Gaelic Football - Rules & Regulations discussion/clarification

[Milltown Row2]

I think the GAA has to take away a lot from the referee's control at inter-county level to make it easier for him/her.


Really, with a team of 10 officials, why is there not a desinated person on the sideline not taking the score? Instead ref. has to write it down in a wee black book then get set for kick out/puck out etc. Bit silly in my opinion.


The referee has enough to worry about.

Actually the ref does more in regards to time since the hooter came into being, instead of using his stop watch now he has to use more energy with arm signals to indicate to some mysterious person as to when the clock should be stopped and restarted. Why can't the 'clock person' take care of the amount of time to be added on using a stop watch and inform the ref near the game's end and have both the crowd and players clearly informed.  The ref can end the game with his final whistle and even use discretion should one team resort to cynical fouling to delay or if one player is in mid strike with the last shot as what could have happened to Sam Mulroy.

Or Bluetooth his watch to the clock?

[Main Street]

I think the GAA has to take away a lot from the referee's control at inter-county level to make it easier for him/her.


Really, with a team of 10 officials, why is there not a desinated person on the sideline not taking the score? Instead ref. has to write it down in a wee black book then get set for kick out/puck out etc. Bit silly in my opinion.


The referee has enough to worry about.

Actually the ref does more in regards to time since the hooter came into being, instead of using his stop watch now he has to use more energy with arm signals to indicate to some mysterious person as to when the clock should be stopped and restarted. Why can't the 'clock person' take care of the amount of time to be added on using a stop watch and inform the ref near the game's end and have both the crowd and players clearly informed.  The ref can end the game with his final whistle and even use discretion should one team resort to cynical fouling to delay or if one player is in mid strike with the last shot as what could have happened to Sam Mulroy.

Or Bluetooth his watch to the clock?

To bluetooth or not to bluetooth? How about expanding  bluetooth technical boundary limits and have the ref wifi his watch to the wifi enabled clock ........but this is the GAA.

In any event that exercise does not lessen the 'massive' burdens placed on the ref in today's game   The hooter is a shítshow, an imposed artificial "cliffhanger", what is more simpler, more efficient, more appropriate than the ref blowing the final whistle when he deems the game to be finished?

[Armagh18]

I think the GAA has to take away a lot from the referee's control at inter-county level to make it easier for him/her.


Really, with a team of 10 officials, why is there not a desinated person on the sideline not taking the score? Instead ref. has to write it down in a wee black book then get set for kick out/puck out etc. Bit silly in my opinion.


The referee has enough to worry about.

Actually the ref does more in regards to time since the hooter came into being, instead of using his stop watch now he has to use more energy with arm signals to indicate to some mysterious person as to when the clock should be stopped and restarted. Why can't the 'clock person' take care of the amount of time to be added on using a stop watch and inform the ref near the game's end and have both the crowd and players clearly informed.  The ref can end the game with his final whistle and even use discretion should one team resort to cynical fouling to delay or if one player is in mid strike with the last shot as what could have happened to Sam Mulroy.

Or Bluetooth his watch to the clock?

To bluetooth or not to bluetooth? How about expanding  bluetooth technical boundary limits and have the ref wifi his watch to the wifi enabled clock ........but this is the GAA.

In any event that exercise does not lessen the 'massive' burdens placed on the ref in today's game   The hooter is a shítshow, an imposed artificial "cliffhanger", what is more simpler, more efficient, more appropriate than the ref blowing the final whistle when he deems the game to be finished?

That's better than the current shite but very arbitrary as well as refs tend to play for a draw. Will never forget the last plays of the 2024 final, time was well up and Hurson seemed intent on giving Galway the chance to equalise.

[GTP]

A sensible thing to do would be for the GAA to review the timekeeping in conjunction with inter county referees and use whatever system allows them to officiate the game in the best manner.
Personally I don't like different rules for different venues and different levels of the game so would ditch the hooter system.

[Milltown Row2]

I think the GAA has to take away a lot from the referee's control at inter-county level to make it easier for him/her.


