GAA Rule Changes

🗓️ 1885

⦿ Teams up to 21 players a side. All players from both teams line up in midfield for the throw-in.

⦿ Pitch at least 120 yards long by 80 in breadth and properly marked by boundary lines.

⦿ Soccer-shaped goalposts, 8ft high and 15ft wide. Only goals can be scored.

⦿ Pushing, tripping, holding and headbutting not allowed.

⦿ When the ball is kicked over the sideline it shall be thrown back by a player of the opposite side.

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🗓️ 1886

⦿ Due to the number of matches finishing scoreless, points posts (side posts) are added 21ft to each side of the soccer-shaped goalposts, which are also widened from 21ft to 21ft. Points only count if the teams finish level on goals. Otherwise a goal is greater than any number of points.

⦿ The rule which allowed players to break off and wrestle each other while the play continues is abolished.

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🗓️ 1888

⦿ Number of players on a team reduced from 21 to 17.

⦿ Substitutions allowed for injured players.

⦿ Recommended that referees use a whistle.

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🗓️ 1892

⦿ The value of a goal is set at 5 points, previously a goal had been worth more than any number of points.

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🗓️ 1895

⦿ The value of a goal is now set at 3 points.

⦿ Linesmen and goal umpires introduced.

⦿ The ball can only be caught before it bounces after being kicked or fisted on.

⦿ No throwing of the ball.

⦿ No hopping of the ball and no carrying for longer than 4 steps, by which time it must be struck with the hand or kicked.

⦿ All free kicks awarded by referees to be kicked off the ground.

⦿ Ball reduced from Size 6 to Size 5.

⦿ 7-yard square introduced in front of the goals from which all kickouts must be taken.

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🗓️ 1901

⦿ 7-yard square replaced by a 10-yard line from which all kickouts must be taken.

⦿ Width of soccer-style goals reduced from 21ft to 18ft and width out to side posts also reduced from 21ft to 18ft.

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🗓️ 1907-1909

⦿ The ball may be caught whether it has bounced or not.

⦿ The ball may not be picked off the ground.

⦿ 14, 21, and 50 yard lines, as well as a midfield line, marked on pitches.

⦿ A parallelogram measuring 15 yards by 5 yards is introduced in front of the goals for kickouts to be taken and in which no attacking player can stand before the ball arrives to protect goalkeepers.

⦿ Players allowed one hop with the ball.

⦿ Players also allowed bounce the ball going forward in basketball style, provided they haven’t caught it first.

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🗓️ 1910

⦿ Modern H-shaped goalposts introduced and side posts removed.

⦿ For throw-in to start each half, all midfielders and forwards from each team line up opposite each other in the middle of the field.

⦿ Players taking the kickout can touch the ball more than once (the practice was to flick it up to yourself before pulling on it).

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🗓️ 1913

⦿ Teams reduced from 17 to 15 players a side.

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🗓️ 1923

⦿ If a player is tackled after he kicks the ball, the free will be given from where the ball lands.

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🗓️ 1926

⦿ Running while tipping the ball in the air on your hand is banned.

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🗓️ 1945

⦿ Instead of one-handed throw-in, sideline kicks now to be taken from the ground.

⦿ A booklet produced for referees insists that the ball must be “toed into the hand” and not picked off the ground.

⦿ Referees encouraged not to blow for every “petty infringement” but to let the game flow.

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🗓️ 1950

⦿ Handpasses can only be given using a closed fist.

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🗓️ 1955

⦿ Three substitutions allowed per team.

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🗓️ 1965

⦿ Throw-in to begin each half now restricted to both midfielders from each team.

⦿ A fair charge defined as having to be shoulder-to-shoulder.

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🗓️ 1970

⦿ Players allowed to take a quick free without waiting for the referee’s whistle.

⦿ Senior championship matches now extended to last 80 minutes.

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🗓️ 1975

⦿ Open-handed handpass allowed.

⦿ Large parallelogram introduced as a penalty area and penalty kicks introduced for first time. (Trialled in hurling in 1974, formally approved across GAA in 1975)

⦿ Return to 70-minute championship matches.

⦿ Ball brought forward ten yards for dissent to referee.

⦿ Players to be booked after two personal fouls and then sent off after a third.

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🗓️ 1980

⦿ Pitch markings now changed to metres from yards.

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🗓️ 1981

⦿ All handpassed scores disallowed.

