478 Responses to “Ask A Rules Question”

1. Dumb question, i’m sure, but I cannot find the answer in the rules book. Does the home team have the right to choose which side of the field to warm up on or do they have to warm up on the same side of the field as their bench?

2. I missed a question, #39 on the NISOA 2015 Refresher Test: T/F A game cannot begin without the marking of a center circle. The NISOA answer given was True – the game CANNOT start..

   There were quite a few rule changes published in the NCAA 2014-15 Soccer manual. Specifically RULE 1, the field of play has quite a few. Rule 1.4 Halfway Line, Center Circle … requires both markings. The PENALTY for non-compliance for this rule, #1.4 is not specifically stated as part of rule 1.4.

   In several of the other rules like 1.5 & 1.6, Goal Area & Penalty Area, the penalty IS STATED at the conclusion of the rule. In these two instances the Penalty is, “The game shall not begin …”

   In other rules in this section, like #1.7 & 1.8, Corner Area, Hash Mark & Corner Flags, the penalty IS stated, “If it cannot be corrected … begin the game … file a report …”

   Logic and the spirit of the game lends me to think that the 10 yard encroachment circle at the center of the field is no different than the corner area / corner flags. The referee is trained and required to judge 10 yards without a painted circle throughout the game and in this instance, while the circle is certainly helpful, it seems as if the game could proceed without it and a report could be filed. The Penalty Area and Goal Area markings can very easily influence the score of a match; whether a foul is a PK or not, whether a GK has exited the Area before it was shot back into the goal … and therefor are held to a more severe penalty.

   Further, there is no statement as to penalty for 1.13 Photographer’s Line, and the rule states, “shall”; 1.14, Scorekeeper’s table – “shall.” And to muddy the waters even more, Rule 1.3 states that markings that become obscured during the match shall be assumed to still be there and decisions rendered accordingly. The ref then has to use judgment to determine where the lines are. Under this spirit of the game, a penalty area line that is critical is now OK to be buried under snow and the game will continue, but we cannot start without the center circle and we can start without corner flags and corner arcs / hash marks. In other venues, some improper markings are reported to the governing body and the game is played.

   The questions then are:
   How do officials determine the penalty of rule violations that pertain to RULE 1 – the field of play when they aren’t individually stated (and there are different penalties for different violations)?
   and
   Does the center circle violation hold so much weight (similar to PA & GA lines) as to not start a contest?

   Please help me to understand the reasoning behind Question 39’s answer “T”.

   • we will review this with the NCAA rules committee as we rewrite the Rules for 2016-17

3. NCAA Rule 12.12.1
   If a student athlete gets ejected from a scrimmage/exhibition game are they required to miss the next regular season game?

   • Greg: The answer is “no’. See Rule 12.11.1 – paragraph two sentence two: Scrimmages and exhibition games (including alumni games), scheduled or unscheduled, do not qualify as games with reference to players suspended for accumulated cautions.(Ejections inferred.)

4. I was recently at a collegiate level soccer game and the center ref had came out with twenty minutes left in the game due to an asthma attack and complaining he had a concussion recently. The official was making unreasonable calls or forgetting that he gave certain players a card the whole game. Can the game be protested because of this?

   • Melanie: Guidelines for “protests” are set forth in Rule 12.16. What your narrative does not include is what occurred after the referee left the game? Regardless the quality of his calls to that point in time, the assumption is that the game was suspended – hopefully, according to provisions in Rule 7.5. Hypothetically, two options could have been applied: 1. The game continues according to Rules A.R.5.4.1.a.b.c.d. or 2. Under the provisions of Rule 7.5 a suspended game that has progressed to the 70th minute and not resumed the same day MAY be declared a completed contest by the Governing Sports Authority (GSA). In any event, should a protest be submitted, the official answer will be provided by the NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor.

5. I just received the 2015 edition of the NISOA newsletter. In the article on knowing the rules before you show up to the game the author shares a story about a FIFA referee in which the author was the AO. When the referee stopped the game for an injury in the middle of the field (not in GK possession) that he was going to re-start with a dropped ball and the author corrected him to start with an IFK. I believe this is incorrect procedure. Am I missing something?

   • Doug: You are correct; the “author” is in error. See Rule 9.3.2. The IFK rule is in order only in the penalty area when the game is suspended while the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball and the infraction is not assessed to her/his team. (See Rule 9.3.2 Exception.)

     • In the recent newsletter I was amazed at the number of references to FIFA. It is very confusing to some when such references are mentioned. I am full NISOA/NCAA & can see where some may be confused by such.

