Todd Abraham
C. Cliff McCrath
If you have a question about or need an interpretation of the NCAA Soccer Rules, you’ve come to the right place. Two NISOA Hall of Famers, long time NCAA Soccer Secretary-Rules Editor, C. Cliff McCrath, Corey Rockwell (current NISOA Senior Director of Education) and NISOA National Rules Interpreter Todd Abraham are active contributors here. Please follow the following guidelines before posting your question:
- Read the current NCAA Soccer Rules book (available on the Forms page of our site).
- Do not post questions regarding issues of referee judgement.
- Do not post specific game details ( i.e. home team, match date, etc.) with your question, if your question happens to be about something you saw during an intercollegiate soccer game.
All questions are subject to editorial review. This is offered as a service to NISOA membership for educational purposes, with the expressed understanding that only the NCAA Soccer Secretary-Rules Editor (Ken Andres) can provide an official rule interpretation.
I am trying to understand the re-entry rules and it is not clear to me whether re-entry is “at any stoppage of play“ or “during the run of play“. The four (4) examples from the 2012 – 2013 rule book seem to contradict each other.
In each case the assumption is that the player off the field is not substituted for and the normal re-entry rules for field players and goal keepers are adhered to.
3.5.3.1 … may be substituted for and re-enter the game in any period (after being beckoned by the referee) at any stoppage of play or at any of the allowable times for normal substitutions…
3.5.3.2 … and may re-enter the game (after being beckoned by the referee) at any stoppage of play or at any of the allowable times for normal substitution…
3.5.3.4 … may re-enter the game (after being beckoned by the referee) during the run of play or at any stoppage of play, including times for normal substitutions
5.6.7.1 … may re-enter the game (after being beckoned by the referee) during the run of play or at any stoppage of play, including times for normal substitutions.
A “stoppage in play” includes “dead ball situations” and when the ball is off the field of play, including normal substitution opportunities.
“During the run of play” means the ball is “live” and play is progressing
This is from Ken Andres SRE
Right. I am not confused about the definitions of “stoppage of play”, “dead ball situations”, nor “during the run of play”.
However, the first two situations (3.5.3.1 and 3.5.3.2) mention only “stoppage of play or at any of the allowable times for normal substitutions”, they do NOT mention “during the run of play”. Since they do NOT mention “run of play” am I therefore supposed to assume that the first two situations are different that the last two situations (3.5.3.4 and 5.6.7.1) each of which DO mention “run of play” as a legal opportunity to bring the player back into the game?
If that is the case, how are the situations different, they seem to be very much alike (injured player etc), and what is the differentiator that allows the re-entry “during run of play” vs. not?
In 3.5.3.1 and 3.5.3.2, the injured player was substituted for, and therefore cannot re-enter during the run of play.
In 3.5.3.4 and 5.6.7.1 the injure player was not substituted for and can enter during the run of play.
Are protective face-masks allowed? (For injuries received to cheek or nose)
face masks are not prohibited per Ken Andres
The referee must decide if they are dangerous if so they can not be worn
I know earlier this year a proposal was made to increase the width of the field from 70-75 yards to 65-80 yards. The new rulebook I have still contains the 70-75 yard width, did the proposal get rejected when it went to PROP?
per Ken Andres, the NCAA determined not to consider this
In regards to the rule change for Rule 15…. If on a throw in the ball fails to enter the field of play I think we agree that the ball is not in play. So if the ball is not in play, why are we giving the throw in to the opponent? I understand the rationale given but what about a goal kick that doesn’t clear the penalty area or the ball is played by a teammate prior to clearing said area. One can use this for time wasting and gamesmanship and waste more time on this than on a throw in.
The Committee chose the throw-in inasmuch as it is the prime suspect for delay tactics; the goal kick is harder to fake and subject to more immediate detection.
Player A1 is in an offside position. Player A2 passes the ball towards player A1 but player B1 is between the two A players. As the ball is passed to A1, B1 has time to kick the ball away but the ball is mis-kicked and goes to A1. Is A1 offside?
A1 is offside. The fact that B1 had an opportunity to stop the pass is irrelevant. A1 was in an offside position at the time of the pass and gained an advantage by being offside. Had he not been in an offside position, he would not have been able to receive the ball from B1’s miskick.
Thank you for visiting nisoa.com. Your question is subject to “the opinion of the referee.” It is not possible to give an official determination to your question.
how many players can dress or be on a roster for divsion 3 soccer
There is no NCAA restriction on roster limits during the regular season except those school and/or conference may impose. NCAA limits for postseason play can be found under Championships at NCAA.org.
A player leaves the field for injury and the coach chooses not to replace him/her and play short a man. Few minutes later the coach decides to replace the injured player with a substitute. When is the substitute allowed to come in? During the play when beckoned by the referee, at a stopage of play or or at a legal substitution.
