NY Metro ISOA News

NCAA Soccer Rules; Tiebreaker

Once again, it’s playoff time so please take a couple of minutes to review NCAA Rule 7.1.2. Important and specific points of the rule are highlighted in this article published last year.

Offside Restart

Our last clinic and article on offside have generated a lot of positive feedback and discussion on this issue. One aspect of offside we did not discuss was the location of the restart after an offside infraction. Read the rest of this entry »

Offside Revisited

During last night’s chapter business meeting/clinic, we discussed the three elements the Assistant Referee must consider before raising the flag to indicate an offside infraction. The goal of the clinic was to increase the consistency of offside decision making based on the common language and elements of Rule 11. In summary, in order for there to be an offside offense, the attacking player in an offside position must be:

• Interfering with play (defined as playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate)  or;
• Interfering with an opponent (defined as preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball) or;
• Gaining an advantage by being in that position (defined as playing a ball that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent or playing a ball that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent).

Read the rest of this entry »

Heat and Humidity Dangers

Heat and high humidity are a significant part of the playing conditions at the start of the intercollegiate soccer season. While the NCAA soccer rules do not address heat and humidity specifically, Rule 5.6.1 can be broadly applied by the referee to suspend a match for any reason deemed necessary. Dangerous heat conditions can and probably should be considered in this context.

Referees are encouraged to use  judgement in their application of Rule 5.6.1, especially in cases where a brief water break will reduce the risk of endangering player safety. The match should be resumed as soon as possible as conditions allow in this case.

Additional discussion and background on this interpretation is available on the NISOA web site.

NCAA Soccer Rules Review; Tiebreaker

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.
• As of the 2014-2015 NCAA Soccer Rules, the order of the designated kickers may be changed after the tenth kick.
• 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.

NCAA Soccer Rules; Regular Season Overtime

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.

2012-2013 NCAA Soccer Rules Book Available for Download

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.