New gaelic football rules: GAA Special Congress strongly proposed changes

The initial motions at Saturday’s GAA Special Congress on the new football rules have been all been passed with huge majorities as delegates back the wide ranging changes proposed by Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee.

After the initial enabling motion was accepted by a 93% vote, the indication that change was genuinely in the air came when 92% accepted the introduction of a 1v1 contest during the throw-ins.

Only 60% support is required to enact change.

A whopping 95% of delegates then voted to accept the introduction of a new 40-metre kickout arc which will mean that goalkeepers will have to find team-mates outside the sector, instead of opting for short kickouts.

The motion where outfield players will only be permitted to pass to the goalkeeper if they are both inside the large rectangle – or if the goalkeeper has advanced beyond their halfway – also gained 94% support.

Likewise, the motion calling for a minimum of three outfield players to remain in both halves at all times was accepted by 96% of delegates while the advanced mark proposal received 88% support.

This would enable players cleanly fielding the ball inside the 20-metre line, after it has been kicked from outside the 45 to continue on in an attempt to score from play, but with the ball being brought back for the mark if no score accrues.

The thinking behind this rule is aimed at incentivising teams to kick long into the forwards in the hope of fashioning more goal opportunities.

More to follow.