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Start date:Monday, 16th December, 2024

Course Duration:60 mins

From keeping three players in each half to two-point scoring arcs to tap and go, the GAA has endorsed a raft of game-changing rules for Gaelic football. Here's a handy guide of what to expect in 2025 

THE landslide support for the FRC package was an emphatic statement on the need for Gaelic football change. The 48 rule ‘enhancements’ passed with minimal opposition - indeed, only four failed to get at least 90% and even the countdown clock and hooter motion got 74% support. 

So what's new and how will the game look next year?

MOTION 4: The motion proposes that the referee, facing the players, starts the game and re-starts it after half-time, by throwing the ball between one player from each team, in their own defensive sides of the halfway line. A second player from each team shall stand on opposite sidelines at the halfway line. The second players shall swap sidelines for the second-half throw-in. All other players shall be in their respective positions behind the 45m lines.The first of the seven proposals will see just two players contest the throw-in at the beginning of each half. The FRC have explained that the consistent fouling at 2v2 throw-ins was the motivation for bringing in this rule change. The hope is that the new setup will allow the player gaining possession to break into attack immediately.

The throw in: From the get-go, approved for football across club and inter-county for 2025 is one-v-one throw-ins with the other two centrefielders positioned on the sideline.
The FRC also said that calls for referees to crack down on fouling at throw-ins in 2024 had not been deemed successful, increasing the perceived need for change in this area.


Kick-outs

MOTION 5: This motion proposes a kick-out off the ground from the centre point of the 20m line and shall be kicked forward. If the goalkeeper is not taking the kick-out, the goalkeeper shall stay in the small rectangle. All other players shall be at least 13m from the ball until it is kicked. The player taking a kick-out may kick the ball more than once before any other player touches it, but may not take the ball into the hands. The ball shall travel not less than 13m and outside the 40m arc before being played by another player of the defending team. Players may remain inside the 20m line. Players may not impede or interfere with the goalkeeper, or another opposition player, taking the kick-out. Players may remain inside the 40m arc, but must not be closer than 13m to the ball when it is being kickeIn a lengthy and detailed report circulated by the FRC at October's Croke Park media briefing, it was argued that the resumption of play is oftentimes delayed by players slowly returning to position outside the 20m line. The hope is that this change will encourage teams to quickly develop attacks, while also creating room for innovation with how the attacking team utilises the space inside the 20m line.

Kick-outs can also only be played once the ball has travelled past the 40m arc, with the hope for this to create more 1v1 contests due to the increased size of the area.**Kick-outs must now go beyond the new 40-metre arc.

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Role of the goalkeeper

MOTION 14: This  motion proposes that a goalkeeper may only receive the ball from a teammate (a) inside the large rectangle when both the goalkeeper and the teammate passing the ball are inside the large rectangle or (b) when the goalkeeper is in the opposition half of the field.
During a roundtable discussion with Balls.ie in October, Jim Gavin said that this rule had received a mixed reception from the goalkeepers involved in the sandbox games thus far but, if executed correctly, it could be a major blow to the slow, possession-based football which the FRC are seeking to eliminate.Under the new rules, the goalkeeper can receive the ball from a teammate inside his own half only when both players are inside the large rectangle. He may also receive a pass from a teammate after crossing the halfway line.

The potential to exploit this rule was showcased magnificently by Tyrone's Niall Morgan in the inter-provincial series.Defending player not allowed pass the ball back to the goalkeeper who has taken the restart. The keeper can't receive a pass except from a team-mate in the large rectangle or in the opposition half of the field.

FRC: "A player fouled may immediately take a solo and go."Multiple members of the GAA Football Review Committee said that the "solo-and-go" had been the best received of the seven core principles during the series of sandbox games.This rule change will remove the condition that players must seek the referee's permission to take a free-kick, with the goal of speeding up the pace of the game. The solo-and-go must be taken in a forward direction, and the player taking it is allowed 4m of advantage - they cannot be challenged within 4m of where the solo-and-go is taken.

Any player on the team fouled can take the solo-and-go, provided the ball is tapped within 4m of where the initial foul took place.The new solo and go will speed up the game and allows a player to play on immediately when awarded a free. Also on fouls and advantage: A player can now choose to to take a free from outside the 40m arc even though free awarded inside. Advantage period now at discretion of referee.With the solo and go, the player can elect to take a quick solo, move on in a forward or sideways direction, to get play underway straight away as quickly as possible."Players will have to be tuned in. From the defending players point of view, they have to get back four metres straight away."The key point is that the solo and go has to be taken immediately. If it isn't taken immediately, it just reverts to a normal free-kick under the current rules. So you'd imagine the defensive player would stand back to four metres and if the solo and go is taken, they'll be in a position to engage with the player."If it becomes a free-kick, then they'll move back 13 metres, as is currently the situation.



