Rule changes could come about after FRC meeting

February 28, 2025
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The Football Review Committee will meet on Friday as part of their ongoing review of the 2025 Allianz League, with the possibility of some rules being tweaked for the final rounds of the competition.

The FRC has considered data provided from the GAA's new Games Intelligence Unit as it continues a weekly assessment of the new rules and their impact, game by game.

Last week, the GIU released its first report for the new campaign, incorporating data collated during the first three weekends of the NFL.

It has proven a lengthy task to assess each game, but the results will provide the GAA with a serious bank of data and analytics going forward.

The GAA is now able to produce real-time statistical reports and respond to them in accelerated time.

Friday's meeting will be centred largely around the data received thus far.

The GIU has demonstrated that there are more contested kickouts compared to the past two seasons.

Handpasses are still high and the rate of scoring has not altered too much.

The new solo-and-go rule has possibly meant that there has not been the rapid rise in kick-passing that was initially expected.

The 12 v 11 debate and incorporating the role of goalkeeper will also be closely looked at.

Although data shows that goalkeepers in Divisions 3 and 4 are not as prominent in opposition halves, the roving keeper is very prominent in the top two tiers.

From opening day – and indeed before that – there have been calls for the role of the goalkeeper to be curtailed.

The impact of teams sustaining a black or red and still having to commit three players up front will also be examined.

In contrast, teams who see their opponents go down to 14 or fewer players, due to cards, have found that no tangible advantage has accrued.

These concerns were highlighted last weekend, not least when Galway beat Donegal although down to 13 men.

Galway only had to keep one forward up when playing with 13, but Donegal were compelled to keep three defenders back.

"Of course, when we meet up, that will be one of the items we will be discussing," he said.

"It’s going to be something we’re going to have to look at.

"It is an unintended consequence. That was always going to happen. That’s the reason this year is an experimental year.

"That’s the beauty of being able to trial it like this. By the time things are voted into the permanent rule book at the end of the year, they will have been robustly tested, hopefully streamlined and improved."

The FRC meeting is also expected to place a focus on kickouts, many of which are now hotly contested outside the arc.

These have proven very popular with spectators, but some coaches have been critical, preferring instead short kickouts to retain possession of the ball.

A new GIU report will be issued after the fifth round of the league but for now these three rules could be looked at in depth on Friday, with the general acceptance that some other directives have already bedded in well.