1. Overview of key points and differences between IFAB,NFHS, and FHSAA
2018 FHSAA Soccer rules
Overview of key points and differences between IFAB,NFHS, and FHSAA

2. Referee’s Authority Begins at arrival at field
Shall arrive no later than 15minutes prior to start of game
Authority extends until referee leaves field
Minimum Crew = 2 Referees
Referee cannot prevent game from starting, but may suspend match at any time after kick-off
Coin Toss – Coaches must be present, certify players will be properly equipped and show sportsmanship. Toss winner can choose side to defend or take ball

3. Timekeeping Referee holds official game time
Scoreboard clocks are unofficial. If used, shall run down to 0:00
Varsity matches must have 40min halves
JV matches may shorten to 30min on mutual coach agreement
Clock Stops For:
Goal
Injury
Water Break
Cautions/Disqualifications
Penalty Kick
Time-wasting substitutions
After reaching 8-goal differential, clock will continue to run
Mercy rule – 8 goal differential or more at halftime or during 2nd half ends game

4. Referee signals

5. Field requirements
Team benches should be on opposite halves of same side of field
If benches are on opposite sides, should be diagonal from each other
Goals may be padded, on upright posts. Padding must be white
Field dimensions: yds by 55-80yds
Missing center or penalty marks should be reported to FHSAA, but game may be played.
Corner flags must be 5feet high (school may also use halfway flags)
Goals must be anchored
All boundary lines must be properly marked before start of match

6. NOT LEGAL – GOAL NOT ANCHORED, ONLY ONE SET OF CROSSBARS ALLOWED

8. Home team responsibility
Home team supplies minimum of 3 game balls with NFHS logo
If unable, referee can choose any suitable ball from either team
Home team must provide a minimum of 2 ball holders
Send in to FHSAA if no ball holders are present during match
Send in to FHSAA if ball holders “disappear” during match
AD must be present during match
Make sure to contact AD before start of match
Know the AD’s location during match if needed

9. Player uniforms/Equipment
Home team wears dark colored jerseys and socks
Visiting team wears white jerseys and socks
Goalkeepers must differ from teammates and opponent field players
Socks may match own team’s, but must differ from opponents
Any undergarment must be uniform across the team and of even lengths
Must be solid in color.
Visible sleeves must be of similar length (if on both arms)
Any tape on socks must match the color of that part of the sock it covers
All jerseys shall be numbered with 6” number on the back and 4” on front/shorts
Shall be clearly visible and of contrasting color

10. Player Uniforms/equipment
All players shall wear appropriate shinguards meeting NOCSAE standards
No jewelry, bracelets, casts, hats/visors shall be worn
Goalkeeper may wear soft-billed baseball hat
Sweatbands or hairbands may be worn if soft and not for adornement
Religious or medical jewelry may be taped under jersey
Artificial limbs padded with closed-cell slow-recovery foam padding min ½” thick allowed
Soft-padded headgear is permitted on all players
Any uniform violations (home team not dark colors, numbers not easily visible) should be reported to FHSAA but match may continue. Other illegal equipment is not allowed in any situation. If illegal equipment is found during play, caution coach for first offense, caution player for all following offenses

11. Electronic tools
Coaches may not use phones, loudspeakers, bullhorns, or any other type of electronic communication during the match to communicate with players
Coaches may use electronic tablets to coach during halftime, but must not communicate with them during play
Referees may use electronic communication systems to aid in teamwork during the match. Includes electronic flags or microphone communication systems

12. Offside/Kickoff Offside - Same guidelines as USSF
NFHS has further clarified deliberate acts vs. non-deliberate acts when considering offside decisions. NFHS rule 18-1G provides guidance to officials on these decisions
Free kick taken from spot of offside player’s interference
May be on opponent’s half
Kickoff may go any direction
NFHS now allows player to be on opposite half to take kick backwards
Cannot score own goal directly from kickoff, restart is corner

13. Substitutions
Substitutes must report prior to stoppage of play allowing substitution
May sub from bench in event of a caution or injury
Substitute must enter game when beckoned by the referee
As soon as substitute is beckoned on to field, they are now the field player.
Player being replaced instantly becomes a substitute at this time
If referee stops play for injury, that player must leave. Includes goalkeeper
A replaced player during a penalty kick stoppage may not take kick
If referee determines substitution to be deliberately wasting game time, referee should stop clock to preserve time and may caution coach if considered to be unsporting conduct

14. substitutions Both teams may substitute:
Goal kick
Caution
Disqualification
Injury
When both teams have reported subs during any throw-in or corner kick
Team in possession may substitute:
Throw-in
Corner Kick

