The GAA will trial new rules for the Higher Education Fresher 1 hurling and football championships later this year. The first rule considers kick and puck outs.

Here, the goalkeeper takes their restart as normal from the 20m line, however the rule change will not allow a player on the goalkeeper’s team to touch the ball inside their own 45m line.

The ball must travel outside the 45m line before one of their team mates can continue play.

The second rule regards placed balls, i.e. sidelines and frees won from a foul or a mark.

Here, any free gained between the two 20m lines cannot be kicked backwards.

The only time a free is allowed to go backwards is if it comes inside the 20m line.

 

Below are the official rulings outlined on the GAA website:

 

Proposed Playing Rules for Trialling in H.E. Freshers 1 Football and Hurling Competitions 2023

 

Gaelic Football Playing Rules:

1. Kick-Out in Football to Travel Outside the near 45m. Line.

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".

 

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:

Cancel kick-out

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.

Amend Rule 2.5 Set Play (Football) by adding:

"A free kick shall not be played backwards between the two 20m lines".

 

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".

 

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".

 

Amend Rule 4.25 -Technical Fouls (Football) by adding:

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

Cancel the free Kick, side-line kick or a free kick awarded for a Mark.

Throw-In the ball where the foul occurred.