GAELIC GAMES/Rule changes: The GAA will introduce a number of rules experiments in the New Year. Most significant are the introduction of a sin bin, abolition of the pick-up in football and the awarding of two points for a sideline cut that goes over the bar in hurling.

These new provisions will come into force in next month's secondary competitions in Connacht, Leinster and Munster and will be applied across the board when the National Leagues commence in February. It will then be up to April's Congress to decide whether the changes should be adopted permanently.

"It is important that we continually examine ways in which we can improve our games," said association president Seán Kelly at the rules launch in Croke Park yesterday.

"There are some very interesting changes proposed, but it is important to remember that they can only be fully and properly assessed through implementing them in a competitive game scenario and we are particularly grateful to the provincial councils for allowing the football experiments to take place in their respective competitions."

Not all provinces, however, are enthusiastic about the experiments and the Ulster Council have declined to adopt the changes for the McKenna Cup, meaning that counties from the province will be going into the leagues without any acclimatisation.

The experiments were devised by two work groups under the chair of Connacht Council chairperson Tommy Moran (football) and his Leinster counterpart, Nicky Brennan (hurling).

Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer, a member of the football work group, emphasised the importance of its main initiative.

"There was a big grey area around the pick-up so I think it was about time that was cleared up. Fifty per cent of them are let go and 50 per cent are penalised but it's one in the finish that can make a difference to a team.

"We've been trying it in training a couple of nights and it's speeded it up no end. A lot of people will tell you that it's a skill you're taking out of the game but going down in rucks and trying to pick it up is something that needed to be cleaned up."

The provision will not extend to hurling.

There have been calls for the introduction of a sin bin for quite a while and Kelly is one of those in favour of the move, which it is hoped will reduce foul play.

O'Dwyer was asked if sending players to the sin bin for 10 minutes on receipt of a yellow card mightn't lead to a drastic reduction in team numbers. But he had little sympathy.

"If fellas are going to be fouling they deserve to be put in the bin. But let's try it and see how it goes."

There were also questions about two ideas that were not introduced even in experimental format.

The tackle in football remains unaffected, its modification apparently seen as moving the game too close to International Rules.

Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the players' union, the Gaelic Players Association, but a member of the football work group in his capacity as a Dublin player, said the tackle had been discussed.

"One of the big fears was that we might move too far too quickly and there was also a concern that we might be adopting too much of the Aussie Rules concept. It's our own game and we have to be mindful of that.

"The big concern amongst players is in the consistency of the application of the rules themselves. If we could get that right that would solve and eradicate many of the problems.

"The only alternative was the Aussie Rules model and players didn't want to go down that road of pulling and dragging and jumping on top of each other."

He added that consultation had identified inconsistent refereeing as the principal bone of contention among the GPA membership.

"I would have spoken to a number of the reps and asked them to speak to players. The major concern was consistency of application.

"Some days you're going out and it's a free and other days it's not. But if you look at some of the issues that were causing those problems, they're being addressed in this review."

Another member of the work group, intercounty referee Pat McEnaney, said the mark - another concept from the international game - had been considered but rejected.

"There wasn't enough call for it. We referred to it but it wasn't included. We didn't want to make too many changes."

The GAA director general, Liam Mulvihill, said the mark would slow down the game.

FOOTBALL WORK GROUP: Tommy Moran (chair), Brian McEniff, Mick O'Dwyer, Paul Durkan, Brian Dooher, Dessie Farrell, Pat Mc Eneaney.

HURLING WORK GROUP: Nicky Brennan (chair), Anthony Daly, George O'Connor, Eoin Kelly, Henry Shefflin, Aodán MacSuibhne.