An Ard Chomhairle meeting of the GAA in Croke Park today has sanctioned five experimental rule changes for Gaelic football that will now be trailed in preseason competitions and the National League.
The following proposals were accepted and thus will go ahead to be trailed.
Only three successive handpasses allowed, after which the ball must be kicked.
An advanced 'mark', other than in set player, a player will be awarded a 'mark' for making a clean catch from a kick that has travelled 20 metres and from outside the '45. The player will have 15 seconds to kick it.
Sideline kicks must go forward, except those from inside the oppositions 20-metre line.
All kick-outs must be taken from the 20-metre line and must pass the '45.
The black card is replaced by a 'sin bin.'
Furthermore, there was support for the introduction of a second-tier football championship. It will be discussed at a January meeting with a proposal to go to Congress in February 2019.
A Roscommon motion with regard to a ‘blank canvas’ approach to fixture making was defeated. They had asked that central council "establishes a select committee to conduct an overall review of the National Games Programme in accordance with its powers under rule 3.42 (a) as the supreme governing body between congresses".
The GAA President invited them to submit their own proposals with regard to fixture making for consideration. The GAA will conduct its own review of fixtures starting early next summer.
Elsewhere, the winner on the day decider of Free Pucks/Free Kicks will be developed by C.C.C.C to move towards penalty pucks/penalty kicks instead of Frees.
The rule changes were drafted by the Playing Rules Standing Committee and will result in drastically impact the game.