Thank you
The sub may enter at the next stoppage of play provided that the sub has checked in. (AR 3.4.9.a)
Rule A.R.3.4.9.a: Provided the substutute has checked in, at the next stoppage of play or any allowable times for substitution.
In CT. our NFHS interpretor has told us that the state of Ct. has legislation that clears us (officials) from following Rule 3 Section 3 Art1c3 “Any player “shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
If the coach puts his player back in the match, its not up us to know that an approprite health-care professional is there. We assume that the rule is followed, as its up to the coach.
Two questions 1.Does the CT. legislation apply to NCAA matches played in CT.with regard to Rule 3.5.3.2?
2.In your opinion can an official be liable should the coach have a player re-enter the match without knowing or having an appropriate health-care professional / team physician or his or designee at the site?
Pursuant to NCAA R. 5.4.2, officials are obligated to enforce the rules, without exception.
R. 3.5.3.2, which is a rule specifically designed for the safety of the players who may have suffered a concussion, is clear and must be enforced.
The failure of the referee to enforce this rule does expose the entire officiating team to potential civil liability for damages.
Mr. Andres,
At our local NISOA chapter meeting we were discussing the rule related to possible concussion of a player.
It was clear through our reading that a goalkeeper who suffers a “normal injury/illness” could be evaluated and treated on the field of play. The paragraph which addressed blood injuries and concussions made no special distinction for the goalkeeper. It was my contention that in such cases the goalkeeper could not be treated on the field of play and had to be removed and treated. Others thought that the new concussion rule had just not yet “caught up” with the other provision which exempted the goalkeeper from being treated on the field, and that this exemption should apply to all injuries.
What is the correct ruling?
Please refer to Cliff McCrath’s response at this link. Thank you.
In an NCAA Division 2 match, we had a situation in the penalty area. The red team attacked on goal and took a shot from inside the penalty area. The shot missed goal and went out of play for a goal kick. A defender for the white team came late and tackled the opponent from behind; suitable for a yellow card, but not a red card. Again, the ball was already out of play.
The defender was cautioned and we restarted with a goal kick. Both coaches said the restart should be a penalty kick. Even though the ball was out of play, they insisted that “any misconduct in the penalty area must restart with a penalty kick” under college rules. The coach of the red team was going to protest if his team lost.
We scratched our heads in the post-game debriefing (along with our assessor) and I can’t find any ruling that says we did it wrong.
Jason: Sorry if this is a little late; we’re working out the formula to ensure a balance between items Ken, as NCAA SRE, should answer directly and those I will address as manager of the “Ask” on our NISOA site. That notwithstanding, the answer to your question is: NO PENALTY KICK. The ball was out of bounds BEFORE the dangerous tackle which can be punished by a cautuin or ejection. See Rule A.R. 12.3.3 for comparable situation. Restart is a goal kick.
At our last local chapter meeting a rules question came up that I am looking to clear up.
NCAA Rule 3.5.3.1 relates to standard injuries, it stipulates that the Goalkeeper may be evalauated and treated on the field of play and is not required to leave when trainers are brought on to treat the injured keeper.
NCAA Rule 3.5.3.2 relates to bleeding/possible concussion injuries. I do not note any similar exception for the goalkeeper established here. It is my interpretation on reading this rule that the goalkeeper must leave the field of play when the GK is bleeding or shows signs of concussion until they stop bleeding or in the latter case are cleared by the appropriate level medical person and they may not return until that happens.
Some members of the chapter felt that the latter rule had not caught up with the former and that the intent of the 3.5.3.1 should apply with cases from 3.5.3.2 – I did not agree.
What is the correct ruling?
Answer: Bleeding injuries require the player(s) to exit the field untiil proof exists that the bleeding and/or blood on the uniform has been eliminated. Certain rules supercede others – example A.R. 5.6.3.c. When a player is guilty of two infringements the more serious is penalized.
Cliff,
Thank you for your reply. But I am still unclear as to the specific case I have referenced.
I will rephrase:
Player A1, a goalkeeper, collides with an opponent as part of a fair play, and subsequently the referee determines that the goalkeeper is exhibiting signs of a concussion (or possible concussion). The referee stops the game immediately and summons the trainer to the field. Is the referee required to force the goalkeeper to leave the field of play until an approved medical person confirms that the goalkeeper does not have a concussion? OR Can the referee permit the goalkeeper to stay on the field and allow the keeper to be assessed by the medical person on the field of play while the game is suspended?
Steve: The first order of business is to follow the primary rule which permits the ATC to assess the situation on the field. However, if the referee judges that the GK – or any other player – is showing signs of a concussion – THE PLAYER SHALL LEAVE THE FIELD TO BE EXAMINED/ASSESSED/EVALUATED by the designated medical personnel. The first ‘contact’ by the ATC can be preempted by the referee if he/she deems the player in a concussive state and instruct the ATC/Coach/player to leave.