GAA to trial four-point goals and handpass limits

The GAA is set to trial several significant rule changes in Gaelic football during the upcoming third-level Division One league. Overseen by the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) chaired by Kevin McStay, these experiments aim to polish and tweak recent changes rather than implement a total overhaul.

Key proposals include increasing the value of a goal from three points to four to maintain its importance as a primary attacking outcome. Other major trials involve limiting teams to three consecutive handpasses before a kick is required, and banning most fisted points unless the ball is in flight.

Additional proposed changes include shortening the required distance for kickouts to 13 metres, increasing the number of substitutes from five to six, and implementing a new backcourt rule to prevent teams from taking the ball back over their own halfway line. The EAG will monitor the impact of these measures to determine if they should be permanently adopted for the 2027 season.