Although it seemed to be one of the motions that would face a tough path to being passed before the Congress this weekend, motion 41 was approved by the slimmest of margins.
The motion proposed the introduction of a 'mark' to the game, allowing a player to claim a ball in the air and then decide to either play on or call a mark.
According to GAA.ie, the exact rule will read:
"When a player catches the ball cleanly from a kick-out without it touching the ground, on or past the 45m line nearest the kick-out 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".
If the player chooses to take the free kick, then the referee will allow the player five seconds to take a free kick, and opposing players must retreat 10 metres to allow the player space to take the kick.
Should he choose to play on immediately, then the player is not allowed to be challenged for the ball until he has taken four steps or "one act of kicking, hand passing, bouncing or toe-tapping the ball".
In order for the motion to pass, it needed a two-thirds majority, something which it very narrowly achieved as it was voted through by a margin of 62% to 38%.
Former Armagh footballer Jarlath Burns spoke in detail about how the mark would improve the game, but the reaction has been mixed to the news of the mark passing, with some arguing that it will slow the game down.
Cork's Diarmuid O'Donovan says the mark will undoubtedly slow the flow of the game. #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) 27 February 2016
Bit of negativity surrounding the mark proposal today. I think it would work very well, and thought it was good in the last trial. #GAA
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) 26 February 2016
The mark would not slow the game down any more than criss crossing the pitch with 10987 hand passes does #GAA
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) 27 February 2016
Central council will meet after the congress to decide when the mark will be introduced to the game, but reports suggest it could be as early as this summer's Championship.
