🏐 Gaelic Football Rule Changes Explained: 61 Motions Passed at the 2025 GAA Special Congress (Q&A Guide)
The 2025 Special Congress in Croke Park approved 61 rule changes to Gaelic football that will come into effect from January 1st, 2026. Here’s a breakdown of what each motion means, written in a simple Q&A format for players, coaches and supporters.
⚙️ General & Administrative
Q: What’s Motion 1 about?
A: All jerseys, shorts, socks, and gear used in official matches or interviews must now be made by a GAA-licensed kit manufacturer — this also includes replica gear.
🏁 Starting the Game (Throw-in Rules)
Q: How does the game now start?
A: (Motions 2–5) The referee tosses a coin as usual, but the team that loses the toss chooses which sideline their throw-in player stands on. One player from each team faces the referee at halfway for the throw-in, while a second stands on the sideline. All others must stay behind their 45. Moving early off the line earns a free from halfway.
🧤 Kick-Outs
Q: What’s changed at kick-outs?
A: (Motions 6–13) The kick-out is now taken from the centre of the 20m line, must travel beyond both the 20m line and the 40m arc, and if the goalkeeper isn’t the taker, they must stay in the small rectangle.
A teammate cannot play the ball back to the goalkeeper straight away, players must stay 13m away, and interfering with the kick-out draws a free or cancelled restart.
🧍♂️ Goalkeeper Rules
Q: What can goalkeepers now do?
A: (Motions 14–16) Goalkeepers can only receive passes inside the large rectangle if both they and the passer are inside it, or when the goalkeeper is in the opposition half. Receiving it outside the large rectangle from a teammate is a free against.
⚖️ 4/3 Rule – Players’ Positions
Q: What’s the “4/3” rule?
A: (Motions 17–19) A team must always have at least four players (including the keeper) in their own half and at least three outfield players in the opposition half. Breaking this rule results in a free from the halfway or 20m line.
✋ Marks
Q: How does the mark work now in Gaelic Football ?
A: (Motions 20–21)
- Kick-Out Mark: Catch a kick-out cleanly past your 45.
- Advanced Mark: Catch a kick cleanly inside the 20m line from a kick delivered beyond the 45.
You can either take a free (must signal within 15 seconds) or play on immediately. A deliberate block within 13m now carries a 50m penalty.
🎯 Scoring in Gaelic Football
Q: What’s new about scoring?
A: (Motions 22–25)
- A point is worth one, but now you can score two points for a long-range kick taken with at least one foot on or outside the 40m arc (as long as it’s not from a 45).
- Umpires will wave orange flags for two-point scores, and referees signal them with both arms raised.
⏱️ Delay Fouling
Q: What happens if you delay the game?
A: (Motions 26–29) Delaying play — kicking away the ball, blocking a free, or wasting time — now draws a 50m penalty, and referees can let the team fouled take a solo-and-go or move the ball upfield to the 13m line.
⚡ The Solo and Go in Gaelic Football
Q: What is a “solo and go”?
A: (Motions 30–38) It’s a new option to take a free immediately by toe-tapping and playing on.
- Must be within 4m of the foul and taken instantly.
- Cannot be taken inside the opposition 20m line.
- Opponents can’t challenge within 4m, or it’s a 50m penalty.
If you indicate to take a normal free, then try a solo and go instead, it’s a free against you.
⛔ Black Card & Cynical Fouls in Gaelic Football
Q: What new fouls get a black card?
A: (Motions 39–41)
- Holding up an opponent to stop them moving.
- Pulling a jersey to deny a clear goal-scoring chance.
These are now official Category II cynical offences and apply to all levels, not just inter-county.
👊 Fouls & Melees
Q: What about melees?
A: (Motions 42–43) Being the third or later player into a melee is now an offence unless you’re clearly trying to pull out a teammate.
➕ The Advantage Rule in Gaelic Football
Q: How does advantage now work?
A: (Motion 44) The referee raises one arm to show advantage. If a clear benefit occurs (like a goal or point), play continues. If not, the ref calls “no advantage gained” and brings it back. The rule also defines how to handle secondary fouls and injury stoppages.
🗣️ Dissent
Q: What are the new dissent penalties?
A: (Motions 45–48)
- Dissent moves the free 50m forward (as before), but now the free-taker may choose to take it from outside the 40m arc.
- At U18 level and below, dissent means a 10-minute black-card sin-bin (with a temporary sub).
- Team officials committing dissent (verbal abuse, entering pitch, threatening officials) can now concede a free on their own 13m line or the 40m arc, worth two points if scored.
🧢 Captain’s Role
Q: Who can speak to the referee?
A: (Motions 49–50) Only the team captain (or deputy if captain is off) may speak to the referee — and only during a break in play. Any other player doing so concedes a 50m penalty.
🏟️ Pitch Markings
Q: Are there new lines on the pitch?
A: (Motions 51–54)
- A dashed midline will appear across halfway.
- A new 40m arc will be marked outside each 20m line, used for long-range two-point scores.
- These are now included on all official GAA pitch diagrams.
⏰ Public Clock & Hooter
Q: Will matches use stadium clocks?
A: (Motions 55–56) Yes, if a public clock and hooter are available, they must be used under GAA rules. Referees will now signal when to start/stop the clock by crossing their arms overhead.
🚩 Line & Sideline Officials
Q: What’s changed for sideline officials?
A: (Motions 57–58) Neutral Line Umpires and Sideline Officials can now flag the referee for fouls like rough play, encroachments or interference. They can also help confirm advanced marks and goalkeeper-related fouls.
🚶 Crossing Lines & Technicals
Q: How are line positions defined now?
A: (Motions 59–62)
- “Inside” or “outside” a line now means both feet must be fully in or out.
- “Pass” is clarified as any intentional direction of the ball by hand, kick or other body part.
- Taking a free or sideline kick from the wrong spot now results in the free being cancelled and awarded to the opponents, unless it was a solo and go, in which case it is retaken.
📅 When do the new rules start?
All motions take effect on January 1st, 2026, meaning the 2026 National League will be the first competition played under the new permanent rulebook.