Fall 2016 Rule Changes for Referees

CHANGES to the laws of the game - 2016

WHAT you need to know

We realize that you, as referees, are constantly evolving and improving upon your knowledge, and training. We also know that you are professionals and want to do the best job you can. There significant rule changes this year, and you need to know them all.

This is where we come in.

What rules have changed from last year.

How these changes affect your games.

What you should be looking for.

What the outcome is from each infraction.

WHAT We’ll show you We will provide you with a quick glance at the main rule changes that summarize the changes that affect you.

There are video examples of what to expect, what to look for, and how to handle the outcome.

DID you know…?

We’ve also sent a simpler version of this presentation to the coaches in the state.

We want them to be aware of the changes, too, and give them a warning that the rules have changed and that they’ll need to be aware of the new things you’ll be watching for.

There were 4 Laws with major changes Another 9 of also had minor changes this year.

There were no new Laws added to the 17 existing.

They take affect Fall 2016.

Refs:

ITS A TOUGH JOB

FIELD OF PLAY

law one

Law One deals with the field you play on.

Dimensions, the surface, and how the field is set up for your game. That includes the flags and what it’s made of.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

Artificial and natural surfaces cannot be combined…so, for example, you can’t have a turf goalkeeper box and grass on the rest of the field.

WHAT should you do There will be times when you come across this scenario. There are a few fields that currently use turf to permanently replace constantlydamaged goal areas.

Your role as an official is to maintain the safety of the players at all time. If you deem it is safe to play, play the game but ALWAYS add the fact that they are blending two surfaces together in your game report.

THE BALL

law two

Law Two deals with the ball you play with.

Size, shape, weight and pressure.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Good news!

There are no changes this year for the ball.

Just make sure it’s round and inflated!

WHAT should you do They key with the ball is that it holds it’s shape and that it is pressurized to the correct level.

U6 - U8 play with a size 3 ball U9 - U12 play with a size 4 ball U13 and above all play with a size 5 ball

THE PLAYERS

law three

Law Three deals with the number of players you have on the field.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

Direct free kick if a sub/team official interferes with the play.

•

If something other than a player touches a ball and it goes into the goal the ref can award a goal if the touch had no impact on defenders.

•

If a goal is scored with an extra player on the field, the goal stands and the game continues.

WHAT should you do

If someone involved with the team other than the players on the field interferes with the play, (i.e. subs, coach, send-off player etc) you should give a DIRECT FREE KICK to the other team at the spot of the infraction If a ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the ball enters the opponents’ goal.

EQUIPMENT

law four

Law Four deals with the gear that the players wear on the field.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

Any tape or other material on a player’s socks must match the color of the sock.

•

Undershorts must be the same color as the shorts themselves and anyone on that same team who wears them, must wear the same color undershorts as each other. So if one wears black, everyone must wear black.

WHAT should you do This is fairly simple.

If the equipment is not correct then the player should not play until his/her equipment has been fixed.

If you notice it after the game starts that a player has an infraction have them leave the field and correct it.

THE REFEREE

law five

Law Five deals with the ref. We all need you in order to play the game, and you’ve had changes, too.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

There is now protocol for having several offenses happen at the same time, and the order in which they are punished.

•

Players that can be quickly treated can stay on the field.

•

You can only use cards after entering the field of play at the start of a game.

WHAT should you do Keep using your best judgement according to the laws that you already know, but also within the ‘spirit of the game’.

You will be able to determine what ‘quickly’ means when treating a player on the field. You have full discretion to ask them to go off.

Also, you can still send people off before you enter the field of play, just don’t show them the yellow or red when doing so.

OTHER OFFICIALS

law six

Law Six deals with the other officials involved in match play that help you maintain order and to have a good game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Good news!

There are no changes this year that really affect things.

There is clarification on roles, and where to stand during a penalty kick.

WHAT should you do Remember, the more you are able to use your crew the better referee you will become.

