Gaelic Football - Rules & Regulations discussion/clarification

[Milltown Row2]

Rules, believe it or not are sent out to club sec's

The know it alls wouldn't know the rules or accept it if you personally read it to them straight from the book.

[David McKeown]

Rules, believe it or not are sent out to club sec's

The know it alls wouldn't know the rules or accept it if you personally read it to them straight from the book.

Not much use when the rulebook doesn't cover basic situations

[Milltown Row2]

I think if the keeper touches the ball after the hooter and ball ends up in the net is not basic situations?

[thebigfullforward]

Since when is a shoulder to shoulder a foul?

[Armagh18]

Since when is a shoulder to shoulder a foul?

Since refs who never played started fearing contact

[Milltown Row2]

Since when is a shoulder to shoulder a foul?

Never, the only physical contact allowed in the sport

[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.

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?

I only referred to  the Q&A on the hooter as being correct,  not what I thought a ref might do. That the Q&A I quoted on the hooter protocol still stands as it has not been officially changed. A change was once mooted but is there any evidence that it was acted upon anywhere?

[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?

I only referred to  the Q&A on the hooter as being correct,  not what I thought a ref might do. That the Q&A I quoted on the hooter protocol still stands as it has not been officially changed. A change was once mooted but is there any evidence that it was acted upon anywhere?

Ah no problem. That's the opposite of what Smoking Joe things is the rule. We've already seen the impact it can have.

[theticklemister]

Rules, believe it or not are sent out to club sec's

The know it alls wouldn't know the rules or accept it if you personally read it to them straight from the book.

I'm secretary. Never got nothing

[Milltown Row2]

I know ours gets them, I've been senior manager for many years back in the day and we are briefed, I know as a ref come championship a reminder is sent out to ensure they are aware of what's expected, in relation to on day team set ups and rules..

If I'm a manager I'll be ensuring my players are aware of what's expected

[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.

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?

I only referred to  the Q&A on the hooter as being correct,  not what I thought a ref might do. That the Q&A I quoted on the hooter protocol still stands as it has not been officially changed. A change was once mooted but is there any evidence that it was acted upon anywhere?

Ah no problem. That's the opposite of what Smoking Joe things is the rule. We've already seen the impact it can have.

Well Smoking Joe and me are not the same , his (totally unbelievable) version would directly imply that Conor Lane did not know the rule had changed -  re  ball in air after hooter blows being touched by a defender before crossing the line/bar,  not only that but nobody in the FRC has batted an eyelid since. Then we are supposed to believe that an alleged change in wording to the hooter rule  was passed by special congress in absolute total secrecy, no mention of proposal no mention of voting  no mention anywhere of it being passed and no referee being informed. Even the GAA could not pull off a perfect farce like that.

[thebigfullforward]

Maybe one of my least favourite things in football there. Down player gets the block, Fermanagh man on the ground and the Down player stands over him when he's on the ground to give him a push. Not sure what the difference is in that and what Teague did to Kobe last week but anyway

[2ndstringsub]

Watching Down and Fermanagh this afternoon. Get that hooter so far to f**k away from Gaelic games.

If Jarlath and his cronies want to go to watch basketball I'm sure they can organise a yearly trip to meet the New York delegates.

I hate it and will never warm to it. kickouts etc are lost time, they should be re-allocated at the end of the game. 

[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?

I only referred to  the Q&A on the hooter as being correct,  not what I thought a ref might do. That the Q&A I quoted on the hooter protocol still stands as it has not been officially changed. A change was once mooted but is there any evidence that it was acted upon anywhere?

Ah no problem. That's the opposite of what Smoking Joe things is the rule. We've already seen the impact it can have.

Well Smoking Joe and me are not the same , his (totally unbelievable) version would directly imply that Conor Lane did not know the rule had changed -  re  ball in air after hooter blows being touched by a defender before crossing the line/bar,  not only that but nobody in the FRC has batted an eyelid since. Then we are supposed to believe that an alleged change in wording to the hooter rule  was passed by special congress in absolute total secrecy, no mention of proposal no mention of voting  no mention anywhere of it being passed and no referee being informed. Even the GAA could not pull off a perfect farce like that.

The rule did change. Several times that's the issue.

[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?

I only referred to  the Q&A on the hooter as being correct,  not what I thought a ref might do. That the Q&A I quoted on the hooter protocol still stands as it has not been officially changed. A change was once mooted but is there any evidence that it was acted upon anywhere?

Ah no problem. That's the opposite of what Smoking Joe things is the rule. We've already seen the impact it can have.

Well Smoking Joe and me are not the same , his (totally unbelievable) version would directly imply that Conor Lane did not know the rule had changed -  re  ball in air after hooter blows being touched by a defender before crossing the line/bar,  not only that but nobody in the FRC has batted an eyelid since. Then we are supposed to believe that an alleged change in wording to the hooter rule  was passed by special congress in absolute total secrecy, no mention of proposal no mention of voting  no mention anywhere of it being passed and no referee being informed. Even the GAA could not pull off a perfect farce like that.

Also we've seen referees don't know the rules Monaghan almost got knocked out by the referee not knowing the rules. That's before we get into Hurson.