478 Responses to “Ask A Rules Question”

1. If in a match the referee issues a second caution to a player and ejects him from the contest. Then with out
   going to the sideline to confer with anyone he simply restarts the contest as soon as the player has left the field.
   The player is escorted by an assitant off the field and to the locker room.

   However when the ejection report arrives at the school the referee has written that before the player left the field the player shoved him.

   The player denies the shove, no one else saw a shove and the film does not show one eaither. ( although their is a very breif time when the camera drifts off the referee) why does rule 12—-, the referee shall inform the player(s), the
   head coach(s) and the official scorekeeper, not apply? how should a school respond to this and is the player actually
   being charged with a violation punishable with a one plus three game suspension?

   • Wayne: Not all that clear on exactly what your question is but I’ll take a crack at the situaition you have described and will entertain a follow-up question if needed: The referee’s failure to properly report the action on the field does not exempt the player from the penalty nor the suspension(s) that follow. The “second” yellow – albeit for a cautionable action – SHALL BE RED. As for the failure to report it may lead to a sustained protest – for misapplication of the rule – rendered by the NCAA SRE – Ken Andres – but that is his sole responsibility – and authority – should a protest be submitted in a timely manner. The problem with the referee assualt scenario is that by not reporting properly there is de facto no evidence albeit the referee is still within his/her authority to issue such penalties after the game has ended provided it occur before leaving the site of competition.

     • Thanks for the answer but not sure what it means.

       If the game film does not show the player push or touch the referee, if the game anouncers saw no push, if no coach saw a push and if the referee did not follow rule 12 and report the offence to both coaches and the player
       how can he then include it in his post game report and seek action.

       I allways thought that “shall”” ment must. So if a referee Must do something but does not how can he expect to
       be relied on and then his post game observations relied on? Not that any referee would but if a referee could simply, after the fact, accuse anyone of anything while ignoring the rules that govern his on actions then that is really sad and unfortunate.

       12.6.1.3 The referee shall inform the player(s), the head coach(s) and the
       official scorekeeper, who shall record on the official NCAA box score
       form, that an ejection for fighting has been issued.

       In the event of an assault on a referee, the referee shall inform the player(s), the
       head coach(s) and the official scorekeeper, who shall record on the official NCAA
       box score that a push or assualt has happend.the

       • Wayne: What you describe albeit a failure on the part of the referee, has two sides: 1. If the referee fails to follow the prescribed steps outlined in the rule the rule still stands. (A.R. 5.4.2. What action shall be taken when a referee fails to enforce a specific rule of conduct? RULING: The rule stated in the rules book shall be followed. Exception:See Rule 10.9 Protests) In addition, he/she – even after signing the game report – has the option offered by Rule A.R. 5.6.3.a. May a player be cautioned and/or ejected during an interval between periods or after the completion of a match? RULING: Yes. Moreover, if time remains and the player in question has not been substituted for before the incident occurred or the penalty has been assessed, the team shall play short for the remainder of the game.. The second “side” is that if the referee fails to report and or record any of the facts of the incident then de facto the action never occurred.

2. Is there a maximum allowed roster size for NCAA D1 Women’s soccer?

   • Barb: In addition to Ken’s answer i.e. – limits imposed by cjampionship committees – whioch can be foind on the wewbsites e.g. ncaa.org and go to Championships; roster limits also can be imposed by conferences and/or institutions but none is specified in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules.

   • Barb – sorry about the typos in the previous message (our Ask website does not have spell check and I failed to double check. In that message please correct as follows: “cjampionship” is “championship; “wewbsites” (funniest of all) is “websites”; “whioch” is “which”; “foind” is “found”

3. A1 has the ball and pushes it upfield past B1. In an attempt to avoid a tackle from B1, A1 steps outside the touchline and is off the field. B1 continues his motion and fouls down A1. This action takes place about 2-3 feet off the touch line. The ball continues to roll upfield and does not go out of bounds. What is the proper call ? What is the restart ?

   • Frank: The restart is inside the touchline closest to where the foul occurred (location assisted by where the fallen player left the field of play).

4. Cliff: The restart would be a direct free kick as a result of the foul ??

   • Correct unless the referee called it dangerous play. The play you described is clearly a direct kick foul.

     • Doesn’t a “direct kick foul” have to occur on the field of play?

       • Frank, Ed and All: The twist with this incident relates to both intent and visual assessment of what occurred. With FIFA rules the narrow interpretation builds from a judgment that the incident occurred “off the field of play”. The way Frank posed the question I viewed the guilty player attempting to foul the player which, clearly, began in the field of play. The fact that the offensive player ‘diverted’ into ‘touch’ to avoid the contact doesn’t change the fact that it all began in the field of play. Further, it was during the ‘run-of-play’ which is different than a GK punching a player outside the touchlines (presumably after play is stopped) after a corner kick was awarded to the attacking team. This is no different that a player who goes over to the bench and strikes another player after play is whistled dead. In this case the misconduct would be addressed but the restart would be dictated by the rule applicable to the first whistle and, therefore, a corner kick. One more point: If the same tackle occurs in the middle of the field the player would be penalized but in no way would the restart be a dropped ball…at least not in NCAA play.
         Other references from the NCAA Rules:

       • Frank, Ed, et al: Further rationale: Please review the following in the 2012-2013 NCAA Rules: Rule 12.3.1; A.R. 12.3.2; 12.3.3. 12.4 and particular reference to 12.4.14; A.R. 12.5.5.a; A.R. 12.6.3; 12.8 – all, of which, pertain to Indirect Free Kicks.