This is also a fantastic time to be a role model and mentor to younger referees who are new to the game.

MATCH DURATION

law seven

Law Seven deals with the time it takes to play the game we all love. This includes added time at the end of the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Good news!

There are no real changes to this rule either.

There were a few reasons given for adding time at the end (medical drinks breaks) but for the most part, nothing changed.

WHAT should you do It doesn’t get that hot in Oregon very often, but when it does we all need breaks.

89.6 degrees is the ‘official’ wet bulb temperature allowance before breaks are mandatory but, again, use good judgement.

Any time taken for water means that time must be added at the end of that half.

START AND RESTART law eight Law Eight deals with starts and restarts after a stoppage in the play.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Starting a game now became simpler! •

The ball can travel in any direction at kick off, which means now you can just have one player take the kick and kick it backwards.

Remember though, everyone needs to be in their own half when the ball is kicked.

WHAT should you do The ball must clearly move when restarting a game.

In drop ball situations, as a referee, you cannot ask one team to ‘back off’ while the other team restarts the game, even if it ‘should be’ their ball. If they decide not to compete in the drop ball, that has to be their decision.

IN AND OUT OF PLAY law nine Law Nine deals with how a ball goes in and out of play, and what is considered the boundaries of the field.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: No changes in this rule from previous seasons.

If a ball rebounds off any match official, including ARs it is still considered in play unless the whole ball cross the boundary first.

WHAT should you do If the ball hits you and doesn’t cross a boundary line, it’s still in play. Same thing if it hits the corner flag and stays in bounds.

PENALTY KICKS law Ten Law Ten deals with the penalty kick. This is during the course of play, AND the end of the game where needed.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: There is a little clarification about evening out teams before you start a shootout (they have to have the same number of players).

Also there are two coin tosses now. One for which end kicks will be taken, and one to decide which team takes the first kick.

WHAT should you do During kicks from the mark you have to ‘reduce to equate’ the teams. That means that each team must start with the same number of players. Red cards/injuries and players who have been subbed out may not participate.

When deciding which end to take the kicks from, do TWO coin tosses. First one is to determine end, and the second determines who takes the first kick.

OFFSIDE law Eleven Law Eleven deals with offside…arguably the most debated call on the field at any given time.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

A defender off the field over their own end line is considered ‘inactive’ until their own team clears the ball away from their penalty area and up field.

•

This is also the same for an attacking player. If they’re off the field they’re inactive.

•

If a goal is scored, an attacking player in the goal can be penalized for an offside offense.

WHAT should you do Remember, when you make an offside call, the restart is taken at the point the offside player interfered with play or gained an advantage by being offside.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT law twelve Law Twelve deals with fouls and misconduct. There were quite a few changes so we need a few pages to get through this one.

Read carefully.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: •

If a foul involves contact it is always a direct free kick, or penalty if inside the penalty area

•

There is a change in wording for a handball automatically being a yellow card. It’s now linked to stopping/interfering with a promising attack.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT law twelve (cont.)

•

Attempted violent conduct is a red card, regardless of contact. So a punch that is swung and misses, is still an ejection.

•

Striking on a head/face when not challenging an opponent is a red card unless the contact is minimal.

•

If a foul takes place off the field, as part of normal play, it’ll be penalized with a direct free kick on the boundary line closest to the point of offense. So, yes, that means if it’s over the end line and a defender makes a foul, it can be a penalty.

WHAT should you do Attempted violent contact (example: a punch that is thrown but missed) is an automatic red card. There does not have to be contact.

Fouls off the field are now restarted with a direct free kick (or penalty) at the boundary line that is closest to where the infraction occurred.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT law twelve (cont.) •

In previous season the DOGSO rule meant an automatic red card.

•

Some DOGSO (denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity) are now just a yellow card. It is still a red card if it is handball, holding, pushing, pulling, or if there is no possibility to play the ball.

