Comment: Will Jim's changes be the saviour of Gaelic football?

While the election counts were getting into full swing on Saturday morning delegates from all over the country were gathering in GAA Headquarters at Croke Park for what was probably the most important meeting since the Ban was removed back in 1971.

That infamous rule, known as 'The Ban' was a rule in force from 1905 to 1971 that prevented members of the GAA from playing or watching other sports such as rugby, soccer or hockey. Hard to believe in this day and age but that was the way things were.

That was a momentous decision some 53 years ago, hard to believe it was that far back, but what delegates met for at the Special Congress last week would be very much akin to what happened all those years ago.

It is not today or yesterday that the game of Gaelic football is in dire need of a major shake-up and in fairness forming a committee under the chairmanship of former Dublin manager Jim Gavin was certainly one hell of a good move.
Gavin is highly respected throughout the world of GAA.

An excellent speaker, a doer, he has the ability to get his point of view across, unlike others.

He brought together a high-powered committee consisting of well-know folk in the world of Gaelic football and they set about brining forward proposals that would change the face of football like never before.

Coming together under the heading of the Football Review Committee (FRC) they painstakingly went about their task, after extensive consultations with various and varied stakeholders coming up with a myriad of proposals that will, change the way the game is played and viewed like never before.

A weekend of trial games in Croke Park some weeks ago saw the four provinces play four games, before the FRC brought their proposals forward for official ratification.

Saturday last was the culmination of their work and it has to be said they got their proposals through without any major hitches, few dissenters, with most proposals getting in excess of ninety per cent acceptance from delegates; something unique in itself.

There had been much debate if the proposals, which will come into vogue from 1 January should initially be for just county games but it was decided at that gathering that the new rules will come into action for both club and county games starting on 1 January 2025.

In all there were no less than fifty-one motions (yes 51) down for decision last weekend, all connected in some way with changing the rules and regulations, seventeen (17) direct rule changes for the game of football.

These changes will remain for the next 12 months when another Special Congress will be held to bring in the changes on a permanent basis.

If the FRC (or congress) are of the belief that some of those rules need a bit of tweaking that is the time it will happen.

The rules will commence for the start of the Allianz Football League at the end of January which in fairness does not give very much time for county players (or indeed club players) to get accustomed to what has been passed.

The Referees body has already expressed many reservations they have for the changes, not it seems, that they are against the changes, but believe there are too many in too small a space of time for match officials to get accustomed to.

And in fairness they have a fair point; a very fair point.

Just to make things somewhat more difficult, and this beggars belief, the decision not to play any early competitions such as O'Byrne Cup, McKenna Cup and so on at the start of 2025 does away with an opportunity for players, and match officials, to familiarise themselves with the many and varied changes.

Surely it would have been ideal to have had an opportunity to play games prior to the start of the Football Leagues.

In less that a week's time county players can (officially) come together in preparation for the new season where to now fitness levels would have been top of the their agenda, now it will surely be getting themselves familiarised with the changes.

These are seven core changes which include:

l 1v1 at the throw-in;

l kick-outs not requiring all players to be outside the 20 line but having to cross the 40m arc;

l restrictions on a goalkeeper receiving a pass from inside his own half;

l three players from each team must remain in their own half;

l two points for a point kicked from outside the arc;

l a 'solo and go' allowing players to play on immediately when fouled;

l a new attacking mark applicable inside the 20m line and with an advantage built-in.

All those proposals received massive support from delegates as did many more changes including 50m advancement for delaying fouls and dissent as well as an extended advantage; only the team captain can communicate with the referee to clarify a decision taken.

Deliberately restricting or holding a player will now warrant a black card as will contributing to a melee, previously a red card offence but a penalty that was rarely applied.

Have no doubt football needed to be changed but changing in one fell swoop, with no pre-season games seems a big ask, in fact it borders on the nonsensical.

As for referees?

All one can say is the best of luck to them, they will need it!