15. Throw-in Opposing players must remain 2 yards from thrower
If ball does not enter the field of play, throw-in is awarded to opponent
If the ball leaves the field after being simultaneously played by two opponents, law allows a drop ball restart at boundary where it left the field
If you pull this off during a game, please send me the video of this match as proof it happened. No video = didn’t happen

16. penalty kicks
If a player is injured during a foul that results in a penalty kick, a substitute entering the game is not allowed to take the penalty kick
Penalty kick without any remaining time on the clock is complete when either of these requirements are met:
Goal is scored
Ball is clearly out of play
Natural momentum of the ball is exhausted
Kicker attempts to make or makes a second play on the ball
“Stutter steps” during the taking of a penalty kick is allowed as long as the player’s forward momentum is not interrupted

17. Free kicks & Goal kicks
Play stopped for injury, bench misconduct, or other unusual situation is restarted with an indirect kick for the team in possession when play was stopped at the spot where play was stopped
Includes inadvertent whistle
If no clear possession, drop ball where play was when stopped
Direct or indirect kicks from outside a team’s own penalty area that goes into their own goal untouched is not a goal. A corner kick shall be awarded to the opposing team
Goal kicks must be played once the ball has been placed by the kicker. Picking up the ball and suddenly switching sides is not allowed

18. Overtime procedures After regulation, two 10-minute periods
No golden goal – Both periods to be played in full
If tied after both periods, kicks from the mark
Players to be identified in groups of five
New set of five must kick before previous five kick again
Please see the Overtime Procedures at our website for a full list of updated procedures

19. Fun with cards
FHSAA uses blue cards in certain situations. Blue cards are disqualifications but do not require an AT6 be filed with the state. Blue cards are issued for:
Second caution (field player)
DOGSO handling
DOGSO non-violent (if considered violent/excessive force, a red card is issued) outside of own penalty area
A player who receives a blue card may not be replaced, the team must play down
A coach who receives a second caution is shown a straight red. Do not show the 2nd yellow for the coach. Definitely do not show a coach a blue card.
Utilize ask-tell-dismiss technique. “Tell” = caution, “Dismiss” = disqualification
While a player who is disqualified may remain on the bench, a disqualified coach must leave the premises
NFHS adopts the same standard for displaying cards as USSF.
Do not display both a yellow and blue simultaneously. Yellow first, then blue

20. Fun with cards Cautionable offenses include:
Entering or leaving the field of play (except through the normal course of play) without the permission of an official
Persistent infringement of any of the rules of the game
Objecting by word of mouth or action to any decision given by an official
Any incidental use of vulgar or profane language
Any use of electronic communication devices with the on-field players during play
Unsporting conduct
A player commits a foul or misconduct, attempting to deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, and the goal is scored
A player denies a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) by attempting to play the ball inside their own penalty area
Cautioned players must leave field of play until next substitution opportunity
May be immediately replaced by a substitute

21. Fun with cards
FHSAA requires that a player be shown a blue card and disqualified for the following violations:
Any delayed, excessive or prolonged act(s) by which a player(s) attempts to focus attention upon himself/herself and/or prohibits a timely restart of the game
Both players and coaches must be shown a red card and disqualified for the following violations:
Exhibiting violent conduct
Taunting – use of word or act to incite or degrade an opposing player, coach, referee or other individual
Leaving the team area to enter the field where a fight is taking place
Use of any tobacco products or electronic cigarettes at the game site during the period of the jurisdiction of the officials.

22. Fun with cards
If a bench player commits a disqualifying offense and cannot be identified, the coach shall be disqualified. This includes but is not limited to:
Taunting
Spitting at a player or referee
Entering the field to participate in an altercation on the field
Violent conduct
Using abusive, offensive, or insulting language or gestures
Players disqualified before the match or during the half time interval do not affect the number of players the team may field

23. Dealing with coaches
If a coach steps on the field, new NFHS rules have been drafted to address the outcomes:
If the coach does not interfere with play, stop play at an appropriate time, caution the coach, and restart play. If play was not stopped at a normally occurring restart, award an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the point where the coach entered the field
If the coach interferes with play on the field, stop play immediately, caution the coach, and restart with a direct free kick for the opposing team at the point where the coach interfered with play
FHSAA states a referee may caution a coach for unsporting conduct for excessive substitutions aimed to waste time at the end of a game. Use this as a last resort. Please make attempts to curb this behavior before resorting to a caution.

24. Test problems