Introducing the 2025 Football Rule Updates

The GAA has introduced several important rule changes for the 2025 season, aimed at enhancing the game for players, officials, and supporters alike.

These updates reflect the Association’s commitment to fair play, player welfare, and maintaining the fast-paced and skillful nature of Gaelic football. Whether you’re a player, coach, referee, or fan, take a moment to familiarize yourself with these changes to ensure a smooth transition into the new season by following the links below:

New Rules Overview How Down GAA will apply the rules at juvenile level

You can find a link to a video explaining the details of the rules at the bottom of this page.

Senior Level

Full Engagement with all aspects of the new FRC Rules

Juvenile Level

The following recommendations where agreed and approved by Down County Board.

U12 Football:

Whilst it is not officially required that rules be introduced at u12, we see this age as good opportunity to introduce some of their more basic and manageable principles. It is important that we do not detach our juvenile games completely from what our young players watch their County heroes playing in Pairc Esler or on the TV.

1 v 1 throw-in
Solo & Go (at u12 level, the Solo & Go may only be utilised when a player is fouled whilst in possession of the ball (physical fouls only). Solo & Go can only be taken by the player who was initially fouled.
Dissent – Punishable by a 20m advancement

U14 Football:

1 v 1 throw-in
Solo & Go (full implementation)
Goalkeeper Rule (full implementation)
New Scoring System (2 points outside 40m arc)
Dissent – 50m penalty
3 v 3 Structure at 15-a-side
2 v 2 Structure at 13-a-side
U14 Kickouts:
- Kickouts may be taken from the ground or out of the hands, from the 21m line.
- Players on both teams can position themselves anywhere on the field of play but must remain at least 13m from the player hitting the kickout.
- Any player on the team taking the kickout, wanting to gain possession of the ball directly from the kickout, must be outside the 40m arc, when the ball is kicked (players may move into the arc to gain possession of the ball once the ball is kicked).
- Players from the opposing team may position themselves inside the 40m arc and win possession of the ball.
- Where a team nominate an outfield player to hit the kickout, the player wearing the Goalkeeper jersey must remain inside the small rectangle. This player cannot receive the ball.

U16 & U18 Football:

Full Engagement with all aspects of the new FRC Rules
3 v 3 Structure at 15-a-side
2 v 2 Structure at 13-a-side

Ulster Schools GAA have confirmed to us that they will NOT be implementing the new FRC rules in any of their competitions across the remainder of the 24/25 academic year. We acknowledge that this may cause slight confusion for players playing club and schools football simultaneously, but it will only be for a small window as most of the Ulster Schools competitions will be concluded by Easter.