By: Todd Abraham, NISOA Sr. Director of Instruction

Todd Abraham, NISOA Senior Director of Instruction

Here are the top 10 questions answered incorrectly on the 2017 NISOA NCAA Soccer Rules Test:

NCAA post season / NISOA NRP exam – Top Ten missed questions

1. In the 30th minute and both teams playing with 11 players, substitute A12 is beckoned onto the field to replace A1. Before A1 leaves the field, he and A12 get into an argument about the substitution and commit violent conduct against each other.  Team A should resume play with:
   1. 9 players
   2. 10 players
   3. 11 players

The answer to this question comes from a combination of rules dealing with substitutions and when a substitute becomes a player of record.  A substitute becomes a player of record when beckoned by the referee (or when the clock is stopped by the referee during the last 5 minutes of the game and the leading team substitutes) per A.R. 3.7.1.c.  The rules do not require that the player identify who is being replaced, only that the player leaving the field leave near the half-way line on the side of the benches (rule 3.7.1).  There are many occasions where the coach changes his / her mind before the player leaves as to how will be replaced in a substitution situation.  This is dealt with in more detail in the following link (http://nisoa.com/2017/04/03/misconduct-during-substitutions/#comment-17432).  To help better understand this answer, imagine in this situation A1 and A12 get into a fight with B1 and B2, both players of record (instead of each other).  It is fair that both teams should play with 9 players.

2. It is required that any visible garment worn under the jersey or shorts be a solid color. It is required that the undergarment match the dominant color of the respective garment.
   1. True
   2. False

Rule 4.2.4 (2016 / 2017 Rules change) It is required that any visible garment worn under the jersey or shorts be a solid color. The same color must be worn by all team members wearing undergarments. It is recommended the undergarment match the dominant color of the respective garment.

There are a number of questions regarding the tiebreaking procedure which are in the top ten missed questions.  These are critical for post season play as all games must have a winner and the tiebreaking procedure will determine which team advances.  An administrative error in the tiebreaking procedure would be grounds for a protest and might lead to significant expense to the NCAA to ensure the proper team advances.  Please review the tiebreaking procedure prior to any post season assignment and as part of the pre-game discussion among the referee crew.  The alternate official should have the NCAA Rules book available at the field and ensure the procedure is being followed precisely.  This must be done correctly!

3. A match that requires a winner goes to a tiebreaker. During the match, Team A had one player ejected and Team B had two players ejected. The correct number of kickers to start the tiebreaker is:
   1. The coaches may agree on 8, 9 or 10 kickers.
   2. Team B should use 8 kickers and Team A should use 9 kickers with the option to reduce to equate.
   3. Both teams should use 8 kickers.
   4. Team B should use 9 kickers and Team A should use 10 kickers with the option to reduce to equate.
   5. Both teams should use 9 kickers.
   6. Both teams should use 10 kickers.

Rule 7.1.1.1 Only players who are listed on the official NCAA game roster form shall be eligible to participate in the tiebreaker. Each team shall designate either: (a) 10 different kickers, one of whom may be the goalkeeper; or (b) 10 different kickers and a goalkeeper who will not participate as a designated kicker in the tiebreaker procedure. The kicking order shall be at the discretion of the kicking team; however, after all the eligible kickers have kicked once, the order of the designated kickers may change. If any of the designated players, except for the goalkeeper, are ejected during the tiebreaker, the game will continue with the remaining designated players; and the opposing team, if desired, shall have the option to reduce or adjust its kicking order to avoid being penalized or placed at a disadvantage if the No. 1 kicker from the offending team ends up kicking against the No. 10 kicker from the nonoffending team. In addition, if the designated player ejected is the goalkeeper, his or her replacement may be from any of the eligible players listed on the official NCAA game roster for that game. The game will continue with the remaining designated players.

The tie breaking procedure starts with 10 kickers per 7.1.1.1 regardless of the number of players on the field when the 2^nd overtime ends.  The “reduce to equate” provision does not apply unless a kicker is ejected during the tiebreaking procedure.  7.1.1.1 continues … If any of the designated players, except for the goalkeeper, are ejected during the tiebreaker, the game will continue with the  remaining designated players; and the opposing team, if desired, shall have the option to reduce or adjust its kicking order to avoid being penalized or placed at a disadvantage.

4. After the goalkeeper has been designated for the kicks from the mark tie breaking procedure, a team may change their goalkeeper with one of the eligible kickers participating in the procedure for tactical reasons.
   1. True
   2. False

Rule 7.1.1.7: Once the goalkeeper is designated, he or she shall not be replaced unless injured or ejected; and his or her replacement may be from any of the eligible players listed on the official NCAA game roster for that game. Injuries leading to replacement of the designated goalkeeper shall be determined by the attending physician and/or an athletic trainer in concert with the governing sports authority. (See Page 7.) However, the injured goalkeeper is eligible to return if physically able.