3 players in each half

MOTION 16: This motion proposes that during play, a team must have at least three outfield players on each side of the half-way line. Exceptions will be made where the number of players on a team is reduced below 15, the number of players that team is required to keep on each side of the half-way line is reduced accordingly e.g. if there are 14 players on the team, it must have at least two outfield players on each side of the half-way line.The goal behind the 3/3 rule is to create more structure to the game and encourage more attacking play twofold. Firstly, the number of defending players in a team's half will be limited to 11, opening more space for attackers, while the three players remaining upfield will create opportunities for quick counter-attacking play.

Three v three in top half: The game-changer will see teams required to have at least three players in each half of play, and signals an end to low blocks and blanket defences

Enforcement of this rule will differ depending on the scenario in which the offence occurs but, in most scenarios, the penalty will be a free kick to the opposition on the offending team's 20m line.

Advanced mark

FRC: "The current advance mark is gone. A new mark is introduced whereby a player may claim a mark if the ball is caught inside the 20m line after it is kick passed outside the 45m line. To reward the risk, the player may continue on until the advantage is no longer accrued, whereby the referee will give a free-kick from the place of the mark."Though a player can still avail of a mark immediately by raising their arm upright, the goal of the updated advanced mark ruling is to encourage more exciting and ambitious play by affording players the option of an advantage.

The advanced mark is changed – now only awarded for a catch inside the 20m line from a kick outside the 45m. Defender can also be awarded it but attacker gets big advantage to go for goal, knowing that the original mark remains if he doesn’t score.An example of David Clifford's mark in the 2022 All-Ireland football final was frequently cited by the FRC as the kind of incident this change seeks to eradicate from the pre-existing advanced mark ruling."[The advantage element] is to reward to risk of kicking a ball from the 45m line all the way into the 20m line. The player who catches the ball can take a free from that position or they can continue on and in most instances go for a goal."And if the goal is not taken, if the advantage is not accrued, the referee will bring the ball back to where the original mark was claimed and it'll be a free-kick."In the modern game, coaches might be reluctant to kick the ball into a 1v1 because it might be turned over."In this scenario, if the player wins the ball, there's a goal chance on immediately. From the defensive perspective, they can tackle immediately, unlike the kickout mark."If the defender blocks it, they have prevented a goal."We've decided to leave it up to the interpretation of the referee as to when the advantage is no longer accrued."If it's anything over 10 seconds, the ball obviously has been recycled and the ref can say the ball is no longer being moved forward in a positive way and he'll say 'let's just give the mark'.

MOTION 20: The motion proposes a point is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts by either team, inside the 40m arc or inside the 20m line. Two points are scored when the ball is played directly over the crossbar between the posts (whether from a free kick, solo and go, or from general play), having been kicked by a player who has at least one foot on or outside the 40m arc and without the ball having been touched by any other player. The exception is when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts from a 45, one point is awarded. A goal is equivalent to three points.The most radical of the rule changes, the 40m arc will change the scoring system in Gaelic football for the first time since 1896.

Long range scoring:
The art of long range points returns with two points now for a kick from outside the 40-metre arc.
The FRC hope that this change will encourage teams to try more spectacular long-range shots. The attacking team will be forced to decide whether to take an audacious long-range shot or to play the ball in closer to goal. Meanwhile, the defending 11 will have to choose between vehemently defending their 2-point arc and sacrificing space closer to the goal, or vice versa.Gavin's Football Review Committee believe this will get GAA supporters "up off their seats."This rule also originally included the introduction of four points for a goal alongside the 2-point arc. This aspect was ultimately scrapped after October's inter-provincial series.

*There are several moves to take cynicism out of the game. On delaying the game, the 50m sanction will surely reduce cynicism like blocking opposition from taking a free or not handing the ball back on concession of a free.

**Sanction for dissent: A major play on referee abuse with frees advanced 50m and at under-age level, black carding the player responsible. Only a captain or nominated deputy may communicate with the referee.74% supported introduction of a countdown clock and hooter. This won’t be introduced for hurling, though. All club grounds must feature public clocks and hooter systems in time for league action in the spring (March 31 at the latest). They must also be marked with the new 40-metre arcs and dashed halfway line*Gaelic football at club and county level will now require three score flags - green (goal, three points), white (point) and red (two points).

*Referees will be equipped with vanishing foam to show where a free can be taken.*Linesmen renamed line umpires with additional powers.Central Council have the authority to amend, rescind or introduce new rulesduring the 2025 season. They will take advice on such from the Football Review Committee.*Another Special Congress is required at the end of next year to decide which rules are adopted on a permanent basis.*As it’s a year divisible by five in 2025, further playing rule changes from clubs will be debated at Annual Congress in February.



It's an enormous change of the rule-book, in one of the most exciting GAA rule shake-ups in years. How the 2025 inter-county season will now play out remains to be seen.

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