       • Ronnie: I’m not sure where the confusion exists inasmuch as both Don Dennison’s perennial (mammoth) work on the Comparative Study of Rules (NCAA/NFHS) and Laws (FIFA) requires expansive treatment and explanation of the differences between those ruling bodies. In addition, Todd Abraham’s very comprehensive tutorial on “consistency with offside interpretation”- – in the current newsletter – necessitates an in-depth explanation of the FIFA rulings because – the love and loyalty of NISOA/NCAA notwithstanding – a vast number of NISOA referees also officiate club and other FIFA competitions. It occurs that such comparisons and references seem not only unavoidable but also mandatory. I hope this helps.

   • The author was referring to a historical point in time where IFKs were the correct restart for a game suspended for the described incident. At that time, the NCAA Soccer Rules were different from the Laws of the Game for this particular restart.

6. A white team player takes a shot on goal, the ball is shot directly to the black team goalkeeper where it hits his hands & travels to a white team player who at the time of the initial shot WAS OFFSIDE. The white team player shoots & scores.

   Goal or no goal?

   • Ronnie: Nice to hear from you; hope all is well. Re your question the answer is GOAL. See Rule 11.2.d.

     • Cliff, see Rule 11 Offside Diagram 11, ruling is offside, is this not the same play as described by Ronnie Cowan?

       • Lawrence; Diagram 11 describes a situation during the run of play in which Player B is in the offside position as A shoots – and is judged offside – whereby A.R.11.2.d. emanates from an IFK and clearly states that the ruling is a good goal. Granted there are some of the diagrams that have been in the book for decades and are the last, if at all, subject to line-by-line scrutiny given to all other rules at the annual meetings. Ken Andres, current SRE, may be able to provide more insight into how the current committee manages the 19 diagrams in Rule 11 but, I can tell you that during my almost 40 years editing, the “offside/not offside” diagrams were the most tedious and once completed/approved were not studied in depth unless there was a radical rule change to impact their design. In the most recent NISOA Newsletter Todd Abraham offers very helpful insights into the latest emphasis on the offside rule. I hope this helps.

   • Ronnie: Some of the previous Ask items – and answers – may have been juxtaposed; I addressed your question of whether the offside issue during a free kick nullified the goal. Hope this helps.

7. I would like to get clarification on two points.
   First, under AR 5.5.2.a it says a referee may reverse a decision involving a sudden-victory goal? Ruling: yes, any time before signing the official NCAA box score form or leaving the site of competition…
   Second, under Rule 5.6 Referee Discretionary Power A.R. 5.6.1.c May a referee reverse a decision or rescind a card? Ruling: Yes, if the game has not been restarted.

   The situation is:
   In the second OT period the ball obviously goes out-of-touch off a White player in front of the referee in the referee’s area of responsibility. Referee signals for the throw-in to be taken by White. AR is signaling for the throw-in to be taken by Blue. Referee waves the AR down. White executes the throw-in and plays the ball going towards Blue’s goal and takes a shot and scores. The AR then insists that the throw-in was incorrect. The goal is then taken back and the game restarted with a throw-in by Blue at the spot of the original out-of-touch and resetting the clock. The game ends tied.

   So which ruling is applicable? If ruling AR 5.5.2. is applicable, what is the restart? especially if the referee’s have left the field but not signed the NCAA Box score?

   Thanks…

   • Well, my friend Bob, what a fine kettle of fish you have gotten us into. (Just kidding, but the variables you have created in this scenario do represent the need for an interpretation that, hopefully, will not lead to greater confusion.) First, there are some parallel issues that seem to be in conflict. To that end, let’s address the second item first: Rule 5.6 A.R.5.6.1.c. When the rule was first voted, the sense of the meeting was to provide the referee with an option when a card was given in error either for the wrong reason or to the wrong player. The earlier language clearly pertained to the issue of giving a caution/ejection. Somewhere along the line, the word “decision” was included (added?) leading the suggestion that it applies to any decision. As a rule of law, it now means that the rule, as stated, indeed DOES mean ANY decision. So the answer to that question is YES…as long as the game has not restarted.
     The second scenario, while very complicated, has two possible answers: 1. Because Rules 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 6.4.3 and 6.4.4 establish the fact that the referee is the “final” judge – and protocols are in place to address the facts of the incidents – he/she does have the option to nullify the goal as have described in the scenario. 2.Since the referees DID NOT “review and sign” the score sheet before leaving the site of the competition they are in violation of part of Rule 5.5.2 and, therefore, guilty of a misapplication of a rule. The latter, albeit “de minimis” is possible grounds for a protest. (See Rule 12.16)
     As to the restart, since the decision was made after the referees left the site of the competition, there is no restart.. However, hypothetically, if the action had occurred immediately after the goal was scored, the de facto action was an incorrect throw-in and the restart would have been a throw-in by Blue. (On the other hand, my irreverent response is that since the scenario has so many improbable elements to it, he/she might have given an IFK).

