Former inter-county boss calls for new rules to be pushed back to 2026 at club level

Former Dublin boss Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee will have its proposals voted on at Special Congress this Saturday.

By: irishmirror.ie

Nov 26 2024
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Former inter-county boss calls

Former Tipperary boss David Power believes that any new football rules voted in this weekend should apply at county level only.

Led by ex-Dublin manager Jim Gavin, the Football Review Committee has framed a raft of motions for Special Congress at Croke Park on Saturday morning, mainly built around ‘seven core enhancements’ for the game.

These relate to the scoring system, with two points awarded for putting the ball over the bar from beyond a new 40-metre arc, which kickouts would also have to travel beyond, a one v one throw-in the start each half, a ‘solo and go’ to effectively allow quick frees, alterations to the advanced mark, limiting where the goalkeeper can receive possession in open play and forcing both teams to leave at least three players in each half at all times.

Plans to introduce a four-point goal were scrapped following last month’s experimental interprovincial games at Croke Park, though there was only minor tinkering beyond that.

Special Congress will vote on them this Saturday, though some counties feel that any rules passed should only apply at inter-county level only, largely to alleviate pressure on referees.

And Power, who managed Tipperary to a famous Munster title in 2020, has echoed that view.

“The new gaelic football rules should be only for inter county competitions next year and not for club IMO,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

However, there is set to be a pushback against this from the FRC and the GAA’s Management Committee, who are keen that the rules get an airing at both club and county level in 2025.

In any event, it would require 60% of delegates present on Saturday to back a separation between the rules’ introduction in order for it to be postponed at club level until 2026.

As it is, the club scene is afforded some leeway in that the rules wouldn’t have to be fully rolled out until March 31, while they would kick in for the start of the Allianz League in late January for the inter-county game.

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