478 Responses to “Ask A Rules Question”

1. Can a team use a goalkeeper that had NOT entered the game but is on the game day roster and use her as the goalkeeper during a penalty-kick shootout? Does the keeper need to enter the game at some point? Does the keeper need to be on the field prior to the end of the game? Can a team use any player on the game roster to participate in the shootout?
   Thanks
   Chris

   • Chris: Answers to your questions in order you have given:
     1. GK that had NOt entered: YES (see rule below)
     2. Enter at some point: YES when the coach submits the participants (10 kickers and a GK) for the shootout.
     3. GK on the field. NO…can enter before shootout begins but must be selected before shootout begins.
     4, Use any player? YES as long as that player is listed on the roster….even if he/she did not play in the game.

     7.1.2.1 Only players who are listed on the official NCAA game roster form shall be eligible to participate in the tiebreaker. Each team shall designate either: (a) 10 different kickers, one of whom may be the goalkeeper; or
     (b) 10 different kickers and a goalkeeper who will not participate as a designated kicker in the tiebreaker procedure. The kicking order shall be at the discretion of the kicking team; however, once taken, the order of the designated kickers shall remain the same. If any of the designated players, except for the goalkeeper, are ejected during the tiebreaker, the game will continue with the remaining designated players; and the opposing team, if desired, shall have the option to reduce or adjust its kicking order to avoid being penalized or placed at a disadvantage if the No. 1 kicker from the offending team ends up kicking against the No.10 kicker from the non-offending team. In addition, if the designated player ejected is the goalkeeper, his or her replacement may be from any of the eligible players listed on the official NCAA game roster for that game; however, the game will continue with the remaining designated players and the opposing team shall remove one of the designated kickers from its kicking order.
     A.R.7.1.2.1. Are coaches permitted in the center circle during the taking of kicks from the penalty line or mark? RULING: No. Coaches, nonparticipating players and all other bench personnel shall remain beyond the touch line in the coaching and player area.
     7.1.2.2 The visiting team shall call the coin toss, the winner of which elects to kick first or last. Each team shall take an initial series of five kicks, if necessary, alternately. In all games except the national championship
     game, the team scoring the greater number of goals shall advance to the next round. The referee shall determine which goal shall be used.
     7.1.2.3 If the score still is tied after each team has taken five kicks, kicks shall continue alternately in the same order until a team has one more goal in the same number of kicks.
     7.1.2.4 Each kick shall be taken by a different player until 10 kicks have been taken by each team. If the number of kicks goes beyond 10, the initial order of kicking shall be repeated.
     7.1.2.5 The nonparticipating goalkeeper shall stay on the field of play at one corner of the penalty area. All designated players except the kicker and the designated goalkeepers shall remain in the center circle.
     7.1.2.6 One official shall record the kicking order, and one shall administer the taking of the kicks.
     7.1.2.7 Once the goalkeeper is designated, he or she shall not be replaced unless injured or ejected; and his or her replacement may be from any of the eligible players listed on the official NCAA game roster for that game. Injuries leading to replacement of the designated goalkeeper shall
     be determined by the attending physician and/or a certified trainer in concert with the governing sports authority. (See page 6.) However, the injured goalkeeper is eligible to return if physically able.

2. Hello, in a recent match 4 substitutes charged onto the field of play during a confrontation between players on the field. After our crew isolated them I issued the red card to each of them. My question is, should I have issued a caution first and then the red card?

   A.R. 12.5.1. A player enters or returns to the field of play without receiving approval
   from the referee and, apart from this, commits another more serious infringement.
   RULING: The player shall be cautioned for entering or returning to the field without
   approval and ejected for the more serious infringement.

   Best,

   Jeff

   • Jeff: Your action was correct. Such action requires immediate ejection. See Rule below.

     12.6.1.1 A player, coach or bench personnel shall be ejected if he or she is guilty of fighting or leaves the coaching area to participate in an altercation.

