GAELIC FOOTBALL IS set for a radical overhaul in 2025 after Saturday morning’s GAA Special Congress decisively backed all of the rule changes proposed by the Football Review Committee.
The vast majority of the 18 votes, covering a total of 49 motions, were passed with the support of more than 90% of delegates.
“This has given a resounding mandate for improvements in Gaelic Football,” GAA president Jarlath Burns said.
The FRC, chaired by former Dublin manager Jim Gavin, had put forward rule changes in seven core areas including:
- Goals to be worth four points, with two points awarded for points kicked outside the 40-metre arc
- 3/3 Rule: Both teams must keep at least three players inside each 65-yard line
- Players who are fouled to be allowed to ‘solo and go’ in place of a free-kick
- Kickouts must go beyond the 40-metre arc
- Restricting passes to the goalkeeper, unless both players are inside the large rectangle or the goalkeeper is beyond the 65-yard line
- Changes to the advanced mark rule
- A one-v-one throw-in to start the game
All core rule changes passed comfortably with the advanced mark changes (88% in favour) the only change not to receive at least 90% support.
Supplementary rule changes proposed by the FRC and approved at Special Congress also included:
- Tactical fouls and dissent to be penalised by moving the ball 50m forward
- Deliberately preventing an opponent from taking a free to become a black card offence
- Only the team captain or a nominated deputy to be allowed to speak to the referee
- The use of a public clock and hooter, where available
Speaking on Saturday, Gavin said that the FRC’s work was “starting rather than finishing a journey”.
He said that “the ambition is that Gaelic Games will be the most enjoyable amateur games in the world to play and watch”.
The rule changes will come into effect on a trial basis for one year from 1 January 2025, and will apply to both club and inter-county competitions. Club competitions which began in 2024 and continue into 2025 will continue to be played under the current rules.
See the full list of Special Congress motions here >
Special Congress voting results
- Motion 1 (Enabling Motion): 93%
- Motions 2-4 (1v1): 92%
- Motions 5-12 (Kickouts): 95%
- Motions 13-15 (Goalkeepers): 94%
- Motions 16-18 (3/3): 96%
- Motion 19 (Advanced Mark): 88%
- Motions 20-22 (Scoring): 91%
- Motions 23-25 (Delay Fouling): 85%
- Motions 26-32 (Solo & Go): 96%
- Motions 33 (Black Card): 94%
- Motions 34-35 (Fouls): 97%
- Motions 36 (Advantage): 92%
- Motions 37-39 (Dissent): 93%
- Motions 40-41 (Captain): 86%
- Motions 42-45 (Pitch Markings): 96%
- Motions 46-47 (Public Clock & Hooter): 74%
- Motion 48 (Line Umpires): 97.5%
- Motion 49 (Crossing A Line): 96%
To referee a club match is a tough job at the best of times.It just got a whole lot tougher.
@Paraic Malone: True. Games needs simplifying not more complications.
@Ray Ridge: Ah the all seeing oracle has spoken. Do tell us how you ‘simplify’ the game whilst also changing and improving it (which it urgently needed).
@Cian O: Simple. Get rid of the handpassing. No skill in it sure.
@Paraic Malone: a lot for them to keep track of for sure, but mostly will be easy enough to monitor, once they get the hang of it, I think. Will need help from linesmen also for some of them…..which will be tricky at lower levels of the club game maybe. Hoping that the new rules around dissent and nominated people only speaking to ref will make a positive difference to them though.
@Joe Kennedy: Jesus joe you havnt a clue? Easily monitored? Are you serious it will be carnage, most counties are crying out for Referee’s and this will definitely not help! The rules will be flaunted at in my games and not taken to the letter of the line. Yes changes were needed but seriously not all of them.Id be fairly confident quiet a few will not stand the test of time.
@colin coady: carnage?! All the core changes above are easily monitored other than the 3/3 rule possibly…..that’s one the linesmen would have to help with possibly. All the supplementary changes listed above will actually help them in their role and shouldn’t be any additional burden to monitor. Which rule(s) do you think will be “carnage” out of interest?
@Joe Kennedy: joe id love to see a easy transition to the new rules but it’s gonna be very tough on the refs?im all for a better game
@colin coady: fair enough my man, but just wondering which rules you think were “carnage”, as you’d opened your reply to me with the statement that I hadn’t a clue?!