Conference playoffs are starting today and the NCAA playoffs are just around the corner. Playoff officials should take a few minutes to review the tiebreaking procedure in Rule 7.1.2. NCAA-specific requirements include:
- Only players who are listed on the game roster are eligible to participate in the tiebreaker. Please note anyone on the roster may be designated to participate in the tiebreaker. There is no requirement for the player to be on the field when the second overtime period ends.
- Each team shall designate 10 players to participate in the tiebreaker. I strongly recommend officials require the team to designate these 10 players before the tiebreaker procedure begins.
- Once the kicks are taken, the order of the designated kickers shall remain the same. Kicks rarely go past the tenth kicker but if they do, officials must ensure the kicking order remains the same.
- If a designated player is ejected during the tiebreaker, the opposing team has the option to reduce their list of designated players to match the number of remaining designated on the offending team or change their kicking order.
- The visiting team calls the coin toss. The winner of the coin toss has the option to kick first or last. The referee will determine which goal is used for the tiebreaker.
- Once the goalkeeper is designated, he or she shall not be replaced unless injured or ejected. Injuries in this case shall be determined by the attending physician and/or a certified trainer. The goalkeeper may return to the tiebreaker if physically able.
Recent feedback from the national level indicates some officials are not administrating the overtime rule (Rule 7.1.1) properly for games tied after the regulation 90 minutes. The rule states that two sudden-victory overtime periods of 10 minutes each shall be played.
Please note the following aspects of this rule:
- The length and number of the overtime periods shall not be altered.
- Overtime MUST be played.
- The game is over when a legal goal is scored.
In several instances, coaches have asked the referee crew to shorten or eliminate overtime periods and the referee crew allowed it. Coaches may not alter this rule even if both agree to it before the match.
The 2012-2013 NCAA Soccer Rules have been published and should be mailed to registered NISOA members in early August. You can download the Rules Book (pdf) from our website now.
The NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel has approved the soccer rules changes proposed by the Soccer Rules Committee for the 2012 and 2013 season. You can download/view the changes here.
Rich Gramolini spotted this interesting NCAA rules interpretation in a recent issue of Referee Magazine:
During a penalty kick, a teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper deflects the ball over the crossbar. What action should the referee take? Ruling: For NCAA games, award a goal kick (AR 14.3.2).
This interpretation has been confirmed by Ken Andres, NCAA Secretary Rules Editor.
September 15th, 2011
8:09 pm
General
Jack Sweeney, the Region XV assignor, sent us the following memo describing the rules differences for NJCAA games. Please note that the NJCAA has not modified their procedures since the 2009 season. A printer-friendly version of the rules differences memo is available here for download. Read the rest of this entry »
Rule 14.2 has been modified in 2010 to clarify that the player taking the penalty kick is permitted to use a stutter step or a hesitation move provided there is no stopping and there is continuous movement toward the ball. Should the kicker stop during his / her movement to the ball during the penalty kick, the kicker has violated 14.2. This does NOT automatically require a caution; even though Rule 14.3.3 states that the player SHALL be cautioned.
A complete NISOA/NCAA interpretation of the rule with restart outcomes is available for download as a pdf.
This interpretation was originally published on the NCAA Soccer Central Hub on arbitersports.com.
