Playing rule changes to be discussed at April congress

THE GAA has unanimously given the go-ahead for playing rule changes to be discussed at next April’s congress. Five motions, recommended by the standing committee on the playing rules, will be proposed by Central Council.

They cover modification to the ‘square ball’ rule in football, facilitating referees’ consulting linesmen and umpires, allowing substitutions to be made when frees are being taken as well as during other breaks in play and redefining ‘a trip’ to include being tripped by a leg as well as by hand and foot.

The suggested introduction of a ‘toe-tap and play’ rule to facilitate quickly-taken frees was not discussed as the GAA’s Head of Games Pat Daly believed the proposal, which is due to be trialled at some stage in the new year, needed to have the mechanics of its trial considered further.

Meanwhile, Tyrone chairman Ciarán McLoughlin will be taking measures in the new year to confront the problem of indiscipline within the county.

In the annual address to the county convention in Donaghmore, McLoughlin announced that he would meet with the new Competitions Control Committee in the weeks ahead to streamline and clarify disciplinary procedures. He was speaking after a year which ended in Tyrone with scenes of violence and disorder on and off the pitch during the county league football final between Dromore and Carrickmore, which resulted in lengthy suspensions being imposed.

“As we enter a new GAA year I would hope our clubs will unite with what will be a new CCC in 2012 and decide enough is enough and tackle ill-discipline head on.

“None of us can stand by and watch incidents unfold which bring shame on the association. That is why early in 2012, I will be meeting the new CCC to progress a clear pathway for dealing quickly (with) incidents which may occur.”