Thumbs up for Football rules

IN ALL FAIRNESS

So, the trial rules in Gaelic Football are no more, they are now official after GAA Special Congress overwhelmingly endorsed the modifications to the rules of the game.

61 motions were adopted on a permanent basis the Football Review Committee temporary rule changes made at Special Congress last year and will become official rile on January 1st next.

A number of the motions ratified some additional amendments to the FRC rule enhancements. These include the following:

• If a player moves from the sideline or 45m line before the referee has thrown in the ball to start or restart the game by awarding a free-kick to the opposition from the middle of the half-way line. If opposition players foul simultaneously, the referee will start/restart the game again as normal.

• Kick-outs must now travel beyond 20 metre line as well as the 40 metre arc before being played by another player of the defending team.

• The two-point score has been slightly amended. Previously a shot kicked from outside the 40 metre arc only registered as a two-point score rather than a single point score if it went over the bar without being touched by another player. So, you often had a situation where a goalkeeper getting his hand to a shot from outside the arc on its way over the bar meant it was a single-point score rather than a two-pointer. Now all converted shots from outside the arc count as two-point scores provided no other player from the same team as the shooter touches it after it's kicked.

• Deliberately denying a goal-scoring opportunity by pulling an opponent’s jersey has now joined the list of cynical behaviour infractions which are penalised with a black card and a penalty.

• The black-card/penalty for cynical behaviour infractions now also applies at club level as well as inter-county senior, U20, minor, and junior level.

• ‘Disruptive conduct’ by team officials will penalised by giving the opposition a free on the 13-metre line. Where the infraction occurs immediately before the start of the game or during the half-time interval, the game shall start or restart with such a 13-metre free.

• Sideline officials have the power to bring to the attention of the referee any foul play or infraction of rule by a team official.

• If a player advances the ball deliberately from the place where a free or side-line kick should be taken, or takes a sideline from a position not outside the boundary line, then a free is awarded to the opposition. Previously a throw-in was awarded in these situations.

The only discussion concerned the clock-hooter, which received 67% support, just 7% more than the required three-fifths support. There were different applications of the hooter over the course of the 2025 season, with the half initially ending when it sounded, before a change of approach during the League saw play continue until the ball went dead once the hooter had sounded.

However, the motion that was passed on Saturday will see the half revert to when the hooter sounds - there and then - rather than play continuing and teams working a shot after the hooter, as Kerry’s David Clifford did notably with a two-pointer on half-time in the All-Ireland final.

That maybe a downside but one of the unedifying spectacles of the trail rules was when you got to the 33rd minute of a half, the team in possession essentially started to play the clock and held onto possession until the hooter sounded before getting the shot off, so not to allow their opposition another score.

The one potential impact of the new interpretation is that the winning team will in the same situation, now play keep-ball in the closing stages to run down the clock, which is more of an unedifying spectacle in my view.

Seeing the rule modifications at inter-county level is one thing but seeing how club players get used to them is another. Being present at the Loughmore/Castleiney v Ballina senior football quarter final on Sunday, the three-up rule certainly prevents underdog teams from packing their defence, which is what Ballina would have liked the option to do playing in the first half, against the stiff breeze.

The 2-point scoring arc certainly has changed the way teams attack, particularly when they have the elements at their backs, as you need to make it count when the wind is in your sails. To the credit of both teams, they didn’t shy away from the opportunity to have a go when a “good look” presented itself with Loughmore converting four from seven shots at the target (from play and placed balls) while Ballina were successful with three from four.

One thing the trial rules didn’t end up fixing is the lack of kicking and the still over-use of the handpass as taking risks in possession is still a no-no for coaches. What the next iteration of the FRC comes up with to change that will be interesting indeed.