Sun, 16th March 2025
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By Tom McLoughlin
Saturday night's Allianz League game between Dublin & Galway saw some further adjustments to the Gaelic football core enhancements recommended by the Football Review Committee (FRC) following their ratification by the Ard Comhairle last Monday.
I spoke to Jim Gavin, Chair of the FRC, firstly about the work of the Committee to date.
“The FRC was tasked with providing the best possible games experience for players and spectators. The Association’s vision is that Gaelic games will be the most enjoyable amateur games in the world to play and watch.
“Our role was to look at the current rule book, look at enhancing the game, look at making the games a more exciting and dynamic experience. We were tasked with maintaining the balance between the traditions of the game and new innovations that came in and also to consider the current scoring system.
“Following this process the FRC was to identify the potential changes that would speak to the spirit of the game and desire for a more entertaining spectator experience and incorporate them into a new blueprint for Gaelic football which would come from our deliberations and research.”
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In just 53 weeks the FRC has met 50 times. The research included an online survey with over 7,000 responses, multiple workshops, engagement with county boards, players, officials, and stakeholders in every facet of our games. The engagement was widespread and is ongoing, and still informing the decisions of the FRC.
Jim continued, “From all of this work it became apparent that there were a core number of things that people wanted to see. When we distilled it down we found that people want to see more catching, more long range scoring, kick passing, goals and one-to-one contests in general play. They wanted a game where skills are rewarded, a game that encouraged forward momentum, encouraged contests and disincentivised cynical and delaying tactics.”
From this initial and extensive body of research and engagement the FRC came up with seven core enhancements complemented by a number of disciplinary infractions which are designed to create a more exciting and dynamic playing and spectator experience.
Jim then explains how the impact of the changes are monitored and assessed.
“We developed a beneficial realisation framework and as part of this during the course of the Allianz Football League we have been monitoring and tracking the games, collecting data and assessing whether the new rules enhancements translate into real and measurable improvements in line with what we’ve been asked to do – to make Gaelic games the most exciting amateur game that people can watch. The overall assessment is that yes the new rules are working as intended, we are seeing real and measurable improvements.”
Last week’s interim report, Benefit Realisation Framework on New Rules, which assessed the impact of the new rules during the first five rounds of the Allianz Football League bears this out.
“The evidence of the interim report indicates that the overall view of Gaelic football as a spectator sport has increased dramatically and is showing as ‘very good’ This increase over an eight week period, such a short space of time is dramatic, so that’s positive. Attendances at Allianz Football League games are up on 2024 and the feedback I am getting at grassroots level is that this has landed well and people understand the direction of travel.”
The process has entailed a lot of discussion and the FRC has had input from inter-county managers, county boards, referees, club managers and from the public through the various surveys.
The introduction of tonight’s adjustments are as a result of this extensive consultation and Jim explained the reasoning behind some of the changes.
“The majority of the feedback is that things are going well. We have had huge support, unanimous support, that the concept of keeping three players up in the offensive half of the pitch is working and has certainly improved the game.”
“But there were some concerns that there was a lot of lateral play because teams could play with an extra player in the attacking half, leading to slow and pedantic play. Also that when a team had a player sent off that there should be some form of sanction and we also had feedback on players unintentionally crossing the halfway line and that the penalty of a free or a two point score was a bit harsh.
“So we came up with a recommendation which was passed by Central Council on Monday night that four players from a team have to remain in their half of the pitch and there must be at least three outfield players in the opposition half. So effectively it’s a man to man contest with eleven outfield players against eleven outfield players. We’ve also introduced that if there is an unintentional breach and you are within four metres of the halfway line, you are not interfering with play, not interfering with an opponent, not gaining an advantage the referee can simply play on. Also now if you lose a player to a red or black card you must keep three players in the opposition half so you are effectively defending with ten players, or nine or eight in the event of further cards.”
Central Council also ratified a number of other adjustments which were also recommended by the FRC, based on feedback. On the kickout- if a player catches the ball he must not be challenged within four metres of the catch. On the advance mark, which is to encourage long range passing, high fielding and one-to-one contests, an advantage has accrued if the player plays on and scores a goal or a point. On the two point score, the word ‘directly’ was removed from the rule so now the ball can hit the bar or post or bounce and go over the bar for the two points.
On dissent, if there is dissent by team officials that will now incur a free on the 20 metre line. The last change is on the clock and hooter system. The new rule is that the game will end when the ball goes dead after the hooter sounds. Jim pointed out that there is a lot more transparency and clarity around time keeping now, particularly in black card situations.
So a lot done, but …
“We have gone through a methodical process on this. From conceptualising, doing focused workshops with coaches, multiple stakeholder meetings from each Provincial Council to intercounty managers to the Gaelic Writers Association, Delphi surveys with an expert group, sandbox or test games, the interprovincials, feedback from the GPA and the National Referees Panel has been invaluable. So it has been a methodical, evidence-based process and to this point we have stress-tested the changes up to Round 5, 70% of the games in the League.
“We pressed the pause button, had a review. We continue to monitor the data and the impacts. As well as looking at the data from the games the Games Intelligence Unit are also assessing the physical demands on the players to see if changes might be needed there”.
So what’s next?
In terms of the work of the FRC they are now over 65% of the way there. That’s 52 weeks gone with about another 30 weeks to play. There’s 19 weeks to the All Ireland final. The FRCs final report will be published in early September followed by a Special Congress on Saturday, 4th October. At that Congress there will be a vote on what permanent changes they will make to the rule book having seen them in operation during the season of 2025.
“We have built this ship through a lot of data research and then the expertise of the group and we are now out on the high seas. The ship is sailing well and there are more challenges and stronger swells to come. But these adjustments were made so that we can successfully navigate the waters ahead.”
Jim concluded, “Things are moving at a rapid pace and if people want to have a say and want to influence this process they have to engage. You can participate in the surveys or email us at FRC@gaa.ie. Tell us what you like and what you don’t like.
“We continue to reach out to the public and say we are still listening to you. If you don’t give us the feedback we don’t know … so as fans, as players, as spectators, as coaches, as members of clubs … it’s a bit like voting. If you don’t vote you’re leaving the decision up to somebody else and they will make the decisions for you. Everyone has a voice in this process. Make your’s heard.”
