National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010-11
NFHS Soccer Rules
PowerPoint
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
National Federation of
State High School Associations
National Federation of
State High School Associations cont.
•NFHS:
•Located in Indianapolis, Indiana (Est. 1920);
•National leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities;
•Writes playing rules for 17 boys and girl sports at the high school level;
•Membership = 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia;
•Reaches nearly 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school
activity programs, including more than 7.5 million in high school sports;
•National authority on interscholastic activity programs.
National Federation of
State High School Associations cont.
•NFHS:
•Conducts national meetings;
•Sanctions interstate events;
•Produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors;
•Sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit
coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators;
•Serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a
national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities.
National Federation of
State High School Associations cont.
•NFHS Web site - www.nfhs.org
State of High School
Soccer Nationally
•Soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys and girls at the high
school level.
•According to the 2008-09 High School Athletics Participation Survey
which is listed in the 2009-10 NFHS Handbook:
•383,824 – H.S. Boys participate in the sport
•344,534 – H.S. Girls participate in the sport
•11,139 – H.S. Boys programs participate
throughout the country
•10,548 – H.S. Girls programs participate
throughout the country
National Federation of State
High School Associations
NFHS Soccer
Rules Changes
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
2010-11 NFHS Soccer
Rules Committee
NFHS Interpretation Policy
•Each state high school association adopting these NFHS soccer rules is
the sole and exclusive source of binding rules interpretations for contests
involving its member schools. Any person having questions about the
interpretation of NFHS soccer rules should contact the soccer rules
interpreter designated by his or her state high school association.
NFHS Interpretation Policy cont.
•The NFHS is the sole and exclusive source of interpretations of NFHS
soccer rules. State rules interpreters may contact the NFHS for soccer
rules interpretations. Soccer rules interpretations from other rule making
bodies should not be considered.
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
Illegal Home Team Uniforms
Starting Fall 2012
Color Side Panels and Color Piping
Legal Home Team Uniforms
Starting Fall 2012
National Federation of State
High School Associations
NFHS Soccer
Points of Emphasis
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
National Federation of State
High School Associations
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
1-1-1
The following minimum dimensions are highly recommended.
3-1-1Situation B
RULING: In (a), the goal is disallowed and the game is
restarted with a goal kick by team B. However, in (b), the goal
would stand. In both instances, the appropriate player would
be removed from the game and cautioned. The game is
resumed according to how it was interrupted.
3-1-3 Situation B
RULING: Legal. Players can be added as long as their names
have been listed on the roster, even if the names are added
after the beginning of the game (3-3-7).
3-5 Situation A
RULING: Incorrect. When a referee beckoned the goalkeeper
from the scoring table, this was sufficient “reporting or
notifying” of a referee. The goalkeeper is dressed in a
different uniform and could be recognized by his attire. A
referee should not have stopped play. Play shall restart with
an indirect free kick awarded to the new goalkeeper’s team.
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
4-1-1 Diagram
Change term ILLEGAL to IMPROPER
4-1-1, a, b, c, d, i,
Change term stockings to socks
i3, Situation C and
F
4-2-1f
Knee and ankle braces which are altered from the
manufacturer’s original design/production. Knee and ankle
braces that are unaltered, do not require any additional
padding. Ankle braces may be worn outside a stocking;
5-1-3c
Predominantly black shoes and black socks with white stripes
5-3-1b
When signaling, use the Official NFHS Soccer Signals. The
referee also must signal when the clock is to be stopped and
confirm for the scorekeeper the players to be credited with
goals;
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
5-3-1g
Signal the clock to be stopped or started;
7-4-1
The clock shall be stopped for an injury, for a penalty kick, for
cautioning (yellow card), for disqualifications (red card,
yellow/red card), following the scoring of a goal and when a
referee orders the clock be stopped.
12-8-3d
committing serious foul play, that is any play in which the
player commits one of the offenses punishable with a direct
free kick (or penalty kick if the offense takes place by a
defender in the penalty area) and uses disproportionate and
unnecessary force against an opponent while playing for the
ball. Serious foul play also includes the following:
12-8-3 Situation D
RULING: The referee should apply the advantage clause if
there is a clear advantage to Team A. At the next stoppage,
the referee should disqualify the trainer. If the referee stops
play for the disqualified trainer, the game is restarted because
of misconduct with an indirect free kick by Team A from the
point where the ball was when the time was stopped.