5. A team’s goalkeeper is ejected during the kicks from the mark tie breaking procedure. A team may only replace the goalkeeper with one of their designated kickers participating in the procedure.
   1. True
   2. False

Rule 7.1.1.1… if the designated player ejected is the goalkeeper, his or her replacement may be from any of the eligible players listed on the official NCAA game roster for that game.

6. The referee determines a fight has occurred and initiates a video review. Which of the following is NOT permissible:
   1. After video review, the referee determines in incident is not a fight, but only warrants a caution
   2. The referee identifies additional participants in the fight and ejects them for fighting
   3. The referee determines other action directly involved in the incident requires a caution
   4. The referee determines that the incident is not a fight, however additional cautions should be issued that were not issued initially

Rule 5.7 – Video Review is a tool available to the referee to confirm the correct call was made on the field in three (3) limited situations:

1. Determine whether a goal has been scored
2. Identify players for disciplinary matters
3. Determine whether a fight has occurred and ID all participants

1. If a fight occurred – additional misconduct ID during the incident may be sanctioned
2. If no fight – no additional cards, although the original “fighting red” may be reclassified

In this situation the referee correctly initiates a video review to confirm his ruling that a fight has occurred.  The referee has a number of options once the review is initiated.

She may determine that the incident was a fight and other misconduct occurred.  In that case other misconduct (associated with the fighting incident) may be punished based on conclusive video evidence.

If she determines the actions did not constitute a fight, the referee may reclassify the incident based on the video review – the originally issued fighting red card may be reclassified a “serious foul play” red card, a yellow card, or no card required at all.  In this case, NO other misconduct may be punished, if it wasn’t originally recognized.

7. A player in an offside position in the opponent’s half of the field receives a pass directly from his teammate and first plays the ball in his own half of the field.
   1. The player is penalized for offside. Award an indirect free kick in the player’s own half of the field where he interfered with play.
   2. (300, 18.13%) The player is penalized for offside. Award an indirect free kick from where the player was when the ball was played to him.
   3. (28, 1.69%) The player is not offside since he received the ball in his own half of the field.
   4. (62, 3.75%) The player is penalized for offside. Award an indirect free kick at the half way line.

This is a clarification made in the 2017 rules change which aligns the NCAA Rules with the IFAB Laws.  An offside infraction occurs where the player plays the ball or interferes with an opponent while being in an offside position when the ball is played.  The movement of play may bring the player into his own half of the field when starting from an offside position in the opponent’s half and hence, the restart is in the player’s own half of the field.

8. The team roster must indicate the starters.
   1. True
   2. False

Rule 3.2.1: An official NCAA game roster, including the names and numbers of all players, coaches and other bench personnel, shall be submitted to the referee, official scorekeeper and opposing coach not later than 30 minutes before game time. The game roster submitted to the official scorekeeper and the opposing coach shall include each player’s total number of cautions and ejections in the columns beside the players’ names. In addition, the roster shall include the name(s) and number(s) of the suspended player(s) and date(s) of the suspension(s). The copy submitted to the referee shall not include records of cautions and ejections.

The rule does not require starters to be indicated and a team may change starters anytime until the kick-off (even after starting line-ups are announced).  The 11 starters are the players on the field when the whistle sounds to begin the game.

9. According to the NCAA Soccer rules, a kickoff must be kicked forward.
   1. True
   2. False

This is a 2017 rules change – from the NCAA communication before the season regarding 2017 rules changes:

Rule 8.2:  At the referee’s signal (whistle), the game shall be started by a player kicking the ball into the opponent’s half of the field, which can be kicked in any direction. Every player, except the player kicking the ball, shall be in his or her half of the field, and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain at least 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off. Rationale: Currently, NCAA rules require the kickoff to go forward. This verbiage change will be consistent with the IFAB Laws of the Game and allow the kickoff to go in any direction.

10. NCAA rules require that all DOGSO (denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity) fouls be penalized with the offender being shown a red card and ejected from the match.
    1. True
    2. False

Another 2017 rule change designed to align the NCAA interpretation with IFAB  DOGSO Laws.  The following is from the NCAA pre-season communique on 2017 rules changes

Rule 12.5.5:  Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball, wherever the offense occurs. Rule 12.5.6 Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the penalty area by an offense punishable by a direct free kick or a penalty kick. Rule 12.5.7 Denies the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offense against an opponent in the penalty area and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned unless: 1. The offense is holding, pulling or pushing; 2. The offending player does not attempt to play the ball or there is no possibility for the player making the challenge to play the ball; or 3. The offense is one which is punishable by a red card wherever it occurs on the field of play (e.g. serious foul play, violent conduct etc.). In all the above circumstances the player is issued a red card.

Rationale: Currently, NCAA rules require that if a defender commits any direct free kick offense resulting in denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the referee must issue a red card. This may lead to an excessively harsh punishment referred to as “double jeopardy” where a penalty kick is awarded and the defender is also issued a red card. In 2016, IFAB changed its Law to allow the referee discretion to issue a caution in certain circumstances, depending on the nature of the foul. The committee recommends this rule change to align with the IFAB Law and fundamental fairness to avoid an excessively harsh penalty.