8. Referee YC cards head coach.Later referee YC asst coach.Then referee YC and then red cards assistant coach. Isn’t the head coach responsible for bench and coaches and should be dismissed when assistant coach got YC. Last Q, should coaches be carded or issued verbal reprimands,please get back to me WIAC Wisconsin referee coordinator

   • David: First, coaches and other bench personnel are subject to the same rules and disciplines (cautions, ejections, verbal communication from the referee (reprimands??) as players. However, each person is treated individually as it pertains to his/her behavior. The giving of cautions, ejections – example “bench warnings, etc.” was eliminated several years ago. There are some occasions when the head coach is cautioned for certain violations (example too many and/or illegal player(s) on the field – See A.R.10.4.j); however, for the most part only the offending party or parties are to be penalized. As to your final question ::If guilty of any of the violations set forth in the rules the answer is: Absolutely!.

9. In taking a penalty kick the referee sounds the whistle, the taker approaches the ball but stops and then continues, strikes the ball at the same time the referee sounds the whistle and the goalie makes the save. What is the correct restart – play on, indirect kick to to defending team, re-take of the penalty kick, or drop ball.

   • First, to all, my [email protected] is temporarily out of service so please note the [email protected] Thanks.
     Re. Dean’s question: The specific example you have given does not have a clear cut answer. To that end an interpretation has to be made – ultimately by the NCAA SRE (Ken Andres) whose authority allows him to do so between annual meetings. Having said that, inasmuch as the rules book does not provide a specific answer the factors pertaining to the formula the referee chooses are as follows: One, the player taking the kick has violated Rule 14..A.R.14.2.d.by stopping before continuing to take the kick. The PENALTY set forth in this section does not address this infraction so we defer to Rule 14.3 Under Infringements – Rule 14.3.3 is the de facto rule addressing the example you have given. Since the rule does not make a distinction between “infringements” and “violations” the referee must base his/her judgment on the implicit evidence: This rule states that “…any infringement the kicker commits BEFORE and/or AFTER the kick is taken is punishable by a caution or ejection. Since the stutter step is obviated by the player “stopping” the “infringement” (violation) is, indeed, the stopping – hardly in the category of those acts leading to a caution let alone an ejection. What is clear is that “a goal my not be scored” and “the game shall be restarted with a free kick…” which in this scenario would be an indirect kick by the defending team. (Note: I will pass this along to the committee whose meetings next January I know will involve special attention to this rule as to all others.) Hope this helps.

10. I have what is hopefully an easy question. Are players permitted to wear soft hats or head coverings in inclement weather assuming that the referee checks same and considers them to be safe?

    Rule 4.5.4 states “Headgear, headbands, and hats (goalkeepers only) are legal providing they are not considered dangerous to any play.”

    It is the “(goalkeepers only)” notation that seems to imply no, but the concept of “headgear” is pretty broad and certainly seems to include soft caps.

    By comparison, FIFA/USSF now allow “head covers” as long as they are safe and are either black or the same main color as the jersey (P. 69 of the 2015-16 Laws of the Game) and the 2015-15 NFHS Soccer Rule Book says that “By state association adoption, players may wear soft and yielding caps during inclement weather. Caps must be alike in color.” (P. 27, Rule 4.2.1 exceptions #3)

    Thanks for your anticipated answer.

    • Pete: The most direct answer to your question is “YES”. It is a judgment call driven by the safety factor and acceptable under the broader definition of headbands – similar to those worn in basketball and, certainly, in frigid weather. The inclusion of the word “hats”, derived from the rule established a few decades ago, to allow the goalkeeper (as well as the referees at that time) to wear a ‘billed’ hat/cap to shield eyes from bright sun. Such apparel is not allowed for field players. Going forward, I will ask Ken Andres, NCAA SRE and Todd Abraham, NISOA representative serving on the Rules Committee, to provide more specific clarity in the 2016-17 edition of Rules and Interpretations they will be preparing at their meetings in January.

      • Thanks Cliff, much appreciated!

        • We’re in it together, Pete. God bless.