FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Koski - NFHS
A change in the penalty for illegally equipped
players was one of three rules revisions approved by the National Federation of
State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee at its annual
meeting January 27-28 in
The first caution (yellow card) for an
illegally equipped player is issued to the coach, a rule that was implemented
last year. Beginning next season, all subsequent cautions for illegally
equipped players will be issued directly to the player and not to the coach.
The coach is held responsible for ensuring that each of his or her players is
properly and legally (new this year) equipped.
Both illegally and improperly equipped players
will be instructed to leave the field of play at the discovery of illegal
equipment. The removed player(s) who has not been cautioned may re-enter during
a dead ball. A player(s) who has been cautioned can only re-enter at the next
legal substitution opportunity. There shall be no replacement for non-cautioned
players until the next opportunity to substitute. In all situations, the
removed player(s) may re-enter only after reporting to an official who shall be
satisfied the player's equipment and uniform are in order.
The committee added definitions for
"illegally equipped" and "improperly equipped" as well. An
illegally equipped player is a player not wearing equipment required by rule or
wearing an item or items not allowed by rule. An improperly equipped player is
a player wearing legal equipment that is being worn incorrectly or becomes
illegal during play. Cautions are not issued for improperly equipped players.
"In the past, the coach could be
cautioned subsequent times in a single game for equipment violations,"
said Mark Koski, NFHS staff liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee and editor of
the NFHS Soccer Rules Book. "The previous rule placed too much responsibility
on the coaches when players should be shouldering some of the
responsibility."
Beginning with the 2008-09 high school soccer
season, shinguards must meet the National Operating
Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standard. This
risk-minimization rule was passed two years ago for implementation in 2007-08;
however, the start-up was delayed one year to allow manufacturers another year
to supply these types of shinguards to local
equipment suppliers.
The new NOCSAE shinguards
will be stamped or labeled with the NOCSAE logo. They will specify which size
is correct for a particular-sized player, making it easy for players, coaches
and officials to differentiate which shinguards are
to be worn.
"This is a significant change as players
no longer will be able to wear inappropriate, undersized shinguards,"
Koski said. "Shinguards need to be placed no
higher than two inches above the ankle for safety purposes. This change should
definitely minimize risk to players."
In another change, the issue of sportsmanship
is to be addressed by the head referee during the pregame conference with the
head coach and team captains. At this same meeting, the referee is to inquire
of each head coach whether each of his or her players is properly and legally
equipped.
Since many states play games on college or
professional fields, the committee altered Rule 1-1-1 regarding the allowable
width of fields. To allow for the use of other fields, the maximum width was
expanded from 75 to 80 yards. The new recommendations are 100 to 120 yards long
and 55 to 80 yards wide.
In addition to the emphasis on shinguards bearing the NOCSAE stamp of approval, other
points of emphasis for the coming season are team benches, knee braces, game
management, pregame responsibilities and handling.
With regard to game management, Koski said,
"Host schools should develop a game management plan. Game managers should
meet with the referees prior to the game and discuss the following matters,
which include but are not limited to: field conditions, unusual situations,
security, end-of-game procedures, game fees and officials' area."
"Regarding handling, a player shall be
penalized for deliberately playing, carrying, striking or propelling the ball
with hand or arm," Koski said. "It is not handling if the ball makes
contact with the hand in a natural position."
Soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for
boys and girls at the high school level. According to the
2006-07 High School Athletics Participation Survey, 377,999 boys are
involved in soccer and 337,632 girls participate in the sport.