Really, with a team of 10 officials, why is there not a desinated person on the sideline not taking the score? Instead ref. has to write it down in a wee black book then get set for kick out/puck out etc. Bit silly in my opinion.


The referee has enough to worry about.

Actually the ref does more in regards to time since the hooter came into being, instead of using his stop watch now he has to use more energy with arm signals to indicate to some mysterious person as to when the clock should be stopped and restarted. Why can't the 'clock person' take care of the amount of time to be added on using a stop watch and inform the ref near the game's end and have both the crowd and players clearly informed.  The ref can end the game with his final whistle and even use discretion should one team resort to cynical fouling to delay or if one player is in mid strike with the last shot as what could have happened to Sam Mulroy.

Or Bluetooth his watch to the clock?

To bluetooth or not to bluetooth? How about expanding  bluetooth technical boundary limits and have the ref wifi his watch to the wifi enabled clock ........but this is the GAA.

In any event that exercise does not lessen the 'massive' burdens placed on the ref in today's game   The hooter is a shítshow, an imposed artificial "cliffhanger", what is more simpler, more efficient, more appropriate than the ref blowing the final whistle when he deems the game to be finished?

That's better than the current shite but very arbitrary as well as refs tend to play for a draw. Will never forget the last plays of the 2024 final, time was well up and Hurson seemed intent on giving Galway the chance to equalise.

Explain (to a ref ) the concept that a ref tends to play for a draw?

So he prefers the extra 20 minutes and possible penalty shootouts?

I prefer a game that one team is hammering the other, less hassle and I'm away home on 60 minutes as the team getting stuffed wants the game to be finished with no injury time

The draw also brings more hassle as players supporters and managers bring up tackles/fouls/challenged points that would have won them the game had he seen it the way they do..

I'd say 90% plus games finish with a winner also, the odds of getting a draw are 8/1 or 9/1 on average, they are high because most games don't finish in a draw

[theticklemister]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

[Main Street]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

[Smokin Joe]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

[David McKeown]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

That's what I am looking for. Where is that from? I can't find it in the actual rulebook but can find what the position is from a free kick

[Smokin Joe]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

That's what I am looking for. Where is that from? I can't find it in the actual rulebook but can find what the position is from a free kick

Rule 3.2 of Part 2 if the Official Guide concludes with:

3.2

Where a public clock and a hooter are available, they shall be used, subject to Regulations issued by the Central Council.

So then we go to the Central Council regulations (you will recall that Central Council had the decision on how the hooter would be used).

I can't find a document listing the Central Council regulations but it was them who made the change on the hooter after the All Ireland final last year.  RTE states the Central Council regulation in this article: https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1202/1546861-hooter-change-ahead-of-2026-lgfa-set-to-trial-12-rules/

So that explains why there is no definite ruling in the Official Guide.  The Official Guide defers to Central Council on the subject of how the hooter will be implemented

[David McKeown]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

That's what I am looking for. Where is that from? I can't find it in the actual rulebook but can find what the position is from a free kick

Rule 3.2 of Part 2 if the Official Guide concludes with:

3.2

Where a public clock and a hooter are available, they shall be used, subject to Regulations issued by the Central Council.

So then we go to the Central Council regulations (you will recall that Central Council had the decision on how the hooter would be used).

I can't find a document listing the Central Council regulations but it was them who made the change on the hooter after the All Ireland final last year.  RTE states the Central Council regulation in this article: https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1202/1546861-hooter-change-ahead-of-2026-lgfa-set-to-trial-12-rules/

So that explains why there is no definite ruling in the Official Guide.  The Official Guide defers to Central Council on the subject of how the hooter will be implemented

This is my point I can not find these regulations so the whole thing remains a jumbled mess.  Firstly the official guide only defers in certain circumstances.  For example 1.2(vi) in circumstances where a free has been awarded but not taken before the hooter.
Secondly the existence of the line  "from which a score can be made, provided no other player of the side taking the free touches the ball." questions why that line is necessary if thats the position for any ball in flight at or after the hooter.
Thirdly we had the incident last year when Armagh played Tyrone and Rafferty punched the ball over the bar after the hooter.  There were different league tables for weeks and I think eventually the score was disallowed but I may be wrong on the ultimate conclusion of that.
Finally yes I have seen the RTE article but its about the ladies rules and when we look back the actual recommendation by the FRC in the report to special congress last year was:

The FRC recommends reverting to the original proposal: that the game should end when the hooter sounds - unless the ball is in flight or a free-kick is being taken, including 45s and line balls. This adjustment is intended to further streamline match conclusions and eliminate ambiguity around when a game ends.

