FRC recommends six amendments to experimental rules

A breach of the three-up rule in carrying, receiving or intercepting the ball or attempting to do so is a free kick from where the player crossed the halfway line.

RULE CHANGES: The Football Review Committee (FRC) have recommended six amendments to their experimental ruleS. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Football Review Committee (FRC) have recommended six amendments to their experimental rules, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

The GAA’s Management Committee were briefed on the changes on Thursday and they will be voted on by Central Council in a remote meeting on Thursday, March 13.

Among them is in the event a goalkeeper enters the opposition’s half of the field, four of his team-mates must remain in the team’s own half. As is the case now, three players will have to stay in the opposition’s half.

There is also an easing of accidental, unintentional or marginal breaches of the proposed “four back, three up” rule. Players who stray up to four metres across the halfway line or are not interfering in the play will not be punished.

As part of the tweaks, teams who have been reduced in numbers must still keep three in the opposition’s half of the field at all times. That follows an anomaly that arose in a number of recent Allianz League games where numerically disadvantaged teams were allowed to keep only two players and in some cases just one in the opposition’s half.

The FRC’s insistence on all kick-outs reaching or passing the 40m line remains as well as the clock/hooter. However, it’s uncertain the latter will apply to Division 3 and 4 in the remaining two rounds of the Allianz League from March 15.

The six rule amendments are summarised as follows:

- A player who claims a kick-out mark can play on immediately and not be challenged for four metres. If the player is illegally challenged in that space, a free kick shall be awarded 50 metres more advantageous than the position of the original mark up to the opponents’ 13m line. There is also the option of bringing it back for a two-point free attempt outside the 40m arc;

- An advantage has accrued if a point or a goal is scored. If no advantage has accrued to the team of the player awarded the mark, the referee will signal “no advantage gained” and the ball will be taken back to the point of the mark;

- A team must have at least four players in their half of the field, which may include the goalkeeper, and at least three outfield players in the opposition half. A breach of this rule does not occur when it has been unintentional, the player(s) are within four metres of the halfway line, are not interfering with play or with an opponent or not gaining an advantage.

- The removal of the word “directly” from the definition of a two-point score being played “over the bar between the posts… kicked by a player who has at least one foot on or outside the 40m arc and without the ball having been touched by another player”.

- The removal of the three-up wording as four are now required to remain in own half and three in the opposition’s.

- A misconduct at games infraction by a team official to cost their team a 20m free as opposed to a 13m free and the free can be brought out to the 40m arc for a two-point attempt.