Weekly Soccer 'Blast' for Jan. 7

 

 

2018-2019 GHSA/NFHS SOCCER
Uniform Rules

2018-19 NFHS Soccer Rules Changes

4-1-1a, b a.  The home team shall wear dark jerseys and socks (dark is defined as any color which contrasts with white), and the visiting team shall wear solid white jerseys and solid white socks.  Prior to and during the game, jerseys shall be tucked into the shorts, unless manufactured to be worn outside. b.  Both socks shall be the same color, with the home team wearing socks of a single dominant color, but not necessarily the color of the jersey and the visiting team wearing solid white sock. If tape or a similar material (stays/ straps) is applied externally to the socks, it must be of similar color as that part of the sock to which it is applied. Rationale: This change allows home teams to wear the school-colored jerseys at home.   The change would provide the opportunity for teams to use an alternative color uniform for "special" events, if approved by the state association.

 

4-1-1d, e  d.  If visible apparel is worn under the jersey and/or shorts, it shall be of similar length for an individual and a solid liked-color for the team.  Rationale: The previous rule caused financial hardships for some players and schools.  The rule allows for the purchase of one set of cold-weather undergarments per player.

 

4-2-10  In addition to the above permitted uses, state associations may on an individual basis  (NEW) permit a player to participate while wearing a head covering if it meets the following criteria: 1.  For medical or cosmetic reasons – In the event a participant is required by a licensed medical physician to cover his/her head with a covering or wrap, the physician’s statement is required before the state association can approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely that it will come off during play. 2.  For religious reasons – In the event there is documented evidence provided to the state association that a participant may not expose his/her uncovered head, the state association may approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely to come off during play.  Rationale:  The addition of this exception allows for the participation of students who for religious reasons must maintain a covered head in all situations.  The same is true for the student who for medical or cosmetic reasons needs to cover the head

 

 

2019 NFHS SOCCER RULES INTERPRETATIONS

Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2018

RULES BOOK CORRECTIONS: (Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions.) Page 24, 4.1.1 SITUATION D, RULING: (a) Illegal in (a) and (b). Striped jerseys are permissible for the home team as long as the dominant color is dark (dark is defined as any color which contrasts with white). Jerseys with equal-sized stripes that have both dark and white stripes do not have a dominant dark color and are illegal. If visible apparel is worn under the jersey and/or shorts, it shall be similar in length for the individual and all solid and of a like color for the team; Page 79, Comments on Rules Changes: 12.8.1f(15)

PRESEASON GUIDE CORRECTIONS: Page 3, Offside (11-1-4), 2nd paragraph, Play 11, RULING: Indirect free kick at the spot of the infraction (even in own half) Because B1 denied A1 an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the referee awards the opponent a direct free kick and issues a red card to B1; Page 14, Too Close for Their Own Good, second paragraph, first two sentences: Neither a coach nor a trainer is a player, and cannot be assessed a handling foul. But, since a non-player has interfered with the game, the restart is a direct free kick from the point of the infraction.

SITUATION 1: A player who is part of a wall in a free kick moves his/her hands after the kick to protect his/her face from the ball. RULING: The hand movement is deemed to be a reflex action and is not considered to be deliberate handling. Protecting the head, face, groin or chest from a hard shot or pass using the hands or arms as a reflex is not considered deliberate and therefore not handling. (12-2)

SITUATION 2: A player who is in a defensive position during the taking of a free kick places his/her hands or arms against any part of the body for protection. The offensive player kicks the ball, striking the hands while he/ she remains in front of the body or the arms remain over the chest. In both cases, the hands and arms are stationary. RULING: Legal. This is not handling because the ball struck a stationary hand or arm close to the body and in a natural position, rather than a hand or arm playing the ball. (12-2)

SITUATION 3: A2 kicks a low, hard pass to his/her teammate: (a) B1, a male player who is in the path of the ball, moves his hand to protect his groin and the ball touches his hand; (b) B1, a female player who is in the path of the ball, moves her hand to protect her chest and the ball touches her hand. RULING: Legal in both (a) and (b). Protecting the head, face, groin and chest from a hard shot or pass using the hands or arms as a reflex is not considered deliberate and, therefore, not handling. (12-2)

SITUATION 4: A1 plays the ball toward A2. A2 is in an offside position and runs from the offside position into his/her own half of the field and plays the ball. RULING: A2 is offside as he/ she was in an offside position when the ball was played. An indirect free kick is taken where A2 touched or played the ball. (11-1-4)

SITUATION 5: B1, while attempting to play the ball, trips the attacking player, A1, in the penalty area, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. RULING: The official awards a penalty kick to Team A and issues a caution to B1. (12-8-1)

SITUATION 6: B1, with no attempt to play the ball, trips the attacking player, A1, inside the penalty box, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. RULING: The referee awards Team A a penalty kick and issues a red card to B1. [12-8-2d(4)]

SITUATION 7: B1 trips the attacking player, A1, outside the penalty box, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. RULING: The referee awards Team A a direct free kick and issues a red card to B1. [12-8-2d(3)]

SITUATION 8: A player, coach or bench personnel enters or leaves the playing field without permission from the official and interferes with play or an official. RULING: The referee shall penalize the infraction with a direct free kick from the point of the infraction. (13-2-1j)

SITUATION 9: A player, coach or bench personnel enters or leaves the playing field without permission from the official, but does not interfere with play or an official. RULING: The referee shall penalize the infraction with an indirect free kick from the point of the infraction. (13-2-3a)

SITUATION 10: A1 passes the ball and a defender, B1, heads the ball directly to A2, who is in an offside position. RULING: A2 is not offside because he/she received the ball directly from a defender who deliberately played the ball. (11-1-4)

 

OVERTIME PROCEDURES

1. The overtime will consist of one (1) fifteen-minute period, which will be played in its entirety.

2. A coin toss shall take place to determine which team will put the ball in play first.

3. If the score remains tied following the overtime period, a “shootout” of penalty kicks will determine the winner.

4. The head referee shall choose the goal at which the penalty kicks will be taken.

5. Each coach will select any five (5) eligible players (including goalkeeper) to take the kicks.

6. A coin toss shall be held with the team winning the toss having the choice of kicking first or last in the first round.

7. Teams will then alternate kickers in an A-B-B-A rotation, and there is no follow up on the kicks.

8. The defending team may change goalkeepers prior to each kick.

9. Following five kicks from each team, the team with the greater number of successful kicks will be given one (1) point and declared the winner.

10. If the same number of penalty kicks are successful for each team, each coach will select five (5) different eligible players who will kick in a “sudden victory” situation. Each team will have an opportunity to kick in each round of the sudden victory procedure.

11. If there is no sudden victory winner after five (5) kicks, the process will be repeated until a winner is determined.