Player reveals which new GAA rule was best in sandbox match

The GAA are testing new rules to improve the game

A player who took part in the GAA football sandbox game trialling new rules last week has revealed which of the changes went down best.

After Gaelic football was turned on its head in 2025 with the introduction of the two-point arc, we could see more changes sooner rather than later.

Jim Gavin, chairman of the Football Review Committee, revealed in July that the GAA would be trialling a few more rules this summer, including four-point goals and the ‘no backpass’ or ‘over and back’ rule, meaning a player can’t go back into their defensive half after crossing halfway.

Also trialled was a new hand-pass rule, which would see players penalised for two consecutive hand passes, meaning they must produce a kick pass after every hand pass.

These new rules were trialled at a ‘sandbox’ game in Abbotstown on Wednesday night, with Round Tower of Clondalkin playing Fingallians of Swords.

A Special Congress in October will make new rules permanent - or decide to remove some of those introduced if they are to fail in a vote.

'Over and back rule' went down best

Speaking in The Irish Times, player and journalist Ciaran Kirk said the ‘over and back’ rule was most successful.

“There was a couple of breaches of the halfway-line rule and both teams were able to press up farther because their opponents couldn’t just turn and play it backwards,” he said.

“After the match, there was broad agreement that it was the most viable and positive of the sandboxed rules.”

Hand pass rule chaos, but entertaining

Kirk also revealed that although the hand pass rule created chaos, it was entertaining to watch and be a part of, and is intended to reduce safe play. 

“For the final 20 minutes, another rule was introduced: a player receiving a hand pass would have to kick pass. In other words a team could not play two hand passes in a row.

“This led to more chaos, more verticality and more turnovers, and it was probably the most enjoyable part to play in.

“It was obvious that many of us simply don’t get our heads up quickly enough [to kick the ball], having been raised in the post-puke-football era. The FRC changes aren’t just fixing a rules problem, they have to address the now ingrained safety-first culture in players.

“Those attitudes may actually prove harder to change than the rules.”