Second Soccer Memo – Released 5/3/2010

As the regular season reaches the home stretch – a few issues have come up that are worth reviewing. There is information enclosed that officials, coaches, and players will hopefully review.

Pregame Responsibilities: I’ve had a few reports of matches beginning (especially with weekend tournaments) with no pre-match meeting taking place or the head coaches are not attending the pre-match meeting. The rule book states (page 29, Rule 2-2) that a pregame meeting must take place with the head coach and team captains of both teams. The purpose of this pregame conference is to:

1. Review rules

2. Address good sportsmanship

3. Conduct the coin toss

4. Inquire of each head coach whether each of his/her players is properly and legally equipped.

Coaches: failure to attend the pre-match conference is a poor example of sportsmanship and often sets a bad tone for both the opposing coach and the officials working the match. These conferences do not need to be any longer than five minutes, but they are important and required.

Penalty Kicks: There are still some questions in regards to the earlier memo regarding the shootout procedure and there have been some instances where the procedure has still been administrated incorrectly.

Some things to remember: Five kicks are taken in the first round of penalty kicks. Coaches may select ANY five players, including the goalkeeper, on or off the field (unless they have been disqualified or received a yellow card in the second overtime period), to take the first round of kicks.

If the score is still tied after the first overtime, each coach will select five different players than the first five who already kicked to take the kicks in a sudden victory situation, wherein if one team scores and the other does not score, the game is ended without more kicks being taken.

Here is a playing situation - Teams A and Team B are still tied after the first five penalty kicks. The sixth kicker from Team A makes her kick. The sixth kicker from Team B makes her kick. The seventh kicker from Team A misses her kick. The seventh kicker from Team B makes her kick. The match is now over with Team B declared the winner and no more kicks are taken.

Also – if the score is still tied through 10 penalty kickers, continue the sudden-victory kicks with the coach selecting ANY five players to take the next set of alternating kicks.

As always, your best reference is the rule book. You can find the overtime progression on pages 81 and 82 in the rule book. It always helps to consult and re-read the rule so you are prepared in the event you get into a penalty kick situation.

Goalkeeper Safety: One of the concerns that have come up more than a few times in the last two seasons is the safety of the goalkeeper. There have been a few instances this season where some goalkeepers have been seriously injured. As a review, the rule book (pages 50-51, Rule 12-4) states:

Art. 1 …. A player shall be penalized for charging an opponent in a dangerous or reckless manner, or using excessive force. An allowable fair charge is where players make shoulder-to-shoulder contact in an upright position, within playing distance of the ball, have at least one foot on the ground and their arms close to their body.

Art 2: “…. A player shall not, in any manner, charge the goalkeeper in the penalty area unless the goalkeeper is obstructing the player or dribbling the ball with the feet.

a. An official shall disqualify, without caution, any player who flagrantly fouls the goalkeeper in possession of the ball. Possession or control of the ball includes when the goalkeeper has the ball trapped by either or both hands or when bouncing it to the ground or when releasing the ball into play.

b. Outside the penalty area, the goalkeeper has no more privileges than any other player.

We all understand that injuries are an unfortunate by-product of playing any sport, but it still never hurts to review some of the rules.

Pairings Online Friday: Regional pairings for the Class 1A & 2A should be online at the end of the day on Friday (May 7). Official assignments are scheduled to be released Friday, May 14. Officials, please be sure to check that you have signed up to work regional tournaments. The list of tournament eligible officials can be listed by clicking here. If you are not listed, but believe you should be, please contact the State Office as soon as possible.

A Note for Coaches and Players: The number of soccer ejections that have come to the state office has climbed. While only four ejections have involved actual dissent, it is important for coaches and players to remember that you cannot argue judgment calls. Coaches and players have every right to ask for an explanation on calls involving the rules, but the manner you and your players ask for that explanation can set the tone for the rest of the match. Coaches, please remember that the athletic field is an extension of the classroom. Your actions define not only how you are perceived, but also how your school and community are viewed.

A Note for Officials: I have also been disappointed by the number of calls that I’ve received from coaches and administrators commenting about how unapproachable and arrogant some officials have been. Officials are reminded that although you may be assigned to a particular match by your local officials’ association, the school you are working at is paying you. You are working for them. If you don’t like a particular conference’s mileage policy or payment structure, then don’t agree to work for that particular school or conference before the season starts. Arriving to a site grumbling about the mileage money or complaining about a particular school’s facilities is unprofessional and uncalled for. Be approachable and professional in your interaction with coaches and the players. The Officials Code of Ethics in the Soccer Rule Book expects officials to exercise high levels of self-discipline. Remember that when you take the field before the start of every match.

I need to reiterate that Iowa is very fortunate to have so many outstanding coaches and officials working high school soccer and your commitment to the Iowa Girl is appreciated.

Good luck to all teams and officials the rest of the regular season.

Jason Eslinger

Assistant Director/Soccer Administrator