478 Responses to “Ask A Rules Question”

1. what is the ruling for spectaters using a non powered megaphone at a soccer game both NAIA and NCAA rules are they the same?

   • Dan: Acceptable. Or as Ken Andres, barrister and SRE for NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer, would say: LEGAL!

2. During a D1 Men’s match, a player re-entered the second half 2 times (no injury or blood was involved in the substitutions). Can the match be protested by the opposing team’s coach.

   • Simon: The rule is not restricted to a D1 Men’s match. The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules apply to all collegiate soccer contests. With reference to your question the ANSWER is YES. A.R. 5.8.b. A protest is filed documenting the fact that a goal was scored by an opponent who was an illegal player. RULING: Protest may be granted depending upon whether it clearly has a direct impact on the outcome of the game.Conclusion: The player in your scenario is deemed illegal inasmuch as he/she is not permitted a second reentry and, therefore, is an illegal player. Note the rule does not guarantee the protest will be granted (by the SRE) but the option to submit a protest is allowable under the rule.

3. NAIA – visiting team – Is white tape allowed on the dark socks?

   • Erik: Allowed!

4. A college coach has asked me to find out if the following situation can be protested and the out come of the game reversed.

   At 86 minute of the game sores was 2-1 for team A, team B scores a goal and ties the game at 86 minute. The game goes to OT and team B wins 3-2. Team A’s coach after watching the game tape discovers at the 86 minutes team B has 12 player on the field and he insists he can prove it with the game tape that team B had an extra player in the game. The question is, can the result be reversed and team A be declared a winner 2-1 or the 3-2 for team B stands.

   • Andre: The NISOA “ASK” service is a team affair that involves answers provided by yours truly as well as Todd Abraham – Director of Instruction and former NISOA President, Ken Andres, current NCAA SRE and yours truly. Todd answered a direct request that included a cc to you and others. For the good of the game and what may be helpful to many others the following is what Todd provided which is totally consistent with what we all agree is the proper interpretation: ANSWER: This can be corrected (goal nullified) until the referee jurisdiction ends (when he / she leave the premises). A protest may be filed and the SRE will judge whether the extra player had a material impact on the match.
     Hope it helps.

     • Thank you Mr. McCrath.

5. Player A2 is fouled as he passes the ball to his teammate. Referee observes foul but” holds his whistle” and does not verbalize “play on”.
   Ball is received by teammate A3 who is flagged for an offside infraction.

   Question(s)
   -Is advantage “implied” even though it was not “announced” by the Referee?
   -Because the advantage is negated by the offside infraction, should the Referee then penalize the observed foul?

   • John: Your question raises an issue that does not include a specific set of actions by the referee. The Rule in question is 5.4.3 which, in its entirety, pertains to the broader aspects of the referee’s power of penalizing but includes elements of the scenario you have described. To that end, the rule states that, “When the referee observes a foul that is not to be penalized, the referee shall call out the words “play on” and signal accordingly to indicate that the foul has been acknowledged. However, if the advantage does not materialize, the referee shall then blow the whistle and award a free kick.” Since the specific situation you describe is not addressed by the rule and since the failure of the referee to call out “play on” did not occur the “play on” is assumed de facto by the continuation of play. The next sequence observed by the referee is an offside pass which the referee should, rightfully, whistle as an infraction and award an IFK to the opposing team. The only time he/she might penalize the original foul is if it warrants disciplinary action; a discretionary judgment which would obviate the offside call – and the “advantage option” – presumably because the whistle would be blown at the instant the “foul” occurred. NOTE: In case it is questioned, there is no rule In this scenario that involves penalty or protest because the referee was remiss for not calling out “Play On”

     • Mr. McCrath…If the advantage is “assumed, de facto by the continuation of play”, wouldn’t the teammate receiving the pass in an offside position negate any advantage to the fouled player, (team)?

       • John: The answer to your follow-up question is: YES. You are correct that the offside pass obviates the previous issue, however, your original question pertained to the referee’s failure to signal/call out “play on” which we avowed was not cause to stop play hence the next sequence becomes the prima facie which, in your example, became an offside pass which ends play giving the other team an IFK.

