Four-point goal, handpass limit, no fisted points: New set of Gaelic football rules to be trialled

The recommendations come from the Expert Advisory Group chaired by Kevin McStay, left. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

A new set of rule adjustments, including a limit on handpasses, four-point goals and a backcourt rule, will be trialled in the upcoming third-level Division 1 Ryan Cup.

The recommendations come from the Expert Advisory Group chaired by Kevin McStay. There are a total of nine adjustments.

They include: a backcourt rule where a team cannot play the ball back across the halfway line into their own half of the field, no more than three consecutive handpasses being allowed and the extension of the 40-metre arc to the endline. Within that scoring adjustment, there would be two points for a score outside the 40m arc even if the kick is taken inside the 20m line, two points for a score from a sideline, four points for a goal and no handpass scores (fist or open hand) other than ‘in-flight’ scores.

A black card and penalty for any aggressive foul which denies a goalscoring opportunity will have no requirement for the fouled player to be in possession of the ball. Other adjustments include increasing substitutes from five to six, having kickouts cross the 13m arc instead of the 40m arc, awarding a 13m kick for a 4/3 breach rather than a free on the 20m line, awarding a 50m advancement if a player takes a kick-out mark and is illegally challenged and allowing sideline kicks from on or behind the sideline rather than behind the line.

In their final report, the Football Review Committee recommended that a group be established to monitor the game.

“Establish a Gaelic Football Expert Advisory Group, supported by the Games Intelligence Unit, to monitor trends and advise the Standing Committee on Playing Rules.

“The FRC advocates allowing time for the rules to embed across all levels while continuing to monitor, collect data, and inform future decisions.” Some of the suggestions have previously been implemented in the game. In June 2025, Central Council voted to reduce the penalty for a player impeding a kick-out mark from a 50-metre advancement to a free. The issue flared up after Kerry played Cork, with Jack O’Connor calling for the rule to be tidied up.

“It has gone to a ridiculous stage, and I am not really blaming the referees. I felt all along this was going to cause problems and it certainly has. A fella contesting the ball at midfield can’t just disappear,” he said.

The four-point goal was part of the interprovincial series. In 2019, the restricted hand pass rule was tested in pre-season fixtures.

The third-level competition commences on October 14th. The group itself is made up of David Coldrick, Pat Doherty, John Tobin, Maurice Fitzgerald, Conor McManus, Johnny Bradley and Seamus Kenny. In 2025, the Games Intelligence Unit provided data and statistical analysis for the Football Review Committee (FRC) as they monitored the impact of the new rules. It is yet to publish a report in 2026.

The adjustments will be reviewed after the Ryan Cup, with any modifications made in time for pre-season competitions.

Previously, the GAA used the Higher Education Freshers competitions to test new rules. The Hurling Expert Advisory Group, chaired by former Cork manager John Meyler, is also set to trial rule changes in the Higher Education hurling league.