NEW RULES FOR 2008

A change in the penalty for illegally equipped players was one of three rules revisions approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee at its annual meeting January 27-28, 2008 in Indianapolis.

The first caution (yellow card) for an illegally equipped player is issued to the coach, a rule that was implemented last year. Beginning next season (Maine August 2008), all subsequent cautions for illegally equipped players will be issued directly to the player and not to the coach. The coach is held responsible for ensuring that each of his or her players is properly and legally (new this year) equipped.

Both illegally and improperly equipped players will be instructed to leave the field of play at the discovery of illegal equipment. The removed player(s) who has not been cautioned may re-enter during a dead ball. A player(s) who has been cautioned can only re-enter at the next legal substitution opportunity. There shall be no replacement for non-cautioned players until the next opportunity to substitute. In all situations, the removed player(s) may re-enter only after reporting to an official who shall be satisfied the player's equipment and uniform are in order.

Let's Recap what MASO Referees will be doing in 2008:

1. Prior to the game ask the Coach if all of his or her players are properly and legally equipped.

2. Prior to the start of the game, the whistle blowing for a kick off, we will send of any player that is not properly or legally equipped and allow for a replacement player. There will be no card

3. After the game has started, if we see an illegally equipped or improperly equipped player (exception - unless perhaps they lose a shin guard while kicking the ball, or their mouth piece is jolted out of their mouth as a result of a physical contact etc and they can near instantly repair or put back into place the pad or mouthpiece etc or even take themselves out of the play), the player shall be instructed to leave the field of play when the ball next ceases to be in play. The head coach shall be cautioned (yellow card) for illegally equipped player(s) for the first offense only. Unintentional lose of equipment, as noted above, should not be considered a cautionable offense - UNLESS, the player seems to be unintentionally losing equipment more often than not.

4. All subsequent cautions for illegal equipment will be given to the player him or herself.

New definitions related to the Equipment Rule:

An illegally equipped player is a player not wearing equipment required by rule or wearing an item or items not allowed by rule.

An improperly equipped player is a player wearing legal equipment that is being worn incorrectly or becomes illegal during play. Cautions are not issued for improperly equipped players.

REMINDER: Beginning with the 2008-09 high school soccer season, shinguards must meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standard.

The new NOCSAE shinguards will be stamped or labeled with the NOCSAE logo. They will specify which size is correct for a particular-sized player, making it easy for players, coaches and officials to differentiate which shinguards are to be worn.

SPORTSMANSHIP WARNING:

In another change, the issue of sportsmanship is to be addressed by the head referee during the pregame conference with the head coach and team captains. At this same meeting, the referee is to inquire of each head coach whether each of his or her players is properly and legally equipped. (Interpreter's note: No more mass gathering or lining up of teams to give this warning.)

FIELD SIZE CHANGE:

Since many states play games on college or professional fields, the committee altered Rule 1-1-1 regarding the allowable width of fields. To allow for the use of other fields, the maximum width was expanded from 75 to 80 yards. The new recommendations are 100 to 120 yards long and 55 to 80 yards wide.