WHAT should you do Some DOGSO offenses in the penalty area are now only a yellow card.

It’s still a red if if is handling, pushing, or pulling where there is no attempt to play the ball, or if the foul deserves a red on merit, such as VC. An example of a yellow might be where the ball is clearly going in but strikes a defenders arm and stops it from going in.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT law twelve (cont.)

The new wording for the rule is: “Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by a deliberate handball offense the player is sent off wherever the the offense occurs.

Where player commits an offense against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal scoring opportunity AND the ref awards a penalty kick the offending player is just given a yellow card.�

One obvious example of this is that a defender is not sent off for non-deliberate handball that stops a goal this year if the ref awards a penalty. In prior years intent was not considered.

FREE KICKS law thirteen Law Thirteen deals with the taking of free kicks in the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Not a whole lot here, but they added a word in to help clear up an issue.

•

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

So, let’s make sure the ref sees the ball move when you touch it to an opponent.

WHAT should you do Just like in Law Eight, the ball has to clearly move.

PENALTY KICKS law fourteen Law Fourteen deals with the taking of penalty kicks in the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: No changes here.

Just make sure the ball is kicked forward, and the taker doesn’t feint or stop his/her approach to the ball.

WHAT should you do We see a lot of the stagger steps as players take the kick. As long as their forward momentum doesn’t stop, they have committed no infraction.

If they do stop, they are cautioned, and the kick is retaken.

Also, remember the keeper cannot step off their line. Use your AR to monitor this.

THE THROW IN law fifteen Law Fifteen deals with the taking of a throw in during the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Again, no real changes here.

There was a clarification in the wording to ensure that a player takes it with both hands.

Also, clarifying that all other players must be a minimum of 2 yards away.

WHAT should you do The biggest issue you’ll encounter here is the distance the opponent stand away from the sideline.

Make sure they are the 2 yard minimum.

THE GOAL KICK law sixteen Law Sixteen deals with the taking of a goal kick during the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Again, no real changes here but three points of clarification: •

The ball has to be stationary when kicked.

•

If it’s kicked into your own goal, it’s a corner.

•

If there is an attacker in the penalty area when it’s kicked, they can’t touch it until someone else has.

WHAT should you do Interesting here that the attacker CAN be inside the penalty area (as well as other defenders) but no-one can TOUCH the ball until it leaves the penalty area.

THE CORNER KICK law seventeen Law Seventeen deals with the taking of a corner kick during the game.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU: Just one change here, and it only applies to those with crazy super human strength! •

If a corner kick is kicked into the kicker’s own goal, it is a corner kick for the opponent.

Also, if you have a kid who can kick like that, get them in the NFL quickly!

WHAT should you do There shouldn’t be a scenario where this ever happens, but never say never.

VIDEO rule changes

So now you know what the changes are, we wanted to take a second an show you some of them in action!

The next few pages contain video examples of a few of the rules changes we’ve just described.

FIFA has 17 rules for soccer.

15 of those had changes this year.

4 of those were considered major changes.

They take affect Fall 2016.

OFFSIDE

law Eleven

The following video shows the new rule regarding offside and how it is implemented.

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS: •

A defender off the field over their own end line is considered ‘inactive’ until their own team clears the ball away from their penalty box and up field.

•

This is also the same for an attacking player. If they’re off the field they’re inactive.

•

If a goal is scored and an attacker is standing inside the goal he/she is considered offside.

Video

OFFSIDE

Video

OFFSIDE

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OFFSIDE

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT law twelve The following video shows the new rule regarding fouls and misconduct and how it is implemented.

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING POINTS: •

New DOGSO rule about handball…it must be deliberate to warrant a red card. Accidental handball resulting in a penalty kick is a yellow now.

•

The other types of fouls are still punishable with a red card.

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

Video

DOGSO RULE

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DOGSO RULE

good luck

THIS SEASON for questions: david@oregonyouthsoccer.org