The GAA will trial new rules requiring all kickouts and puckouts to cross the 45-metre line in football and hurling in college competitions later this year.
The rules will be used in the Higher Education Freshers competitions
The proposed trial rule relating to the football kick-out would require it to travel beyond the near 45-metre line before a team-mate of the goalkeeper who kicked it could play the ball.
For free-kicks, sideline kicks and free kicks awarded for a mark, the rules would prohibit players from kicking the ball backwards between the two 20-metre lines.
In hurling, a similar rule will require all puckouts to travel past a team's own 45-metre line.
An alternative rule relating to the handpass will be trialled in hurling, seeking definite striking action by the hand.
Players will only be allowed to strike the sliotar with a) the non-holding hand or b) with the original holding hand after bouncing the ball off the hurl.
Limits on the permitted length and width of hurleys allowed have also been announced by Central Council. At adult level the a hurl will be between 30" and 36" long with a maximum bas of 17cm (6.7 inches).
A previous bas limit of 13cm (5.11 inches) had been largely ignored over the previous two decades.
The trial playing rules can be read in full below.
Proposed Playing Rules for Trialling in Freshers 1 Football and Hurling Competitions 2023
Gaelic Football Playing Rules:
FOOTBALL
1. Kick-Out in Football to Travel Outside the near 45m. Line.
(i) Amend Rule 2.7 (a), Set Play (Football) to read:
"The ball shall travel outside the near 45m. line before being played by another player of the defending team".
(ii) Amend Rule 4.29 -Technical Fouls (Football) to read:
"For another player on the team taking a kick-out to play the ball before it has travelled outside the near 45m line".
Penalty
(i) Cancel kick-out
(ii) Throw-in the ball on defenders' 20m line in front of the scoring space.
2. Prohibition on Playing a Free Kick, Side-line Kick or Free Kick awarded for a Mark backwards between the two 20m.lines.
(i) Amend Rule 2.5 Set Play (Football) by adding:
"A free kick shall not be played backwards between the two 20m lines".
(ii) Amend Rule 2.9 Set Play (Football) by adding after the first sentence:
"The side-line kick shall not be played backwards between the two 20m. lines".
(iii) Amend Rule 2.12 (a) Set Play (Football) by adding after the first sentence:
"A free-kick taken for award of a Mark shall not be played backwards between the two 20m. lines".
(iv) Amend Rule 4.25 -Technical Fouls (Football) by adding:
(c) To play the ball backwards from a free-kick, side-line kick or free-kick awarded for a Mark between the two
20m. lines".
Penalty
(i) Cancel the free Kick, side-line kick or a free kick awarded for a Mark.
(ii) Throw-In the ball where the foul occurred.
HURLING
1. Amend Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling) to read:
(b) Released from the holding - hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand, either by:
(i) The other hand
Or
(ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand.
The process of striking the ball with the non-original holding hand involves the transferring the hurley from one hand to the other.
2. Amend Definition 10 Hand Pass (b) Hurling to read:
(b) Hurling
The ball shall be released from the holding-hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand by, either by:
(i) The other hand
Or
(ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand.
3. Amend Rule 4.2 (b), Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) by adding:
"As specified in Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling)".
The wording of the proposed puck-out trial is as follows.
(i) Amend Rule 2.6 - Set Play (Hurling) by amending the final sentence to read:
"The ball shall travel outside the near 45m. line before being played by another player of the defending team".
(ii) Amend Rule 4.29, Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) to read:
"For another player on the team taking the puck-out to play the ball before it has travelled outside the near 45m line".
Penalty
(i) Cancel puck-out.
(ii) Throw In the ball on defenders' 20m. line opposite the scoring space.
(iii) Amend Rule 1.2(i), Rules of Specification, by deleting the word "(Football)" in the first line.
(This provides for the marking of a 45m.line in Hurling.)
Dimensions of hurleys
Juvenile (child) up to and including 26″ hurley – maximum bas of 15cm
Junior (youth) up to and including 30″ hurley – maximum bas of 16cm
Senior (Adult) 30″ up to and including 36″ hurley – maximum bas of 17cm
Adult goalkeeper hurley – maximum bas size of 21cm.
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