New hurling rules come into play on March 28

The new hurling rules, approved by Congress on February 28, will be in use from March 28 onwards.

They include:

Changes to the Dissent Rule (players): Previously, when a player showed dissent (argued or complained) about a referee’s decision, the referee could move the ball 13 metres closer to the opposing goal.

Now the referee can move the ball 30 metres forward instead of 13 metres. This can only be done once for the same incident. If the dissent continues, either by the same player, or by another player on the same team, then the referee should give a yellow card to the offending player under Rule 6.1. 2.

There are extra sanctions for minor (U18) and younger grades.

At minor (U18), level and all younger age grades, if a player is guilty of dissent, the player must leave the field for 10 minutes (a “sin bin”).

The referee gives the player a black card. The player’s team may bring on a temporary substitute during those 10 minutes.

Team management (e.g. manager, selectors, coaches, backroom staff) can now be penalised under the Dissent Rule for the following:

Challenging the authority of the referee or any match official.

Threatening or using abusive or provocative language towards an opposing player or team official.

Using abusive language towards the referee or any match official.

Disruptive conduct (for example, behaviour that delays or interferes with the game).

Minor physical interference with a referee or match official, or threatening/abusive behaviour or threatening language towards them.

Any type of assault on a referee or match official.

If a member of team management commits any of the above offences during play, a free is awarded to the opposing team on the offending team’s 20-metre line, in front of the scoring space.

Before the game starts, at half-time, or before extra time play will start or restart with a free to the opposing team from the offending team’s 20-metre line, in front of the scoring space for any form of abusive language etc towards the referee or other officials.