New football rules that Gavin, Murphy and the Football Committee wish to trial

The Football Review committee which is headed by All-Ireland winning manager Jim Gavin and features Donegal legend Michael Murphy, among other greats, have conducted a thorough review of part two of the official guide which they hope will see the enhancement of rules in the game to provide the best experience for players and spectators. 

Since the GAA Congress in February, the committee has met 19 times and has met with various GAA bodies such as the GAA management, Central Council, provincial councils, referees, the GAA’s Standing Committee on Playing Rules and county board chairs, all to get a feel of where the game of football stands currently. 

There has also been a public survey to collate and analyse, a survey which up to late last week had drawn more than 5,000 responses. The committee are keen to get that over 6,000 before it closes at the end of this month. 

All ideas brought forward to improve the rules and enhance the game has been with the sole purpose of making “Gaelic Games the most enjoyable amateur games in the world to play and watch”. 

In seeing do these rules work a number of trials or as they put it, ‘sandbox games’ will take place in Mullingar, Claremorris, Portlaoise, Armagh, and finally Limerick, involving inter-county players whose teams have dropped out of the championship. 

The ‘sandbox’ concept is taken from software development. It allows for testing to take place essentially without consequence. The games are set up specifically for testing without impacting on a competition. 

Between the ‘emerging themes from the public survey,’ the interrogation of the rulebook and the consultations, a substantial number of tests will all get an airing at different times over the next two months. 

Everything is being approached with an open mind. From creating a new 40-metre arc, outside of which two points will be awarded for ‘points’ to valuing a goal at four points to smaller changes, like aligning the differing rules that allow players to be in the small rectangle before the ball from general play but not from set play.  

Right now, it looks like one of the most dynamic and forensic exercises any GAA committee has ever undertaken. So, here’s what the Football Review Committee will consider following the public survey: 

Starting games  

1. One v one throw-ins with other two midfielders retreating behind their 45-metre lines  
2. All kick-outs taken from small rectangle  
3.  All kick-outs from 20-metre line must go beyond a new 40-metre arc  
4.  Kick-outs without the requirement of players being outside the 20-metre line 

In possession of the ball  

1. A goalkeeper can only receive the ball in the large rectangle and only if the player playing the ball is also within the large rectangle. ’Keepers can also receive possession from a team-mate beyond their 45-metre or 65-metre line.  
2. Both teams must keep three players, including the ’keeper, inside their own 65-metre line  
3. An attacking mark to be taken inside the 20-metre line with the ball kicked from outside the 45-metre line.  
4. A player can play on from a mark but if no advantage accrues, the original mark will stand 

Tackle: New definition with possibility of allowing one initial contact with an open hand 

Advantage: Advantage won’t be restricted to five seconds but the free will be called back once it’s clear no advantage is accruing. 

Dissent: Free moved forward 30/50-metres for any instance 

Scoring  

1. Two points for a ‘point’ from a new 40-metre arc  
2. Four points for a goal 

Tactical/delaying fouls  

1. 30-metre or 50-metre advancement of the ball for tactical or delaying fouling  
2. Facility to ‘solo and go’ from a free with a 30/50-metre advancement if the player is impeded within 13 metres. 

Cynical play/Black cards  

1. Deliberately holding a player but not grounding him becomes an additional black-card offence  
2. Contributing to a melee to become a black-card offence (currently red but rarely used)  
3. 10-minute underage sin bin, with player replaced, for dissent 

Aggressive fouls  

1. Define rough play  
2. Yellow card for tackle around the head, neck or shoulder 

Game officiating and administration  

1. Greater powers for line umpires, no requirement to have a break in play to call a referee’s attention to an instance of foul play  
2. Line umpires taking one half of the field only  
3. Introduce a stop clock  
4. Introduce vanishing foam to mark position of frees inside 65 metres.  
5. Align rule about players being inside the small rectangle from play and set play. Currently, from a set play, a player can’t inside before the ball.  
6. Increase substitutes from five to six.