         • Mr. McCrath…As I understand you, since the foul of A2 was not acknowledged, by either verbalizing “play on” or a whistle, the only infraction that can be recognized and therefore penalized was the flagged offside infraction.

           • Correct.

6. Can you give a free kick for discent? That happened in my college game today.

   • Jack: The answer is YES. See Rule 12.2 for all Indirect Free-Kick Offenses for which an indirect free kick shall be awarded which includes the answer to your specific question set forth in: 12.2.7 Dissenting by word or action with a referee’s decision;

7. Nisoa.com states “The NCAA and IFAB are fully aligned on all offside interpretations and restarts.” IFAB now awards the restart at the location the offside player becomes involved in active play, which can result in a team taking the restart from an offside in their attacking half. The NCAA rule still states “PENALTY-Indirect kick from the point of the infraction.” Should we take these two quotes to mean that NISOA is interpreting “the point of the infraction” to be the point where the offensive player becomes involved in active play rather than the point where they were in the offside position?

   • Yes – the interpretation is consistent with IFAB. The “point of infraction” is where the offensive player interferes with play or interferes with an opponent and that becomes the position of the restart. Therefore, an offside restart may now be in the opponent’s half of the field, if that is where the player who interfered with play from an offside position ultimately touches the ball.

8. Section A.R. 5.7.h. states ” If the game was stopped with the ball in play on the field of play restart with a drop ball at the spot where the ball was located at the time of stoppage, unless the stoppage occurred while the ball was in the penalty area. In that case, restart with a drop ball outside the penalty area, at a corner at the top of the penalty area.”. Section 9.3.2 states ” If a goalkeeper is in possession of the ball at the time of a stoppage other than a foul by the goalkeeper or a member of his/her team, the restart shall be an indirect free kick.” Which section do we follow if there is a question on a goal scored and the ball ends up in the goal keeper’s hands? At that point the goal scoring opportunity is over, so we should stop for video review. If the goal was not scored to we start with a drop ball at the top corner of the penalty area or with an indirect free kick for the goal keeper’s team?

   • If the game is stopped with the GK in possession and video review result is “no goal”, the proper restart is an indirect free kick for the GK’s team

9. -Player B2 is fouled as he clears the ball. The ball goes into touch for A team throw-in.
   (Foul occurs on opposite touchline from AR1, because of distance from play, (approx. 50 yds.), and referee proximity, AR1 does not flag the observed foul.)
   -Referee is screened from the play and does not whistle infraction.
   -B2 is injured and the clock is stopped.
   -Referee conferences with AR1 and it is determined that a foul occurred as well as misconduct.

   What is the referee’s recourse?

   • John: Punish the foul. The AR’s duties set forth in Rule 6 include the following: 6.1.5 Assist the referee (subject to the referee’s decision and supervision) to control the game in accordance with the rules by 6.1.5.1 Indicating to the referee any breach of the rules that the referee may not have seen;6.1.5.4 Giving an opinion on any point on which the referee may request.

10. At a match that we hosted, the official did not let one of the opposing players enter the game because he was wearing glasses. He insisted that people wearing “street” glasses or prescription glasses were not allowed. He then said that if I as the host AD, would take responsibility he would allow the young man to play. I told him that was fine. He then came back and changed his mind, citing rule 4.5.1. Is the intent of that rule to include eyeglasses?

    • Joe: There is no specific rule stating that a player cannot wear glasses. Having said that, Rule 4.5.1 – “A player shall not wear anything that is dangerous to any player” empowers the referee to make a discretionary judgment if he/she determines that any article – listed or not listed in Rule 4 – constitutes a danger to players including the player in question.To that end, the referee’s judgment was correct and he acted within the purview of his discretionary powes. As an aside, throughout my 49 years on the sidelines – and approx. 40 as NCAA SRE – my approach was always to ensure that players needing to wear glasses take steps to acquire “safety” glasses (usually made of unbreakable plastic, etc.) Hope this helps.