5. Regarding Penalty kicks during overtime for HS girls – After first 5 members on each team have taken pk’s and score is still tied, referees had 4 new members come out for the ‘sudden death’ pk’s. Team A shot and missed, Team B shot and missed. Team A shot and scored, Team B DID NOT get to shoot. Referee said Team A won…doesn’t Team B get to have 1 player shoot to make it even chances??

   • Yes, most certainly, even number of PKs is required. He must have been in a hurry to get out of there.

   • Lori…Morten has answered correctly. It is mandatory that the team shooting second be permitted to shoot if the score is tied and the team shooting first scores in the top of the first sudden victory tiebreaker. The referee’s misapplication of the rules justifies a protest on the part of the ‘losing’ team.

6. In a recent high school game under NFHS rules the following scenario took place:

   Team A takes a corner kick. Ball is ineffectively cleared from in front of the goal by Team B. Team A player who was standing at the approximately the top of the penalty area is able to take a couple of steps into a slow moving ball coming towards her on the ground and launch a hard, rising shot. Team B player standing approximately 5 feet away and in direct path of the ball raises an arm to protect her face. The raised arm is hit by the ball (with sufficient force to knock Team B player backward).

   What is the appropriate call under NCAA rules?

   Under the NFHS rules this is a clear hand ball. The rules explanations for NFHS include the scenario where a player reflexively protects themselves from a hard hit ball, and provides that in such cases it is a hand ball and a free kick is awarded (PK if is in the penalty area).

   Under the USSF Advice to Referees 12.9, this same scenario is expressly NOT a hand ball. The suggested referee response is either silence (since no infraction took place) or “not deliberate” rather than stating “play on” which could be used if an infraction took place.

   I have not been able to find an NCAA interpretation which would spell out the correct call when a player reflexively moves their arm or hand in order to protect themselves such as in the above scenario. Can you direct me to an appropriate resource? Thanks for your help.

   • Nate: The incident described clearly depicts an unintentional reflex movement which would be highly unjust for the referee to resolve with a penalty kick judgment. In the end the ruling falls under “referee judgment” based on the best case scenario of what the referee sees. If you study Rules 12.2.7; 12.3.5 and 12.6.2 you will see clearly that the key element in the final judgment are the words “deliberate, deliberately, etc. Add to that the emphasis in Rules 5.4.2 and 5.4.6 pertaining to the jurisdictional powers of the referee and there should be adequate resource for the referee to make a “just” decision. Hope this helps.

     • Thanks for the quick reply. It is an interesting issue, and a bit surprising that the high school rule is actually less protective of the player than the USSF interpretation. I also find it interesting that there apparently is no definitive direction to NCAA refs which obviously could easily result in officials taking very different viewpoints based on their own individual interpretation of the word “deliberately”.

       • Nate: Couldn’t agree with you more. I will ask Ken to put this item on the agenda for next February’s Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee meetings.

7. what are the div 2 rules for number sizes on jerseys front and back

   • Gary – the rules for numbering are the same for all collegiate soccer – 4″ on the front of the jersey; 8″ on the back.

8. Ken, Cliff,
   Two D1 schools have agreed (one week prior) to play 30 minutes extra time regardless of outcome of preseason exhibition game. Referees have all been informed. Game is this Saturday 8/24/13

   Is this allowable? Are refs covered insurance wise under NCAA/NISOA if anything should go horribly wrong?

   • Richard: The game is preseason therefore the normal rules are waived. Example, red and yellow cards do not count – albeit you still should give them; substitution rules are waived; OT can be added or waived, etc. Beyond that you are covered by NISOA insurance unless one or more of the referees is a non-NISOA member. Hope this helps.

9. Are there official rules dictating the format of exhibition games in the NCAA? Specifically, can teams use three 30 minute periods? And is it required that exhibition matches that are tied at the end of 90 minutes go into overtime?

   • Scott: There are no special rules for exhibition and/or spring games other than those coaches agree upon prior to the game. Preseason scrimmages/games are what coaches use as trial runs and the rules are relaxed. Red/yellow cards DO NOT COUNT albeit the referee should award them where warranted. Otherwise, the only issue is how long the contest should be with reference to the referees’ assignment and what he/she/they agree on in keeping with game fees, time commitments, etc.

   • Scott: One follow-up item: It is assumed that all the rules – including OT if the game is tied at the end of regulation – be applied in preseason games/scrimmages. However, OT can be waived albeit, normally, the referee and coaches settle this prior to the game beginning.

10. Wondering if there is a heat index rule for NCAA or NAIA soccer? I can’t find one and in the past just seen coaches and officials work together to take extra breaks. Is there one that I should be aware of? Thanks,
    Jason Elliott

    • Jason: There is no specific rule pertaining to “heat indexes” in the NCAA rules book (which also applies to NAIA and other collegiate bodies – example Junior Colleges, etc.); however, the referee has the authority to stop the clock for any reason he/she deems necessary which is the broader interpretation of Rule 5.6.1: “Suspend the game whenever, by reason of the elements (see Lightning Guidelines, Appendix C), interference by spectators or other cause, such action is deemed necessary. A suspended game may be resumed should conditions allow.” In short., for the safety of players and all others (referees) concerned, Rule 18 – COMMON SENSE should deem it necessary to take water breaks should the temperatures be in the 100s! Heat prostration qualifies as “…other cause…”