New Hurling Rules: Ban on Consecutive Hand-Passes & Six Steps Allowed

New Hand-Pass Restrictions and Enforcement Standards

The updated rules overhaul how players distribute the sliotar by hand. According to the John Meyler hurling expert body, every hand-pass requires a clear and definite striking action of the hand. The onus rests entirely on the player to execute a legitimate movement. Referees and line umpires are instructed to award a free against the player if any doubt exists regarding the strike’s clarity. Furthermore, executing or attempting a hand-pass after receiving one from a teammate constitutes a technical foul, halting momentum immediately.

Ball Carriage Limits and Physical Contact Adjustments

Ball-carriers may now hold or carry the sliotar in hand for a maximum of six consecutive steps, an increase from the previous four-step limit. Concurrently, the tackle has been redefined to bar players from holding opponents with their arms as well as their hands. The Hurling Expert Advisory Group finalized these adjustments to shape play during the Higher Education Division One league kicking off in October.

Puck-Outs, Line Umpires, and Scoring Modifications

Puck-outs and sideline cuts undergo significant structural shifts. Play cannot resume from puck-outs until the referee blows the whistle. Additionally, 65-metre frees move back to the defending team’s 65m line, adding 10 metres of distance for the free-taker. Sideline cuts struck cleanly over the crossbar without another attacking player touching the ball will now yield two points.

Cynical Play Redefinitions and Advantage Rule Tweaks

Fouls denying clear goalscoring opportunities now encompass intentional body collisions after an opponent plays the ball away, pulling a jersey, or physically restricting an opponent from moving past the play. Referees will issue yellow or red cards for these infractions instead of black cards. The advantage rule also expands: if a team suffers a foul during a five-second advantage window, they can take the free from the initial foul location or any subsequent spot. Referees can extend the five-second timeframe to let a scoring attempt play out.

Throw-In Procedures and Sideline Official Roles

Throw-ins to start halves now feature just one player from each competing team, mirroring changes adopted in Gaelic football. A second player from each squad must stand on opposite sidelines at the halfway line to swap in during the second half, while all other teammates remain behind the 45-metre lines. General throw-ins require two opposing players to contest the ball with a direct ground stroke; failing to do so incurs a free. Meanwhile, line umpires assume assistant referee duties, splitting pitch supervision from endline to halfway, and must raise flags to signal foul play.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a player executes two consecutive hand-passes?

It is treated as a technical foul, resulting in a free awarded to the opposing team from the location where the second pass occurred, according to the review group recommendations.

How many steps can a player take while holding the ball?

Players may carry the ball in hand for up to six consecutive steps, an increase from the previous four-step limit.

Where are 65-metre frees taken from under the trial rules?

They are taken from the defending team’s 65-metre line inside their own half of the field, increasing the overall distance for the free-taker.

What is the penalty for a sideline cut struck over the crossbar?

It awards two points to the attacking team, provided no other teammate has touched the ball.