How the Football Review Committee propose to change Gaelic Football

The GAA’s Football Review Committee (FRC) have had their say on what changes need to be made to make Gaelic Football a better sport. Here’s a brief synopsis.

After in-depth analysis of the game that involved up to 4000 people throughout the 32 counties, the FRC published the first part of their report today, with a second part - focusing on championship structures and related matters – due to come out early next year.

Amongst the proposals put forward by the committee were:

• The introduction of a mark for kickouts caught clean on or beyond the 45-metre line. The opposition must retreat ten metres and the player who fielded the kickout is given five seconds to take the free-kick
• Duration of all adult matches to be extended to 70 minutes
• The introduction of a clearly defined advantage rule, with the referee to indicate advantage by raising their arm upright for the duration of the advantage
• Tackle to be redefined to say that tackle must be aimed at the ball rather than the player. Shoulder charge is still allowed but other forms of deliberate bodily contact are not allowed
• Allowance for a clean pick-up of the ball provided the player is in an upright position
• The use of a public clock in Croke Park and all grounds that play host to provincial and All-Ireland Series matches
• Clear distinction between deliberate and accidental fouls. Cards could be issued for deliberate fouls only
• Player who receives a yellow card to be substituted for the rest of the game. This rule will no longer apply after three yellow cards, when the team will be down a player
• CCC to control fixtures in a county rather than the County Board
• Effort to recruit former players as referees
• Referees to introduce themselves to players in the dressing room before every club and county game

Commenting on the proposals, Chairman of the FRC, Eugene McGee, said: “These are changes which are meant to enhance the quality of Gaelic football and make it more enjoyable for players and spectators.

“They should also make the game more attractive to young players which is very important for the promotion of the game. Practically all those proposals had majority support when we consulted the wider football public and we are confident we will all enjoy a better quality of football as a result”.

Some of the proposals contained in the report passed in Congress will kick in next year, while others won’t come into effect until 2014.

If you have a bit, nay a lot, of time on your hands, you can read the full content of the report here.