016. These proposed rules designed to bring supporters back to the game have been brought forward by the GAA’s Football Review Committee, led by former Dublin manager Jim Gavin, and including the likes of former Mayo and Kerry managers James Horan and Eamon Fitzmaurice and former All Ireland winning Donegal captain Michael Murphy.
What are the new Proposed Changes?
The Football Review Committee has put forward its “Seven Core Enhancements” to help improve the game, as well as other proposals that are to be trialled at the Inter-Pro games on October 18th and 19th. The proposals will then be put forward to Special Congress in November, to see how many come into effect in time to be used in the 2025 Allianz Football Leagues.
The Seven Core Enhancements: What are They
The 7 fundamental proposals that the FRC have put forward are:
1v1 Throw in to Start the Game
With this rule, at the start of each half the referee will throw the ball up between one player from each team as opposed to two members as it was. In this structure the other two midfielders from each team will stand on opposite sides of the field at the halfway line and enter the field of play after the ball is thrown in. The FRC believe this enhancement will encourage high fielding, and produce a more exciting fight for possession.
Kick Out Structure
In the new kick out structure put forward by Jim Gavin and his committee, the kick out must travel beyond the new 40-metre arc. This is to bring more contests for possession of the ball into the game. Kick outs will also be allowed to be taken before all players are outside of the 20-metre line. The aim of this change is to speed up the kick out.
Limits on Passing to the Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper will only be allowed to receive a pass if they are inside the opposition’s half or if the goalie and the player passing the ball are both in their own large rectangle. The goalkeeper can still move up the field to help press the opposition kick out and take part in attacking play beyond the halfway line in support of modern tactical ideas. As a Consequence of a goalie receiving a pass from a teammate inside their own half, a free to the opposition from where the pass was made will be awarded, and the penalty for a goalie receiving a pass from a player outside their large rectangle is a free from the 13-metre line.
Each Team Must Keep 3 Outfield Players in Each Half of the Field
By restricting the number of players allowed to be in their own half defending to eleven and the number of attacking players to eleven also, the FRC hope that space should be created for the attacking team which should increase the enjoyment factor for spectators. By having three players left up, if the defending team can turn the ball over, there should be opportunities for counter attacking, which should lead to more end-to-end action.
"The Football Review Committee has put forward its “Seven Core Enhancements” to help improve the game, as well as several other additional proposals that are to be trialled at the Inter-Pro games on October 18th and 19th"
Solo and Go
Under the proposed rules a player could take a quick ‘solo and go’ as opposed to slowing it down and waiting to take a free kick. This will hopefully speed up play and increase the attacking outlay of a team. The fouled player does not have to be the one to take the solo and go, and it cannot be made within the opposition’s 20-metre line.
A New Advanced Mark
The current advanced mark rule would be abolished under the FRC’s new rules. In it’s place a new revised rule for the advanced mark. Any player who cleanly fields the ball inside the 20-metre line can now continue and try and score from play, with the ball brought back if no score occurs. The hope is that the new mark rules will encourage more long passing and high fielding.
New Scoring System in conjunction with Introduction of the new 40-metre Arc
One of the proposed changes that grabs the attention is the new scoring system from outside the newly constructed 40 metre arc. A shot that goes over the bar from outside this new arc will now be worth two points instead of one, with a goal worth four points. The new system should encourage more long-range shooting and create more space in the attacking third.
Additional Proposals
The Football Review Committee has also put forward proposals relating to foul play, dissent and match officiating that according to them will further embolden the seven core enhancements. These include new rules such as a huge 50-metre penalty for obstructing a free from being taken and for showing dissent at a referee’s decision.
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Liam Lacey
Liam is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA and Football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also!). Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and International Football offering expert opinion and match previews and predictions. Occasionally even getting some right!