SCSOA San Diego – Important High School Soccer Rule Differences from FIFA, 2009-2010 season.

High School Rules Differences

1-4-1        Vertical goal posts may be padded to max thickness of 1 inch and minimum height of 72 inches.

1-6 Spectators must be at least 10 feet from the touchline and team area. If stands or bleachers are present, all spectators will be in them before the game. No one, including photographers, shall be permitted directly behind either goal unless seated in bleachers.

1-7 Before the game starts, the school decides whether the field is playable. After the game starts, the referee decides whether the field is safe to continue playing. Use common sense.

2-1                 Home team provides at least three game balls.

2-2-5 Game Balls shall have NFHS Authenticating Mark.

3-1-1bc      Team captains may ask about rules and to obtain essential information, but may not dissent or delay the game.

3-1-3           The coach of each team must submit a line-up sheet to the referee 5 minutes before game time, including players’ names and numbers, and names of all coaches and bench personnel.  Players, coaches and bench personnel may be added at anytime after the game starts.

3-2-1  Team winning the coin toss has the option, ball or side.

3-3-2-b-2 Injured players (including goalkeepers) must leave the field but do not have to be substituted for unless it is the goalkeeper who must leave.

3-3-2-c-2 Cautioned players (including goalkeepers) must leave the field but do not have to be substituted for, unless it is the goalkeeper that must leave.

3-3-6        If an injured player is not substituted for, they may return to play at the next stoppage of play. 

3-3-2-b-3    If an injured player becomes unconscious or appears to be unconscious, may not return to play without written authorization from a physician.  

3-3-2-b-4  Penalty kick: only injured players may be substituted, and a substitute may not take the penalty kick.

3-3-2-c-4  Penalty kick: only cautioned players may be substituted, and a substitute may not take the penalty kick.

3-3-3           The team in possession may substitute an unlimited number of players on their A) throw-in, B) corner kick,

3-3-4           The team not in possession may substitute an unlimited number of players when the team in possession substitutes on a throw-in or corner kick.

3-4-1-b    A substitute may enter the field of play after a goal without being beckoned by the referee.

3-5           A goalkeeper may change places with a field player whenever the clock is stopped. The referee shall be notified. The first time a goalkeeper and field player change without notifying the referee, they shall be warned and not cautioned.

3-6-1  When a team substitutes to consume time, the referee may stop time and notify the coach of the offending team. Repetition may be construed as unsporting behavior.

4-1                       Shinguards can be no higher than 2 inches above the ankle. Shinguards must meet the NOCSAE (National Operating Committee Standards for Athletic Equipment) specifications.

4-1 Uniforms - Varsity teams will follow the clothing  rules in the rulebook. JV and freshman teams are not required to.

4-1-1-b Home team wears white or light jerseys and stockings, visiting team wears dark jerseys and stockings.

4-1-1-c    Both stockings are  of same color with a single dominant color. 

4-1-1-h When an illegally uniformed team is unable to correct the situation or cannot verify state association approval of the uniform, the game shall be played.  The referee must notify the CIF.

4-1-1-b    Prior to and during the game jerseys shall be tucked into the shorts, unless manufactured to be worn outside.

4-1-1-f  Visible apparel worn under the uniform shorts or shirt doesn’t have to be the same color as the shorts but must be the same color for all players on that team.

4-1-1-i-2 Goalkeeper JERSEY shall be distinctly different from all EXCEPT the other goalkeeper. Goalkeeper shorts and socks do not have to be different from teammates. of a single dominant color.

4-2-1-e Other illegal equipment: Spectacle guards.  Goalkeeper may wear a soft helmet with NO bill or protruding design /or soft-billed non-dangerous baseball-type cap/visor.

4-2-1-g Ankle braces made of metal or unyielding material must be covered by a sock or other suitable material. 

4-2-1-c Players with appropriately covered casts, splints and body braces must a medical release signed by a licensed medical physician available at the field.

4-2-3           Sweatbands may be worn on the head or wrist, but bandanas, rolled or otherwise, shall not be worn.

4-2-4           No jewelry, including earrings, even if taped, no strings or bracelets.  Medical medals and medical bracelets may be worn, but must be taped to the body, with the medical data visible.  Religious medals must be taped to the body under the shirt.

4-2-6/7 Players may wear non-dangerous hearing aids and non-dangerous mouth protectors.

4-2-8        A player with facial injuries may wear a protective face mask.  It may be made of hard material, but must be molded to the face with no protrusions.  A medical release for the injured player signed by a physician (medical doctor) must be available at the field.

4-3 Improper Equipped Players (legal equipment being worn incorrectly, or which became illegal during play).

                 If an immediate dangerous situation does not exist ITOOTR, wait until the next stoppage of play and remove the player (jersey not tucked in is being worn incorrectly).  No replacement until the next opportunity to sub, but the removed player may return at the next stoppage after the equipment has been inspected by an official.  NO CAUTION.

                 Illegally Equipped Player (not wearing required equipment or wearing item not allowed).  If an immediate dangerous situation does not exist ITOOTR, wait until the next stoppage of play and remove the player.  For the first offense, CAUTION THE COACH.  For the next offense, CAUTION the PLAYER.

                 Removed player who has NOT been cautioned (the FIRST one) may return at the next stoppage of play after the equipment has been inspected by an official.  That player may NOT be replaced when removed.

