478 Responses to “Ask A Rules Question”

1. Two substitution situations involving our chapter.
   1. A player from each team has checked in prior to the ball crossing the end line for a corner kick. The attacking team decides to pull their player from the table and not sub. That player is charged with a substitution. The question is may the opponents sub at this point? There was no actual substitution, but there was a charged substitution.

   2. Clock is stopped to check a defending player for a potential injury with the subsequent restart being a throw-in or a CK for the attackers. There was no one at the table when the clock was stopped. The defender, at first, says she can stay in the match. The referee is about to restart play when the defender changes her mind and says that she is unable to continue. The defending team runs a sub up to the table to check in and she enters the field as the injured player leaves. At this point, the attacking team sends up a player to sub. Is this sub allowed?

   • Steve: Answer to Question #1:The opponents may substitute at this time ONLY if the substitute had checked in prior to the time when substitutions are allowed. See Rule 3.6.1 “…be ready to enter the game BEFORE the time when substitutions are allowed…” Answer to Question #2:: First, the injured player’s replacement DOES NOT have to be at the table ready to enter due to the injury issue; however, the opposing team player CANNOT ENTER at that time becuase he/she had NOT checked in and was not ready to enter BEFORE the opportunity for substitution occurred. EXCEPTION: After a goal is scored or between periods players are not required to “be ready”. (NOTE: As NISOA liaison to the Rules Committee, I will suggest the Committee study these other exceptions since there are common elements to the situation you describe. For the moment, Rule 3.6.1 must be followed explicitly).

     • Thanks for the quick response Cliff. The confusion for situation #2 comes from 3.4.9. The current rules book has a note which says the opposing team may substitute an equal number at the same time. It doesn’t say that the player must be checked in prior to the injury. The notes that are added for 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 referring to 3.6 are not present for 3.4.9. This suggests that the sub may come from the bench. I guess the issue is, does the timing of the injured player’s decision to remove herself before the restart and the team’s choice to replace her give the opponent’s the option to sub an equal number because of the injury substitution?

       • Steve: Understand your question and grant that because the injured player’s replacement is allowed to enter from the bench the opposing team option should allow the same. In these cases the interpretation will have to come from Ken albeit when a rule does not provide a clear-channel application to a variable of the rule, the answer is extrapolated from the primary rule. In this case the answer reverts to the principle (Rule 3.6) meaning that – as inequitable as it seems – the injured team replacement gets to enter without “being ready”, whereas the opposing substitute is bound by the letter of the law…or, in this case, the “missing” letter of the law. NOTE: Ken, as NCAA SRE – charged with the responsibility (and authority) for providing interpretations between annual meetings – may choose to issue an exception and rule that the opponent gets to enter without being ready.

2. Ken or Cliff, Is there any rule in the by laws of how far the opponent must stand away from a throw-in.
   All it states is that the player does not move in an attempt to interfere with the throw-in. (A.R.15.2.b)

   • George: There is no specific rule other than what might be considered the “rule of common sense” which, providing the opponent complies with Rule A.R.15.2.b, is at the referee’s discretion.

3. Cliff or Ken: I think I’m getting myself confused with goalkeepers allowances and handling the ball. If the GK is standing inside their own penalty box but reaches outside the box for the ball last touched by an attacker and picks it up would that still be considered a ‘hand ball’ which would result in a direct free kick?
   thanks..

   • Donna: Answer is YES. The position of the ball determines what decision prevails. I think we all know Rule A.R. 10.4.a. whereby the GK on his/her own goal line, catches the ball and, in an attempt to throw the ball carries it over the goal line, IT IS A GOAL. By the same token, the GK reaching across the penalty area to “handle” the ball is guilty of illegal handling which the referee shall penalize with a direct kick – from the spot of the incident – to the opposing team. Note: If such an act constitutes denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity the goalkeeper shall be ejected.

4. USSF lists as one of the cautionable offenses “Verbally distract an opponent during play or at a restart”. An example is when an opponent ceases to make a play on the ball when the player calls out “Mine!”.
   The opponent thinks that it is his teammate wanting the ball.

   I have read thru the NCAA Soccer 2012 and 2013 Rules and Interpretations book, and cannot find a direct reference to this as being a cautionable offense. The closest reference might be 12.5.5 on page 58,
   Baiting.

   What is your judgment when a player does not identify who he is when awaiting an air ball, and by his verbal outcry “My ball!”, causes the opponent to cease play?

