New GAA playing rules take effect

THE new GAA rules adopted at Congress will come into play from this Saturday. It is expected, however that they will not be in operation for the U-21 championship finals, which should conclude under the rules that have operated for the competition.

The main change will see one-on-one for a penalty in hurling, while other changes include:

– A yellow card does not carry into extra time (hurling and football);

– The referee may consult with a neutral linesman concerning the validity of a score (hurling and football);

– For free pucks for technical fouls committed inside the large rectangle and awarded on the centre point of the 20m line, a maximum of five players may stand on the goal-line and may not move forward until the ball has been struck. The player taking the free puck may place the ball up to 7m back from the 20m line and within the arc but must strike it on or outside the 20m line.

– For a 20m free puck awarded for a foul committed outside the large rectangle, all players shall stand a minimum of 20m from the point of the award of the free and may not move closer to that point until the ball has been struck.

– The advantage rule means a referee may allow play to continue for up to five seconds after a foul; if no advantage accrues during that time, he may subsequently award a free puck for the foul. If a player/team who had been awarded an advantage commits a foul within the five second period, then the free shall be awarded against him.

By Seamus Hayes, sports editor