                 Removed CAUTIONED player may only return at the next proper sub opportunity. Removed cautioned player MAY be replaced when removed.

5-1-2 Referees, players, coaches and bench personnel shall not use tobacco products during the game. This is a cautionable offense. The referees’ authority ends when they leave the field after the game.

5-2-1               The referees shall be at the game in uniform and their jurisdiction starts 15 minutes before game time, when they arrive at the field, and ends when they leave the field of play and its immediate surroundings.  Referees that observe misconduct before their jurisdiction begins or after it ends will not issue cards, but instead file a written report.  (p. 71 5-1-2).

5-2-2-d    Pre-game conference with  “coaches” and team captains. 

5-2-2-d-3 Winner of coin toss has a choice of ball or side.

5-2-2-d-4  Ask coach if players properly and legally equipped.

5-3-1                In the 2-person system one referee cannot overrule the other referee’s decisions.

5-3-1-e Inform both coaches and the other referee when you caution or send off a player/substitute/coach indicate the person and inform of the nature of the offense.

5-3-1-f     If a “Player” is disqualified for a reason allowing for a substitution the referee will show yellow and red simultaneously in the same hand to indicate a substitution is allowed for the player.

6-1-1      Home team provides at least two ball holders.  If they cannot provide ball holder, the visiting team may do so.

7-1 Halves are 40 minutes long. Halftime is 10 minutes. The referee, or the two coaches by agreement, can decide to shorten each half before the game or the second half before it begins. The opposing coaches can agree to change the halftime length without getting the referee’s permission.

7-3-1 Overtime will not be played unless adopted by league/tournament rule.

7-3-2        For games with overtime periods, interval between the end of the game and first overtime is 5 minutes; interval between first and second overtime periods is 2 minutes.

7-4-1        The clock is stopped for a penalty kick, caution, ejection, goal and when the referee orders.

9-1-3                A whistle is required to restart play for a penalty kick or after a substitution, caution, ejection, injury or encroachment.

9-2-1-d    If two players simultaneously foul each other, drop the ball.  Not in SD Section, call the more serious or first foul.

9-2-2        If two opposing players touch the ball simultaneously before it goes out of bounds, the drop ball is 5 yards inside the boundary line, unless this is in the goal area.  This does not happen in San Diego Section, we make a decision.

9-2-3        Only one player from each team may participate in a drop ball.

9-3           If one team has clear possession of the ball when the referee suspends play for an injury or unusual situation, that team receives an indirect free kick where the ball was when play was stopped.     (Also 13-3-3b)

12-6-1    Dangerous play can be committed against a teammate.

12-7-3       Trickery to avoid the pass back rule to the goalkeeper is not a caution.  Only a technical foul if the goalkeeper actually picks up the ball with their hands.

12-8       Show cards to coaches.

12-8-1            Incidental use of foul language (to yourself) is a cautionable offense.

12-8-1 Cautioned player shall leave the field and may be replaced.  Player will not re enter until next substitution opportunity.

12-8-2   Excessive celebration (delayed/prolonged act[s] to focus attention upon themselves and/or prohibit[s] a timely restart or receiving a subsequent (2nd) yellow card shall result in disqualification (simultaneous yellow/red card). The number of field players is not reduced.   When an ejected player may be substituted for, display the red and yellow cards in one hand simultaneously. Per SCSOA rule interpretation, when a player has already received a yellow card in the game and commits further misconduct involving hard contact with an opponent, that misconduct will be considered serious foul play and the red card displayed.  

12-8-3      A team does not play short for a team member disqualified during an interval between periods. (Ruling 12-8-3F).

12-8-3       A substitute leaving the team area to enter the field where a fight or altercation is taking place, unless summoned by an official, will be disqualified. 

                 See below if three or more players leave the team area

12-8-4-a      A coach may be cautioned or disqualified either for team misconduct or for bench misconduct that cannot

                 be attributed to a specific individual. A coach who is disqualified shall leave the vicinity of the playing area immediately and is prohibited from any contact, direct or indirect, with the team during the remainder of the game.  Failure to comply shall result in termination of the game.  Restart under this rule is an indirect free kick from where the ball was on the field should this be the reason for stoppage.

 

 

14-1-4      Once the kicker starts their approach, they may not interrupt their movement.  Retake PK.

15-1-5      If the ball fails to enter the field of play on a throw-in, the ball is awarded to the opponent.

 

18-1-1-r   Illegal Equipped – not wearing equipment required by rule or wearing equipment not allowed by rule.

18-1-1-s    Improper Equipped – wearing legal equipment incorrectly or it becomes illegal during the game.

 

18-1-1-jj   “Suspended” in high school means a game that is terminated by the referee for any reason other than the action of participants and/or spectators.

 

18-1-1-ll   “Terminated” in high school means a game that is terminated by the referee because of the action of the participants and/or spectators.

 

CIF Regulations

If a player is ejected, the player may remain in the team area with the coach (the coach is legally responsible for the player). If the player continues to engage in misconduct and the coach cannot or will not stop him/her, the game is terminated.

If more than two bench personnel leave the team area to begin a confrontation or to join an altercation the game must be terminated. 

The grace period for the start of the game is up to the home team coach (no longer than 30 minutes).