The GAA’s Standing Committee on the Playing Rules (SCPR) has issued five proposed experimental rule changes, including significant changes to kick-outs and handpassing.
The SCPR now plans to engage in a consultation process in relation to these rules during the month of October and will hold detailed discussions with players, coaches, referees and officials.
The proposed changes relate to the handpass, sideline kicks, the mark, the sin-bin and kick-outs and if approved by the management committee, the proposed rule changes would be implemented as a trial during the 2019 Allianz Football Leagues.
Any trial rules would not feature in the 2019 Championship but, based on their success in the trial phase, could be approved for implementation in the 2020 Championship.
Here are the five proposals in more detail.
PROPOSAL 1 - The Handpass
This would impose a restriction of three consecutive passes of the ball with the fist or open hand by players of the team in possession.
PROPOSAL 2 - Sideline kick
This rule change stipulate that the ball must be played in a forward direction from the kick, with one exception. In the case of a side-line kick being taken by an attacking player on or inside the opponents’ 13m line, the ball may be kicked in any direction.
PROPOSAL 3- The Mark
This extends the application of the mark to the clean catching of the ball on or inside the 20m line from a kick delivered on or beyond the 45m line without it touching the ground.
In the case of a mark being awarded to an attacking player on or inside the 20m line, the free, if availed of, shall be taken from the point on the 20m line directly in line where the mark is awarded.
In the case of a mark being awarded to a defending player on or inside the 20m line, the free kick, if availed of, shall be taken from the point where the mark is awarded.
The player is permitted up to 15 seconds for a free to be taken from a mark. If the referee determines that the player who makes the mark has been injured in the process and unable to take the kick, the official shall direct the player’s nearest team-mate to take the kick.
A score may be made from a free awarded for a mark, while the normal Rules governing free-kicks shall apply (e.g. players being 13m from the ball before it is kicked).
Exception: A free-kick from a Mark shall be taken from the hand(s) only. If a player opts to ‘play on’ when awarded a Mark, he may be challenged i.e. provisions (b) (i) and (ii) of the current Mark Rule shall not apply during the experimentation.
PROPOSAL 4 - Sin-bin
The penalty on the day for a black card infraction or two yellow card infractions - an ordering off for 10 minutes in a sin-bin.
A subsequent black card Infraction shall be penalised by the showing of a black card followed by a red card. A subsequent yellow card Infraction shall be penalised by the showing of a yellow card followed by a red card. In either case there shall be no substitution allowed.
The maximum number of substitutions in normal time returns to five, while the duties of a referee and sideline official is to be amended in accordance with this proposal.
PROPOSAL 5 - Kick-Out/Zoning
For a kick-out, two players only from each team shall be positioned between the two 45m lines.
The goalkeeper and a maximum of six players from each team shall be behind the respective 45m lines, until the ball is kicked. The ball from the kick-out shall travel beyond the 45m line before being played by a player of the defending team.
The penalties for infringing this rule include a 45m free off the ground and in front of the scoring space being awarded to the opposing team.
"Proposed changes are designed to enhance the core skills of Gaelic Football," the SCPR chairman David Hassan said.
"The Committee will now embark on a period of consultation with all of the key stakeholders involved in the playing of our games. This feedback is important, and we also know that the ultimate test of any proposals is when we see them implemented on the field of play."