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
13-1-2
All free kicks, with the exception of kickoffs and penalty kicks,
may be taken in any direction. Free kicks are taken from the
spot of the foul except for restarts following certain temporary
suspensions of play, e.g., misconduct committed by bench
personnel during a live ball and fouls committed in the goal
area by either team.
13-2-2l
if the game is stopped for misconduct of a player and no other
restart takes precedence. (12-8-1, 2, 3, 4);
14-1 Play Rulings
PENALTY KICK SITUATIONS: (14-1-2 and 14-1-3)
**Move table below 14-1-3 Penalty
14-1-2, Table
Saved & Held
by Goalkeeper
18-1-1m
Play
Continues
Play
Continues
Rekick
Rekick
FOUL - A rule infraction by a player on the field of play during
play, for which a free kick is awarded to the player’s
opponents.
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
Sample
Tournament
Progression
Sample Tie-Breaking Procedure
Sample
Tournament
Progression
7. Unless participating in the kicks as a kicker or goalkeeper,
team members, coaches and other bench personnel shall
remain in a designated area as determined by the state
association.
Dual-Officiating
System, Pregame
Conference
The head referee is responsible for conducting the
conference and is responsible for the overall management of
the game. The head referee conducts the pregame
instructions with the timer, scorer, coaches, ball holders and
team captains, and also handles the coin toss.
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
DiagonalIt is important that the three officials meet before each game.
Officiating System The head referee must indicate clearly how each assistant
referee must best help. The referee is required to meet the
timer, scorer, coaches, ball holders and team captains prior to
the game about good sportsmanship.
DiagonalThe assistant referees are assistants to the referee, their
Officiating System duties (subject to the decision of the referee) shall be to
indicate when players are to be penalized for being offside,
the ball is out-of-play and which team is entitled to the throwin, corner kick or goal kick. They shall also assist the referee
in controlling the game in accordance with the rules. The
assistant referees shall be equipped with flags and should
normally remain outside the field of play.
NFHS Soccer
Major Editorial Changes
Double-Dual
System (DDS)
A reserve official may be assigned to a tournament in order to
assure game officiating continuity in the event one of the
assigned officials is unable to officiate as assigned.
Rules Comparison The 2010-11 rules book contains an updated comparison of
the major differences among NFHS and NCAA rules and FIFA
laws.
National Federation of State
High School Associations
NFHS Soccer Rules Book
Additional Items
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
Current Team Uniform Requirements
Front
Front of Uniform Options
1
manufacturer’s
logo
2¼ square
inches is
permitted on
each item
(visible
anywhere on
the uniform)
All jersey’s
(except
goalkeepers)
shall be
numbered on
the front with a
different Arabic
number at
least 4 inches
in height
This number
must be placed
on the jersey
or short
Home team shall wear white or light jerseys and socks
Visiting team shall wear dark jerseys and socks
Page: 21-22
Current Team Uniform Requirements
Back
Back of Uniform
All jersey’s
(except
goalkeepers)
shall be
numbered on
the back with a
different Arabic
number at
least 6 inches
in height
Page: 21-22
Shoes must be worn
by all participants
Both socks shall be the same color, with a single dominant color, but not
necessarily the color of the jersey
NFHS Soccer Field Diagram
Page: 9
Comparison of NFHS and NCAA Rules
and FIFA Laws
Page: 72-84
NFHS Official Soccer Signals
Page: 104
NFHS Assistant Referee Signals
Page: 105
National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010-11
Soccer Rules Reminders
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
2011-12 NFHS Soccer Rule Change
Proposal Form
Due:
December 1, 2010
Must be submitted to your
state association office for
approval.
►
NFHS Soccer Meeting Information
 2010 NFHS Soccer Rules On-line Interpreters Meeting
• Monday, July 12, 2010
 2011-12 NFHS Soccer Rule Change Proposal Forms Due
• December 1, 2010
 2011 NFHS Soccer Rules Committee Meeting
• January 24-26, 2011
• Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
Contact Information
 SOCCER EDITOR:
Mark Koski, CMAA, Assistant Director
National Federation of State High School Associations
PO Box 690
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206
Office Phone: (317) 972-6900
E-mail: mkoski@nfhs.org
Website: www.nfhs.org
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Thank You!
www.nfhs.org
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™