So having read all of that I have no idea when the game ends at the minute.  You very well may be correct but why oh why is it not clearly stated in the rule book, particularly when the position involving free's is and why is it that no matter what the correct position is, it is at odds with some of but not all of the material that the FRC have provided over the last year

[Main Street]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

That's what I am looking for. Where is that from? I can't find it in the actual rulebook but can find what the position is from a free kick

Rule 3.2 of Part 2 if the Official Guide concludes with:

3.2

Where a public clock and a hooter are available, they shall be used, subject to Regulations issued by the Central Council.

So then we go to the Central Council regulations (you will recall that Central Council had the decision on how the hooter would be used).

I can't find a document listing the Central Council regulations but it was them who made the change on the hooter after the All Ireland final last year.  RTE states the Central Council regulation in this article: https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1202/1546861-hooter-change-ahead-of-2026-lgfa-set-to-trial-12-rules/

So that explains why there is no definite ruling in the Official Guide.  The Official Guide defers to Central Council on the subject of how the hooter will be implemented

This is my point I can not find these regulations so the whole thing remains a jumbled mess.  Firstly the official guide only defers in certain circumstances.  For example 1.2(vi) in circumstances where a free has been awarded but not taken before the hooter.
Secondly the existence of the line  "from which a score can be made, provided no other player of the side taking the free touches the ball." questions why that line is necessary if thats the position for any ball in flight at or after the hooter.
Thirdly we had the incident last year when Armagh played Tyrone and Rafferty punched the ball over the bar after the hooter.  There were different league tables for weeks and I think eventually the score was disallowed but I may be wrong on the ultimate conclusion of that.
Finally yes I have seen the RTE article but its about the ladies rules and when we look back the actual recommendation by the FRC in the report to special congress last year was:

The FRC recommends reverting to the original proposal: that the game should end when the hooter sounds - unless the ball is in flight or a free-kick is being taken, including 45s and line balls. This adjustment is intended to further streamline match conclusions and eliminate ambiguity around when a game ends.

So having read all of that I have no idea when the game ends at the minute.  You very well may be correct but why oh why is it not clearly stated in the rule book, particularly when the position involving free's is and why is it that no matter what the correct position is, it is at odds with some of but not all of the material that the FRC have provided over the last year

I think what I posted  re the hooter is the correct version as there has been no official change to the wording of that rule. It should be noted that the hooter was introduced to fix a problem that had already been fixed by the refs implementing a more accurate amount of time to be added on,  the hooter is now causing a myriad of other problematic issues that never existed before the hooter was introduced.

[David McKeown]

Going back to the 'last kick of the game'.  What happens if a defender or goalkeeper manages to catch the ball and then drops it instantaneously into the net. Does this count? What happens if it bunches off goalkeeper and palmed in? What happens if goalkeeper (like rafferty) manages to touch it and then into net? Was the last kick of the game not come to an end as the keeper manages to touch it?

According to the rules

Q. If my team takes a shot and the ball leaves the boot/fist just before the hooter sounds, and results in a score - does the score count?

A. Yes. If the ball is in the air after the hooter sounds, a score may be awarded. The ball must go directly over the bar/in the net i.e. it cannot be flicked on by a teammate/or opposition player.

I'd say a live ref  (as apposed to a technocrat dogmatic  approach)  would allow the goal/point  in those circumstances as an organic part of the 'last play'.

That was the rules last year, it has been changed this year.  It is pretty straight forward and not sure why there would be confusion.