     You get an A+

3. Query on yellow card system for this years NCAA Division II tournament. If you accumulate 4 yellow cards in regular season play and then receive your 5th in the NCAA second tournament (last 32 game) does it result in a suspension. I am not sure if the two yellow card rule in the play off takes over the previous 4 yellow cards in regular season. Some information would be amazing

   • Andrew: The rule is clear…if a player finishes the regular season with four cards he/she enters the postseason (includes conference and NCAA tournaments) with the five-card total increased to eight (8) before suspension. To that end, the player in question does not have to sit and will not sit until four additional cards are obtained. Please note that your comment about “two” yellows needs clarification: A player cannot receive two yellows in the same game because the second card to the same player SHALL BE RED. (See Rule below.) In this latter case, the player must sit out regardless whether it is the last regular season game or any game in the postseason.

     A.R.12.11.1.d. A player receives a caution and a second card in the same game. RULING: The player shall be charged with one card (yellow) with reference to the five-, three- or two-caution accumulation system and one card (red) with reference to the two-ejection accumulation system.

     Added note: Not sure what your (last 32 game) reference means?
     A.R.12.11.1.e. A player receives two “yellow” cards in the same game. For accumulation purposes, how many “yellow” cards does she or he have? RULING: One. It is impossible to accumulate more than one “yellow” card per game since the second card issued to the same person in the same game shall be red.

4. Where can I find a current qualifying examination for prospective NISOA candidates?
   We run a New Candidate school each March and I would like to test them on current NISOA rules.

   • Joe: Contact Tom Richardson – [email protected] Tom is Assoc. ED, Director of Membership and administrative assistant for the NRP.

   • Joe: Correction to my initial reply – (I usually forward all such adm. questions to Tom – this one should have gone to NISOA President and Dir. of Instruction – Todd Abraham – he can be reached at [email protected] or 847-943-4461

5. When can the referee stop the clock? At his/her discretion? Only at the times listed in the rulebook?
   At the NRP clinics last year we were shown a clip of a referee stopping the clock without issuing a caution and we were told this was illegal. I have since heard otherwise and just really want to know if I can stop the clock at my discretion or not. And where this is backed up in the rule book. Thanks.

   • TT: There are ‘legal’ specified times and circumstances set forth in the rules book when the referee shall stop the clock – examples after a goal is scored; when a caution is issued (exceptions possible during final five minutes of regulation time; injury timeouts; TV timeout after the 23rd minute, etc. However, it also is legal for the referee to signal timeout should in his/her judgment a situation warrants it – examples – to go to the coach, to speak with the timekeeper, when the temperature is 116 and a water break is imperative – things of this nature are not listed as official timeouts but as sole judge the wise referee uses such “executive privilege”

     • Thanks for the reply, I’m glad to hear that we can use our discretion when necessary. Any chance that could be put in the rule book? I still can’t find a place in the rule book to back that up.

       • TT:- There will be a specific reference set forth in the new rules book and most likely will be under Rule 5.6.1 appearing as an Approved Ruling – Best guess: A.R. 5.6.1.e. Ken Andres, SRE, suggests the new books will be available earlier than the usual late July delivery but will definitely be available online (NCAA.org and nisoa.com) much sooner. Hope this helps.

6. is calling for a ball such as “mine” an automatic yellow card?

   • Bob: There is no rule specifically addressing the matter of calling “mine” other than the historical perception that if a player is going to call for the ball he/she must include their name – example, Bob’s ball!” The traditional response has been a “caution” Rule 12.4.8 indirectly alludes to such a possibility prohibiting that “…unsporting behavior…including inappropriate language…” leads to a caution but that’s a stretch of the rule. Rule 12.10.3 is a better reference inasmuch as its language includes “…if the player uses trickery – in any form…he/she (sic) is guilty of unsporting behavior and shall be cautioned.” In the end, it comes down to referee discretion. Hope this helps.

7. You administer a drop ball restart. The ball touches the ground then Player B12 gets the ball and dribbles it away
   from the spot of the drop ball. You should:

   • Bruce: Legal play. The only reference to the issue you raise is paragraph 2 p. 38. Rule 9.3.2.The ball is in play when it touches the ground; therefore, B12 has the right to dribble it away. If either player touches it BEFORE it hits the ground the ball is dropped again.

