In-depth data on new football rules will be sought by Football Review Committee during Allianz League

Five weeks and counting till the start of the Allianz Football League.

And then we'll see the how the rule changes proposed by Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee actually play out in the white heat of battle.

Early January does see the start of the Sigerson Cup and Trench Cup but the higher education competitions committee confirmed recently that those competitions will be played under existing regulations.

The proposed new rules were trialled at a one-off inter-provincial competition at Croke Park in October, following which proposals for four-point goals and two-point 45s were abandoned.

So, that leaves is with: 1v1 throw-in; kick-outs to travel beyond a 40-yard arc; where and when a goalkeeper can receive a pass from a team-mate; each team to keep three outfield players in the opposition half at all times; changes to the advanced mark; two points for a kick over the bar from outside the 40-metre arc; the solo and go.

FULL EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED RULE CHANGES

Since the GAA's Special Congress on 30 November, which gave a resounding backing to the rule changes, Jim Gavin and his committee have been in constant contact with all stakeholders: referee bodies, coaches and administrators - as to the application of such rules. They also have been attending inter-county training sessions.

It's now the Friday before Christmas and Gavin, in a media briefing, again is espousing the view that Gaelic football can be the "best amateur sport" in the world.

The establishment of a 'games intelligence unit' that tracks the data on what impact, positive or negative, the new rules are having on the field of play will be key.

"We need to engage with the counties and say for the benefit of this we need to get raw data"

It is intended that such