The rule for this year is:
If the ball has been played before the hooter sounds and results in a score, it counts provided no attacking player touches it

That's it.

That's what I am looking for. Where is that from? I can't find it in the actual rulebook but can find what the position is from a free kick

Rule 3.2 of Part 2 if the Official Guide concludes with:

3.2

Where a public clock and a hooter are available, they shall be used, subject to Regulations issued by the Central Council.

So then we go to the Central Council regulations (you will recall that Central Council had the decision on how the hooter would be used).

I can't find a document listing the Central Council regulations but it was them who made the change on the hooter after the All Ireland final last year.  RTE states the Central Council regulation in this article: https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1202/1546861-hooter-change-ahead-of-2026-lgfa-set-to-trial-12-rules/

So that explains why there is no definite ruling in the Official Guide.  The Official Guide defers to Central Council on the subject of how the hooter will be implemented

This is my point I can not find these regulations so the whole thing remains a jumbled mess.  Firstly the official guide only defers in certain circumstances.  For example 1.2(vi) in circumstances where a free has been awarded but not taken before the hooter.
Secondly the existence of the line  "from which a score can be made, provided no other player of the side taking the free touches the ball." questions why that line is necessary if thats the position for any ball in flight at or after the hooter.
Thirdly we had the incident last year when Armagh played Tyrone and Rafferty punched the ball over the bar after the hooter.  There were different league tables for weeks and I think eventually the score was disallowed but I may be wrong on the ultimate conclusion of that.
Finally yes I have seen the RTE article but its about the ladies rules and when we look back the actual recommendation by the FRC in the report to special congress last year was:

The FRC recommends reverting to the original proposal: that the game should end when the hooter sounds - unless the ball is in flight or a free-kick is being taken, including 45s and line balls. This adjustment is intended to further streamline match conclusions and eliminate ambiguity around when a game ends.

So having read all of that I have no idea when the game ends at the minute.  You very well may be correct but why oh why is it not clearly stated in the rule book, particularly when the position involving free's is and why is it that no matter what the correct position is, it is at odds with some of but not all of the material that the FRC have provided over the last year

I think what I posted  re the hooter is the correct version as there has been no official change to the wording of that rule. It should be noted that the hooter was introduced to fix a problem that had already been fixed by the refs implementing a more accurate amount of time to be added on,  the hooter is now causing a myriad of other problematic issues that never existed before the hooter was introduced.

I don't know which you are saying is correct. The q and a quoted is different from what you think a live ref would do?

[theticklemister]

Secretaries should be emailed out this shit every year.

I done a referees course recently and all the stuff you need for a noting or card is mad. A friend managed to find a list which states all the infractions and the noting/card it should get.

Now the problem is, he had to go rooting for this 'cheat' sheet. This should be emailed to all secretaries. It wasn't easy accessible to everyone

[twohands!!!]

Secretaries should be emailed out this shit every year.

I done a referees course recently and all the stuff you need for a noting or card is mad. A friend managed to find a list which states all the infractions and the noting/card it should get.

Now the problem is, he had to go rooting for this 'cheat' sheet. This should be emailed to all secretaries. It wasn't easy accessible to everyone

Yup the rules and regulations (especially the changes) of the games should be made far more accessable and far more should be done to encourage people to read and understand them.

Even at club games the level of knowledge of the rules can be poor, never mind at intercounty games where it sometimes seems a signifcant proportion of the crowd seem to only have a nodding acquaintance with the fine detail of the rules, especially any of the newer ones.

Educating people as to the actual rules would really help with the levels of abuse refs suffer. I've definitely noticed at games that the ref will make a decision based on an updated or changed rule and get abused from the sideline by someone who thinks the old rule is in place - this year the updated 3 up-and-back breach rule seems to be the most popular for this. The majority of the time I keep shtum but I have "helpfully" pointed out that the rule has changed a couple of times when I couldn't bite my tongue any more. I would do it more but I am a bit wary that some day some lad might take exception and I might be end up getting a dig.