     • Cliff my name is Bob Brouse and I am the NISOA representative from the Central Illinois Soccer Officials Association (CISOA). I am trying to determine if we have the most recent NISOA entrance examination. I can not find this information on the website. When I try to use the link to contact the Director of Instruction it sends me to outlook to set up an e-mail account but can’t do it. I wish you would just list each persons e-mail address which would make it much easier to contact. Can you tell me what the most current test is. The one we are using is QualExam_4_13a. Thanks for your help

       Bob Brouse

       • Bob: I apologize for the brief delay in responding to your question; however, NISOA embraces an organizational formula that encourages (requires?) that answers come from the primary person(s) assigned to a given area. President Todd Abraham is also the Director of Instruction under whose area your question falls. He is conducting the Chicago area NRP Academy Program this weekend and has asked me to forward his answer to you:
         “We never post qualification exams in order to maintain the exam integrity. Chapters should contact the Director of Instruction directly for a copy of the qualification exam @: [email protected]. (Note: He also will see this post so when you email him he will respond to you promptly after the weekend clinic is concluded.
         My best,
         Cliff

       • we never post qualification exams in order to maintain the exam integrity. Chapters should contact the Director of Instruction directly for a copy of the qualification exam @ [email protected]

8. A question about throw ins. The rule states that if the ball fails to enter the field then the opposing team gets the throw in. But the approved ruling says retake the throw in. Which is the correct restart?

   The following was cut from the NCAA central hub.
   _________________________________________________________
   ART. 15-2

   The thrower, at the moment of delivering the ball, shall face the field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touch line or the ground outside the touch line. The thrower shall use both hands equally and shall deliver the ball from behind and over his or her head. The throw-in shall be taken from the point where it crossed the touch line, being thrown in any direction by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched the ball. The ball shall be in play from the throw as soon as it enters the field of play. if, on the throw-in, the ball fails to enter the field of play before it touches the ground, the ball is awarded to the opponent at the spot of the initial throw-in. A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in.

   The thrower shall not play the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player.

   Note: The player taking the throw-in may not use stickum or adhesive material of any kind (including gloves with an adhesive surface) to enhance the grip on a throw-in.

   PENALTY – If the ball is improperly thrown in, the throw-in shall be taken by a player of the opposing team.
   Approved Ruling 15.2
   _____________________________________________________

   A.R. 15.2.a

   A player taking a throw-in throws the ball so that it does not enter the field of play but passes outside the touch line or hits the ground before entering the field of play.

   RULING: The throw-in shall be retaken.

   • Doug: The rule set forth in 15.2 and AR 15.2.a. both state – emphatically – that, “if the ball fails to enter the field of play before it touches the ground, the ball is awarded to the opponent” We cannot vouch for the central hub – which we will alert to the discrepancy. Hope this helps.

9. If i do the cut off socks but the tape i use matches the color of the team sock say for example the team sock color is green and i first put on white regular socks and over them i put the green team socks and tape the bottom with green tape with only a little white at the ankle form the cutoff sock is this ok

   • Michael: I have delayed answering to give Ken the first “shot” at this but, inasmuch as we tag-team this service I am happy to provide the following:
     First, the Rules Book does not address anything pertaining to “stockings” other than that in Rule 4.1.1 which states that “stockings” are part of the required uniform. In Rule 4.1.2 “stockings” are mentioned in reference to shin guards the stockings shall cover. The only other references to “stockings” are in Rules 4.2.1; 4.2.2 and 4.2.3.There is no stipulation concerning what a player might do to alter the appearance of stockings with tape or any other design as long as the end product conforms to the rule pertaining to “contrast”. The summary judgment seems to allow creative design as long as the basic rule is not altered.

10. Is there a formal NISOA standard or procedure for water breaks?

    • Tom: Through the years – even without any formal rule – the referee ALWAYs has had jurisdictional options to call time outs – example fights, spectator interference “or other causes” – howeve, In the current (2014-15) Rules the committee has taken the issue one step further – Rule 5.6.A.R.5.6.1.e – allows the referee to stop the clock due to extreme heat and humidity which, by inference, suggests he/she can do so for any legitimate reason.