"The Mark" is to be implemented in the Independent.ie Higher Education GAA Senior Football League Division 1.

 Ahead of its full roll out across The Association on January 1st 2017, Central Council have granted Comhairle Ardoideachais permission to implement the rule in the college competition due to take place in October and November of 2016.

Sixteen third level institutes from all four provinces take part in the 31 fixtures in Division 1 of the Senior Football League to determine the home of the Ryan Cup for the winter months. All of these fixtures will be refereed by members of the National Football Referee panel. Both the colleges and referees involved have received training so that all players, managers and referees can implement the rule. The feedback from these fixtures shall greatly inform the training requirements for all players, coaches, referees & administrators in relation to this, across the whole of the Association, ahead of the aforementioned implementation on January 1st 2017.

Ard Chomhairle have defined the Rule as follows;
When a player catches the ball cleanly from a Kick-Out without it touching the ground, on or past the 45m line nearest the kick out point, he shall be awarded a ‘Mark’ by the Referee. The player awarded a ‘Mark’ shall have the options of (a) Taking a free kick or (b) Playing on immediately.

Follow all the action including fixtures, results and live score updates on www.gaa.ie/highereducation  the ‘GAA Higher Education’ Facebook page and on Twitter @HigherEdGAA.