The NISOA Executive Council held a scheduled meeting in Kansas City, Missouri from January 12, 2012 through January 14, 2012. The following issues were discussed/approved:
- Lime green was approved as another alternate shirt color.
- Major changes to the NISOA National Referee program were approved including:
- Eliminating the current two year cycle for recertification and new applicants. Recertification and new applicants will be processed annually.
- Modifications to the annual assessment requirements for National Referees.
- Single day recertification/certification clinics will be located throughout the country, hosted by select local chapters.
- National Referees and National Referee Applicants will take the fitness test with their local chapter and not at the recertification clinic.
- Elimination of the National Referee Candidate category. Upon approved application, successful attendance at the clinic and attaining the minimum acceptable average score on the fitness test, the applicant will become a National Referee.
- A revised application form was posted with lower application fees.
- Renewal dues will not increase for the 2013 season.
Complete and detailed information regarding the National Referee Program changes will be posted on the NISOA web site in the upcoming weeks.
NISOA has issued a new draft policy code 900.241, Mandatory Dress Code - Jewelry which states:
NISOA officials will not wear visible jewelry when officiating a collegiate soccer game. This includes but is not limited to pierced earrings, necklaces, bracelets, tongue piercings, or other items. NISOA officials will be at the same level of standard that is expected of players and the NCAA Rule Book.
Compliance with this policy will be mandatory pending approval at the Annual General Meeting in Frisco, Texas on July 16, 2011.
The NISOA Executive Board modified the Dress Code policy at their January 2010 meeting to allow officials to wear white striped socks with all current referee shirt colors. Consequently, our chapter's executive board has established a chapter policy that for all intercollegiate soccer games where all members of the officiating crew are NY Metro ISOA members, all officials shall be dressed alike and wear black socks with three white stripes.
Members must be prepared to have all required uniform items (including socks with colored stripes) when they are officiating with members of other NISOA chapters since this uniform policy is limited to just the New York Metro ISOA chapter.
We received this email from Joe Bednarsh, Athletic Director at Yeshiva University:
Please note:
The Yeshiva University women’s athletic teams have received a waiver to the NCAA uniform rule that allows them to wear various types of clothing in deference to the modesty issues of Orthodox Judaism. A copy of that waiver is attached (pdf).
Please share this information with all applicable personnel and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Many thanks
Joe
The following is an excerpt from the NCAA's waiver letter:
This letter is in response to your recent request for a waiver to the NCAA's uniform policies for religious reasons. The NCAA has granted a waiver allowing all the women's teams at Yeshiva University to substitute skirts, long-sleeve undershirts, tights, and head coverings for portions of the competition uniforms. As you noted in your letter, all of the listed items must be made of the same uniform material, be identical in color, and in all other ways comply with the NCAA rules and regulations regarding uniforms.
Yeshiva University is responsible for notifying opposing teams of the waiver. Additionally, all coaches should keep a copy of the waiver on hand and the waiver should be presented to game officials and coordinators before contests as appropriate.
Again, this waiver includes all women's teams, so individual student-athletes will not need a separate waiver.
Please respect this waiver accordingly.
The NISOA Dress/Attire Policy specifies all match officials shall dress alike. The policy also stipulates the color of stripes on the officials' socks shall match the primary color of the shirt except white striped socks shall be worn with the black grid shirt.
The policy also includes recommended attire for travel to the match site. A neat, professional appearance makes an excellent initial impression.
The NISOA Executive Council has approved a new referee badge (or patch, if you prefer). This badge is to be worn by all officials (except for NISOA National Referees) for all intercollegiate competitions unless otherwise specified by the governing sports authority, effective immediately. NISOA is distributing the badges by mail. We plan on ordering additional badges for member purchase before the annual rules interpretation meeting.
