Congress: Good news for high fielders as 'mark' given the green light
February 27, 2016
Tipperary's Martin Dunne and Tommy Walsh of Kerry
©INPHO
A motion to introduce a 'mark' into gaelic football has been passed at Annual Congress in Carlow today.
In what is a radical change to the playing rules, motion 41 was passed with 68% of the votes and it reads: "When a player catches the ball cleanly from a Kick-Out without it touching the ground, on or past the 45m line nearest the KickOut point, he shall be awarded 'a Mark' by the Referee. The player awarded a 'Mark' shall have the options of (a) Taking a free kick or (b) Playing on immediately.
The following procedures shall apply:
(a) A Free Kick
The player shall signify to the Referee that he is availing of and then take the free kick himself from the hand from the point where he was awarded the 'Mark'.
Once the player indicates he is taking the 'Mark' the Referee will allow up to five seconds for the player to take the kick. If the player delays longer than five seconds the Referee will cancel the 'Mark' and throw in the ball between a player from each side. Once the player indicates he is taking the 'Mark', the opposing players must retreat 10m to allow the player space to take the kick. If an opposition player deliberately blocks or attempts to block the kick within 10m, or if an opposition player impedes the player while he is taking the kick, the Referee shall penalise the opposition by bringing the ball forward 13m.
If the Referee determines that the player who makes the 'Mark' has been injured in the process and is unable to take the kick, the Referee shall direct the Player's nearest team mate to take the kick but he may not score directly from the kick.
(b) Play on immediately
(i) In this circumstance the player may not be challenged for the ball until he carries the ball up to a maximum of four consecutive steps or holds the ball for no longer than the time needed to take four steps and/or makes one act of kicking, hand passing, bouncing or toe-tapping the ball.
(ii) If he is illegally challenged, a free kick shall be awarded to his team from the point at which the challenge is made, and this free kick may be taken by any player on his team."