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🗓️ 1990

⦿ Free kicks can be taken from the hand or off the ground.

⦿ All sideline kicks now to be taken from the hand.

⦿ Footballers allowed fist a point but not a goal.

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🗓️ 1995

⦿ Pitch markings changed to include exclusion zone (small arc) outside 20m line.

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🗓️ 2000

⦿ Number of substitutions allowed increased to 5 per team.

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🗓️ 2012

⦿ Player allowed be in small rectangle before the ball arrives, except from free kicks, line balls and 45’s.

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🗓️ 2014

⦿ Introduction of a Black Card for cynical behaviour fouls.

⦿ Number of substitutions allowed increased to 6 per team.

⦿ Advantage Rule defined as: “When a foul is committed the referee may allow the play to continue if he considers it to be to the advantage of the offended team. He shall signal that advantage by raising an arm upright. If he deems no advantage to have occurred, he may subsequently award a free for that foul from where it occurred*. The referee shall allow the advantage to run by maintaining his arm in the upright position for up to five seconds after the initial foul or for less time if it becomes clear that no advantage has accrued. He shall apply any relevant disciplinary action.”

⦿ Players may score a point with the open hand or the fist.

⦿ New definition of the tackle agreed.

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🗓️ 2017

⦿ Introduction of the mark, when a player catches the ball cleanly from a Kick-Out without it touching the ground, on or past the 45m line nearest the Kick-Out point. The player awarded a ‘Mark’ shall have the options of (a) Taking a free kick or (b) Playing on immediately.

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🗓️ 2020

⦿ Advanced Mark: Players who take a ‘mark’ or clean possession inside the oppositions 45 will be rewarded with a free kick. Players can choose to play on or signal to the referee that they wish to take the free instead. This can be brought back to the 13m line for balls caught between there and the end line.

⦿ Sin Bin: If a player gets a black card, they will spend 10 minutes off the field. No substitute allowed, reducing his side’s numbers for that period. A second black card, or a black following a yellow, will result in a red card. The player will be sent off for the rest of the match.

⦿ All kick-outs must now be taken from the 20-metre line. The ball must travel forward, and all players must be at least 13m away and outside the D and 20m line when the kick is taken.

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🗓️ 2021

⦿ Concussion substitute permitted.

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🗓️ 2025 (FRC Rules)

⦿ Throw-In: Just two players contest the throw-in at the beginning of each half. The other two midfielders will remain at the sideline for the throw-in. If any player breaches the 45 metre line before the referee throws the ball up, or if the other midfielder moves off the sideline before the ball is in the air, the other team will be awarded a free-kick to be taken from the halfway line. A new dashed line stretching the entire width of the field will mark the half-way line.

⦿ Kickouts: Kick-outs will still be taken from the 20m line and must travel beyond the 40m arc before any player can touch the ball.

⦿ 40m Scoring Arc: Pitches will be lined with a new arc starting on the 20m line and extending 40m out from goal. A ball cleanly kicked from play or a free over the bar from on or outside this arc is worth two points. Referees will signal the score with two hands in the air and the score umpires will wave an orange flag for the two-point score. The score is allowed as long as the standing foot of the kicker is placed on or before the 40m arc. A ‘45’ is worth one-point.

⦿ 3 x 3 Rule: Teams will still have to keep at least three players in their opposition’s half and four in their own (including the goalkeeper). If the netminder joins the attack in the opposition half, his team will still have to keep four outfield players in their own half.

⦿ Solo & Go: A player who is fouled can solo (toe-tap) immediately, within 4m of where the foul occurred, and continue to attack.

⦿ Goalkeeper Passing: A goalkeeper may only receive the ball from a teammate (a) inside the large rectangle when both the goalkeeper and the teammate passing the ball are inside the large rectangle or (b) when the goalkeeper is in the opposition half of the field.

⦿ Advanced Mark: An advanced mark is allowed when a player catches the ball cleanly on or inside the opposition 20m line from a kick in play or from a kick-out mark delivered on or before the 45m line. The player catching the ball can call a mark for a free kick or can opt to play on. If playing on they may be tackled immediately. If no advantage accrues they can come back to a kick from the point of the catch. There is no time limit to the advantage. To deliberately pull down a player to deny a goal scoring chance remains a black card offence and concession of a penalty.

⦿ Hooter: The sounding of the hooter will signal the end of a half unless the ball is in flight or a free, 45 or sideline is about to be taken.

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