By Irishexaminer.com,John Fogarty

Copyright irishexaminer

Is Special Congress going to be a rubberstamping exercise?

It’s not but it certainly comes close. There has been widespread support for the amendments to the game such as the solo-and-go and four players back/three forward not to mention how their dissent measures have cleaned up the game and will go a long way to recruiting more referees.

Not the FRC never mind anybody else anticipated all of their motions last year would be passed but this time it’s different: those changes being put forward in Croke Park are permanent.

Delegates will think longer and harder but if the vast majority of the motions aren’t passed, it will come as quite the surprise.

What are the motions most at risk?

The advanced mark and the clock/hooter. The former doesn’t seem to have a great bearing on the game (almost one mark was taken in every 10 inter-county games this past season) but the FRC have retained it as a forward making a clean catch from a kicked pass 20 metres or more in length has the option of going for goal safe in the knowledge that they have the consolation of a mark.

Derry, Galway, Longford and Tyrone are among the counties who aren’t fans of the clock/hooter and now that it has changed back to its original format – the end of each half will be confirmed with the siren unless there is a free, sideline or 45 to be taken – there is a feeling even the FRC are unsure about it.

Potential reputational damage by the mechanism remains a fear for the Central Competitions Control Committee.

Will FRC chairman Gavin present the motions?

That is the question. Opinions are mixed. Some in the GAA leadership take the Mastermind approach – he started so he’ll finish. Gavin was so convincing in his deliverance of the rules in their experimental guise last year that he will be seen by some as fundamental to them becoming permanent fixtures in Gaelic football.

Others see it as a platform for his presidency candidacy (20 days out from the election, does the GAA want Special Congress becoming a political circus?).

Then there’s the school of thought in Fianna Fáil that taking the rostrum could leave himself open to criticism. It’s a hard one to call at the minute but standing rules committee chairman Liam Keane could be asked to fill in if Gavin becomes unavailable.

If passed, how quickly will the amended motions come into play?

It will be a case of carry on regardless for the majority of rule changes in the county championships, which will be reaching their conclusions next month.

The clock/hooter as per the current rule is in operation in the likes of Meath and will appear in the business end of other competitions but the provincial competitions control committee will determine which if all or any of the newly-passed motions will be in commission for their championships come the beginning of November.

If backed, allowing a two-pointer to count even if it is touched by an opponent over the bar, would be likely be introduced at that stage. The finalised list of rules will be active for the pre-season competitions in January.

What chance have the additional rule changes the FRC have asked the standing rules committee to consider?

In their final report, the FRC have made a swathe of recommendations for the GAA to consider or about which they should keep an open mind. They will be for another day. One of the simplest ideas would appear to be the team that loses the coin toss is the one that remains on the pitch at half-time, allowing the other to leave first.

Having said that, all players have to be made aware of who wins it in the first place. Some counties will rail against it as too harsh but the proposal to punish teams unduly returning late to the field after half-time with a free kick from the halfway line is sensible.

A solo-and-go option from a sideline may put too much physical toil on players. The four-point goal, which the FRC want assessed further, will be debated again.