GAA Congress approves Gaelic football’s new rules for 2025

All of the Football Review Committee's rule changes for 2025 have been adopted at the GAA's Special Congress.

President Jarlath Burns has described the strong backing from delegates for all 18 motions as a 'resounding mandate for improvement in Gaelic Football'.

The new rule changes will apply to both club and inter-county games next year, with Central Council able to amend or rescind any of those changes during 2025.

The rules were trailed in games between the provinces in October at Croke Park.

All kick-outs must go beyond the 20-metre line and three outfield players from each team must be in each half at all times.

The new advanced mark inside the 20m line will also be in action as well as the two-point score outside the 40m arc, the solo and go and the advantage rule at the referee’s discretion.

Also approved is the the 1 v 1 throw in, and restrictions on a goalkeeper receiving a pass from a colleague inside his own half.

GAA president Jarlath Burns set out the argument for the enabling motion. “If we go ahead with the rules at all levels, we can tweak them if things go wrong. If we don’t and wait until next year, we’re going into 2026 blind.”