Rule Changes for 2024 Season

The following rule changes were approved and enacted following the 2024 LGFA Congress held in Ennis, County Clare. They apply to all games and competitions taking place in Antrim and are effective immediately.

Mentors, Maor Foirne and sideline officials

• Only the manager, one mentor and the medic are permitted on the sideline.

Yellow Cards

• A player returning to the pitch following a yellow card sin bin must have the referee’s permission. Failure to comply will result in a second yellow and subsequent red card.

Fouls

• Playing the ball away with the foot, without intent, while another player is about to pick it up shall be penalised by a free
• Pushing or holding an opponent with the hand, forearm, or other body part shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team. Repetition of these fouls, except for those occurring unintentionally, shall constitute a Yellow Card offence.
• Pinching an opponent shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team. Repetition of these fouls, except for those occurring unintentionally, shall constitute a Yellow Card offence.
• Charging of an opponent with moderate impact, including charging with the shoulder to the upper body shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team, and the offending player’s name taken, and shown a Yellow Card.
• Deliberate body collide to take a player out of the movement of play shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team, and the offending player’s name taken, and shown a Yellow Card.
• Kicking, or attempting to kick, an opponent or colleague shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team, and the offending player shown the Red Card and ordered off the field of play without caution.
• Using racist, sectarian, transphobic or homophobic language or gestures towards an opponent shall be penalised by a free being awarded to the opposing team, and the offending player shown the Red Card and ordered off the field of play without caution.

Kick Outs

• The ball must be kicked forward from the hands or off the ground on or before the 20 metre line, directly in front of the goalposts, for a kick out after a score or wide in all competitions. If an attacking player deliberately delays the kick out the ball shall be moved forward 13 metres.

Referee

• All club from Under 13 to Adult games within counties must be officiated by a referee who has completed an LGFA referee education course and they must attend an annual referee refresher course to maintain qualifications.

Official Guide

You can view the full LGFA Official Guide at this link. All coaches, mentors, officials, referees and players should be familiar with the Official Guide.