Coldrick explains the new rules

If you are confused about the new rules that will be implemented in Gaelic football from 1st January, then let top Meath referee David Coldrick, long with National Referees Committee chairman Pat McEnaney and Marty Morrissey, explain.

'This came out of the football review and the feedback from right across the organisation,' Said Coldrick. 

'Democratically the change was looked for and that is what the guys have brought in. As in the past even with the experimental rules, whether these are a success or failure will be up to the wider GAA organisation.

'Referees will go out there and they will implement the new rules as they've been laid down and whatever happens at the end of that - and obviously, referees are behind these rule changes - once the association gives its full backing to these rules, there'll be no issue from a refereeing point of view.'

When asked to explain what he meant by 'full backing' of the GAA, he elaborated: 'As someone said there's no doubt in that first month or two that maybe - and it's hard to know until they're in practice - teams finishing with 13 players a side or whatever, then maybe the pressure will come on - that maybe this isn't the right way for the organisation to go. 

'There's a possibility that that will happen in the first month or two, as it did with the old experimental rules.

'Players, teams, management - they will get up to speed with the rules and once we get across that period it will just become part of the game - and I've no reason to doubt the GAA's backing for these rules, once that backing remains steadfast throughout that early period.'