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New rules for hurling to be trialled in October - Published A number of rule changes in hurling will be trialled from next month following an interim report, external published by the GAA's Hurling Expert Advisory Group. October's Fitzgibbon Cup league for universities and colleges will be the trial ground with changes to passing rules and point scoring among 24 amendments. The main changes include: A player cannot play a handpass having received one Two points awarded for scoring a sideline cut 65s are to be taken from the line inside the team's own half Throw-ins to begin a half contested by just one player from each team with a ground stroke required. Puck-outs will be required to travel at least 45 metres - ending the quickfire short restarts - with three players from each team to remain between the 20m and 45m lines to prevent bunching around the middle. A player will now be permitted to carry the sliotar for six steps, with an update to the handpass rule in an effort to eliminate throwing as "a clear and definite striking action of a hand" is required, while the much maligned 'spare arm tackle' on a player will be penalised in an effort to limit the number of rucks in a game. The power of line officials is also to be increased to assist referees, while a team is permitted to nominate one 'maor foirne' [official] to enter the field during breaks in play to relay messages. "The publication of the interim report and commencement of the Fitzgibbon Cup League trials represents another step towards a continuous, collaborative and evidence-led approach to the development of hurling," said GAA president Jarlath Burns. "We have seen how football has benefited from being brave and looking to see how we can improve our game. Those benefits have been swift and dramatic. "The intention here is not to change hurling for the sake of change. It is to protect what makes hurling unique, understand where the game needs to evolve and ensure it remains strong, relevant and sustainable for future generations. "It is possible that some of the items here will require further amendment, but we'll only know that after we have carried out these trials." One or two tweaks can improve the game - Meyler The recommendations follow a survey conducted by the group which received 8,500 replies from players, supporters and media and will be monitored by the Games Intelligence Unit, with feedback gathered from players, coaches, referees and other stakeholders to determine what does and doesn't work. Should any of the amendments be met with approval, they will then be subject to the Standing Committee on Playing Rules (SCPR) for permanent ratification. "We won't make changes and the GAA won't make changes unless it's based on evidence," John Meyler, chair of the HEAG, told GAA.ie., external "Those Fitzgibbon League matches will be of huge benefit to us, and we will analyse them to a T again, to see what positive has come out of it, what negative has come out of it. On that basis we will make decisions. "Hopefully one or two or three may get to the floor of [GAA] congress, and be voted on. It's a very difficult process to get through, but the evidence suggests hurling needs one or two tweaks. "It doesn't need a radical, major overhaul. It just needs one or two tweaks to improve the game, and to move the game on for the next two, three, four or five years to see where we are."