   Warren Woody
   Regional Assessor,
   Region VI

   • Warren: Baiting is the closest description for the action (violation?) you describe. The act of calling “mine” instead of “Woody’s ball…” an instruction we, as coaches, instilled in our players thru the years believing it was/is a universal rule everyone understands. We will present this to the Rules Committee for their review at the annual meetings next January.

5. Can a defender intentionally thigh a ball back to his goalkeeper without getting called for an illegal handling of the ball by GK?

   • Kevin: Yes. The thigh is not part of the foot.

6. A player’s cleat comes off during play. The player continues to get involved with the attack and eventually is the one who scores a goal. Legal or not?

   • The goal is legal providing the referee has not, first, told the player to leave the field for an equioment change (see Rules A.R.3.4.8 et al). With reference to the ‘stream’ of action and applicable rules, please see Rules 4.4 thru 4.5 PENALTY. In short, if the referee does not suspend play to instruct the player to leave the field for an equipment change the player’s culpability applies only if he/she has been instructed to leave the field and blatantly returns – illegally. The problem with this hypothesis is that – albeit not specifically stated in the rules – the return to the match from bleeding injuries, equipment changes, et al, requires beckoning (approval) by/from the referee which presupposes he/she has validated the return. Lacking that, the player is not the one who is likely to voluntarily suspend his/her progress toward goal to announce that his/her cleat is missing.

7. Cliff or Ken:
   Can a coach ejected from an NJCAA game be present on site at his/her team’s next game? Or is the limitation just to the team area and pressbox? Are the limitations the same for NCAA D-1, D-2, and D-3?
   Jim Miller
   TCSOA

   • Jim: Any player, coach(es) or bench personnel serving a suspensioin is allowed to attend the game but is “…restricted to the spectator area and prohibited from any communication, contact et al with the team…” (See Rule 12.12.1 for complete ruling.

8. Cliff/Ken,

   I am curious to learn the rules regarding spectator taunting/baiting, specifically relating to this behavior occurring behind the goal for the purpose of distracting the goalkeeper and affecting the outcome of the match. What is considered taunting/baiting? Should spectators be permitted to stand behind the goal and speak directly to the goalkeeper by name? Are artificial noise makers permitted during NCAA competition?

   Sincerely,

   Reggie Fry

   • Reggie: Answer to Q #1: See A.R.5.6.1.b…In all collegiate soccer games, the referee determines when and if spectators (who are allowed to be in designated areas – behind restraining lines) – and can suspend the game and direct game administrators to removed them Answer to Q #2: The referee has discretionary power to determine what is/not taunting, bating, etc. Answer to Q #3: Yes, to being able to sit/stand behind goals if those areas are part of the designated spectator areas; no on use of GK’s name if the referee deems it in conflict with Rule 5.6.1.Answer to Q #4: See Rule 5.6.9.

9. In HS there are certain times during game that coaches are not allowed to ” coach” team . Do same/ some rules apply to NCAA?
   Sergio

   • Sergio: NCAA rules prohibit coaches from coaching under the conditions set forth in Rules 12.11.1; A.R.12.11.1.h; 12.12.1.d,e and 12.14.1 and 2. NOTE: Other than the result of suspensions, there are no selected times during NCAA games when all coaches are not permitted to “coach”.

10. A goalkeeper commits a reckless challenge on an attacker inside the penalty area. The referee calls a foul, awards a penalty kick, and issues a caution to the goalkeeper.

    “3.7.3 Provided the referee is notified in advance, a teammate on the field may
    change places with the goalkeeper for the taking of a penalty kick; however,
    a goalkeeper substitution from the bench is not permitted.”

    Rule 3.7.3 says a goalkeeper substitution from the bench is not permitted. However, rule 3.4.6 says that substitutions are allowed when a player has been cautioned.

    “3.4.6 When a player has been cautioned”

    Do we allow a substitution for the caution goalkeeper on the penalty kick?
    If we do, do we also allow the opposing team to make a single sub as well provided they have checked in at the table already?
    If the opposing team is allowed to sub, is that player allowed to take the penalty kick?

    • TT: As rare as the situation is and, albeit a seeming contradiction, in this case the prima facie rule has to yield to the scenario you have describede and Rule 3.4.6 . In other words, the right of the coach to replace the cautioned goalkeeper – Rule 3.4.6. – takes precedence over Rule 3.7.3. – and.his/her substitute FROM THE BENCH is now the eligible goalkeeper. Further, the opposing team’s allowable substitute is eligible to take the penalty kick. There is a more expansive treatment of the issue – with respect to eligible roster players – in the postseason rulings set forth in Rules 7.1.2.1. and 7.1.2.7.