Camogie to trial new rules
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WITH the National Leagues due to get underway on 14/15 February, and the All-Ireland Championships beginning in May, the Camogie Association will trial a number of new rules during 2026, applying to the National Leagues, Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championships and U/23 All-Ireland Championships only.
Helmet Removal Rule A player who during a game removes their helmet or has had it removed by a player/official from the player’s own team shall be presumed to be potentially injured and shall be instructed by the referee to leave the Field of Play to be assessed for injury and the helmet refitted.
The player shall not return to the Field of Play until the next break in play, at the earliest, and with the permission of the referee.
Non-medical substitutions A player may not be substituted after the completion of 30 minutes of each half and, if applicable, 10 minutes of each half in extra-time, other than in circumstances covered by Rules 5.2 (Temporary Substitution/Blood replacement) and 5.4 (Concussion/Suspected Concussion) above, or in the case of an obvious injury outside of 5.2 and 5.4.
In the case of an obvious injury outside of Rule 5.2 and 5.4, the substitution made will be as outlined in Rule 5.1.
Charging Rule A player may not: Charge directly into an opponent’s body with or without the sliotar. If, however, the referee deems the contact to be engaging in rough play, the referee will deal with this infraction under Rule 10.2.f.
Penalty: A free to the opposing team from where the foul occurred. If foul occurs inside the 20m line the free will be given on the 20m line closest to where the foul occurred; For a first offence, a player has her name and jersey number noted with a tick by the Referee. For a second offence, a player has her name and jersey number taken by the Referee and is given a warning from the Referee indicated by a yellow card.
Player Dissent 11.7:
No player may approach within 10 metres of the free-taker until an attempt to strike the sliotar has been made, and no player may physically or verbally distract a free-taker. (A player holding her hurley upright does not constitute as interference.) Penalty: A free must be awarded from a point 30 metres nearer to the offending player’s goal but not within the 20 metre line of that goal.
11.11: A player may not:
show dissent with the Referee’s decision to award a free to the opposing team.
Penalty: The free already awarded shall be taken from a place 30m more advantageous than the place of original free – up to opponents’ 20m line.
11.12 (Paragraph 2 update): In the event of a 20-metre free, should a member of the defending team show dissent or be in breach of Playing Rules 11.7, the free must be awarded from a point on the 20-metre line 30 metres nearer to the centre of the goal. If within 30 metres of the centre, the free must be taken from a point opposite the centre.
Team Official Dissent:
11.13 A Team Official may not:
1. Challenge the authority of a Referee, Score Umpire, Line Umpire or Sideline Official.
2. Threaten or use abusive or provocative language or gestures to an opposing player; team official or Referee, Score Umpire, Line Umpire or Sideline Official.
Penalty: A free puck on the opponent’s 20m line at the centre of the scoring space.
Communication with Referee through Team Captain:
11.14 The team captain, or a nominated deputy if the captain is the goalkeeper or the captain is no longer on the field, are the only players who may speak to the referee to seek clarification of a decision made by the referee and such clarification may only be sought during a break in play.
Penalty: The free already awarded shall be taken from a place 30m more advantageous than the place of original free – up to opponents’ 20m line.
Sideline Puck inside the defensive 45-metre line A player may choose to take a side-line puck from their hand if they are inside their own 45-metre line. She must take it from the place where the sliotar crossed the side-line. She must wait for the referee’s whistle and all other normal rules apply for the Side-line Puck. The goalkeeper for the team awarded a sideline puck inside their own 45 metre line is not allowed to take the side-line puck from the hand. Any player deliberately obstructing the player’s sideline puck will be dealt with per Rule 10.2g.
If a player takes a sideline puck from a position not outside the boundary line.
Penalty: The Referee must throw in the sliotar where the foul occurred as per Rule 9.3 of the Playing Rules. If the breach is within the 20-metre line, the Referee must throw in the sliotar on the 20-metre line.
If a player for the team awarded a sideline advances the sliotar deliberately from the place at which a side-line puck is to be taken.
Penalty: The Referee must throw in the sliotar where the foul occurred as per Rule 9.3 of the Playing Rules. If the breach is within the 20-metre line, the Referee must throw in the sliotar on the 20-metre line.
If a player for the team awarded a sideline inside the defensive 45 metre line advances the sliotar deliberately from the place at which a side-line puck is to be taken and takes it from outside the 45-metre line.
Penalty: The Referee must throw in the sliotar where the foul occurred as per Rule 9.3 of the Playing Rules. If the breach is within the 20-metre line, the Referee must throw in the sliotar on the 20-metre line.
Should the player taking the sideline puck from the hand, inside the defensive 45 metre line, miss the sliotar at the first attempt she may strike on the ground. She may not take it into her hand a second time.
Penalty: The Referee must throw in the sliotar where the foul occurred as per Rule 9.3 of the Playing Rules. If the breach is within the 20-metre line, the Referee must throw in the sliotar on the 20-metre line.
