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REFEREE TIPS (7 more articles below)
2024 NCAA Soccer Rules “Numbers to Remember”
Michael Sabatelle
Current NISOA official
Georgia Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (39-year member)
August 26, 2024
Do you sometimes need a personal reminder of the differences and similarities when officiating various levels of soccer? Below is an abbreviated numerical list of some NCAA Rules which may be beneficial for your next collegiate game.
1 - ONE
1 yard
when three or more defending team players form a wall, all attacking team players must remain at least 1 yard from the wall until the ball is in play.
1 for 1 substitution
when a player(s) has been cautioned, the coach may substitute for the player(s) cautioned. If such a substitution is made, the opponent shall have the opportunity to make an equal number of substitutions at that time.
when a player has been instructed to leave the field for an equipment change, only the player with the equipment problem may be replaced. The opponent may replace an equal number of players at the same time.
in the event of an injury, only the injured player(s) may be replaced. The opponent may replace an equal number of players at the same time.
2 - TWO
2 minutes
In post-season competition, the interval between first and second overtime periods shall not exceed 2 minutes
2 yards
opponents distance from point on touchline when a throw-in is attempted
2 hydration breaks (around 25-30 and 70-75 minutes)
not less than 2 minutes in each half, when WetBulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) is equal to or greater than 86 degrees Fahrenheit
3 - THREE
3 hours
no game may be started more than three hours after the originally scheduled start unless referee has been notified and the new start time mutually agreed upon before the start of the game…
once a game has been started and suspended, it must be restarted not later than three hours after the originally scheduled start time unless mutually agreed upon before the start of the game …
5 - FIVE
5 minutes
interval between the end of regulation and the first overtime period (in post-season competition)
5 feet
each coaching and team area shall be marked parallel to the touchline and situated at least 5 feet from the touchline
5 yards
dropped ball, all other players (of both teams) must be at least 5 yards away
10 - TEN
10 yards
team benches shall be on the same side of the field, separated by a 10-yard neutral zone
15 - FIFTEEN
15 minutes
declare a “no contest” when a team without prior notification is not on the field and prepared to play within 15 minutes after the contracted starting time, unless evidence of extenuating circumstances can be provided.
15 minutes
halftime interval which starts immediately when the first half ends
20 - TWENTY
20 feet
it is recommended that a rope, fence or some form of demarcation be used to keep spectators a minimum of 20 feet (whenever possible) away from the touch and end lines
23 - TWENTY-THREE
23rd minute
for live telecasts, a timeout that may not exceed two minutes in length may be taken after the 23rd minute of each half before a throw-in near the halfway line of the field of before a goal kick
70 - SEVENTY
70 minutes
if the conditions leading to a suspended game persist and the game is not resumed the same day, the game shall be considered “no contest” if it has not progressed to 70 minutes
if the suspended game progressed to 70 minutes, it will be considered complete
75 - SEVENTY-FIVE
75th minute and in OT
3 .8.8 During the final 15 minutes of the second half and during all overtime periods, the timekeeper shall stop the clock as soon as the referee beckons the substitute(s) onto the field if the game is tied or if the leading team substitutes.
Pre-Game Warm-Up "Dynamic Flexibility"
Michael Sabatelle, GISOA Referee 39-years
(MEd, Retired ATC, LAT, OTC, USSF "A" Licensed Coach)
Perform the following movements, near the touch line (without interfering with players and/or coaches), from the end line to the top of the penalty area and back to the end line (36 yds.):
1-Jog forward *18 yds., jog back backwards *18 yds.
2-Skip forward*, skip back* backwards
3-Side-shuffle left*, side-shuffle right* back
4-Jog forward* heels to butt, jog back* backwards heels to butt
5-Jog forward* with high knees, jog back* forward
6-Carioca "grapevine" left*, carioca right back*
7-Diagonal side-shuffle forward* (right and left) diagonal side-shuffle back* backwards
8-While walking forward* with a rhythm, alternate hip rotations, "closing a gate" movement right and left. Return to start* (end line) performing "opening the gate" hip movements.
9-Jog forward* with curved (narrow S-shaped) pattern, jog back* backwards with curved pattern
10-Jog forward* while performing simultaneous double arm circles in front of your body. Jog back* backwards performing the same arm circles in the reverse direction.
11-Jog forward* while simultaneously performing single arm circles "freestyle-type", alternate right and left arms. Jog back* backwards with "backstroke-type" arm circles right and left.
12-Complete 5-10 "Inch worms" moving towards*the top of penalty area. Start in a push-up position, keeping your legs as straight as possible, slowly walk your feet (small steps) as close to your hands as possible. Then slowly walk your hands away from your feet and return to the push-up position." (If desired, you can add a push-up(s) with each inch worm.) Jog back* to start.
13-Complete 20 "Frankensteins" (10 per leg)
Start in a standing position with your arms fully extended in front of your body, while walking forward*, bring one leg up in the direction of the opposite hand (keep leg as straight as possible). Repeat with the other leg. Jog back* to start.
14-Last 36 yard sequence - create your own combination of movements and vary the speeds in preparation for the game.
TOTAL - 14 round-trips x 36 yds. = 504 yds.
Additional Dynamic Flexibility options: leg pendulum swings (forward/backwards, side to side, knee bent, knee straight) holding a pole, fence, etc. and/or dynamic flexibility exercises on the ground.
Persistent Infringement
John Van de Vaarst
Using Psychology In Soccer Officiating
Don Dennison
FITNESS TIPS
Be Fit to Referee, Not Referee to be Fit
Kenneth L. Kaylor, M.D.
Offseason Fitness Training: Keys to Speed and Endurance
Kenneth Kaylor, Michael Donovan
NUTRITION TIPS
Offseason Nutrition for Referees
Michael Donovan, Ph.D
PIERCE RICHARDSON
National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association
November 2006
VOLUME 30, NUMBER 4
by Pierce Richardson
Over the years of a referee’s career one may tend to
focus on refereeing only and not on other opportunities
provided by NISOA. Knowing this, in addition to refereeing
several questions should come to mind such as:
• What will be my contribution and involvement with NISOA
after I leave the field or even while still refereeing?
• How? Potential opportunities assessing, assigning, clinician,
mentoring
I remember back in the early 70’s when I first started officiating.
Every Saturday morning I would go to the local YMCA and
work my 4 or 5 U-6 & U-8 games and EVERY Saturday morning
Mr. Bill O’Toole was there. At this time Mr. O’Toole was in his late
60’s or early 70’s and still had a love for the game that few share.
I would be the referee and Mr. O’Toole would be one of the linesmen
(as it was called then) for me, then he would be the referee
and I would be the linesman. After all of our games were over,
Mr. O’Toole would take me to a shady spot and sometimes we
would spend an hour or more talking about the games and how I
could improve. Mr. O’Toole is no longer with us, but he will always
be remembered by me and many others for what he gave back to
the game and each of us.
One thing NISOA needs is mentors. The organization is currently
developing a formal mentoring program. A seasoned
NISOA member could start informally mentoring now. There is no
need to wait until being asked or told that help is needed. Mentors
differ from assessors or clinicians in that they assist members with
less experience with the overall NISOA culture and become a person
of reference on a more personal basis.
There are many ways a person can mentor another referee.
Some have a great aptitude for fitness, thus can mentor someone
in how to better stay in shape and train. Some have refereed at
the highest level of collegiate soccer and can mentor someone in
achieving this level. Some of you work in a corporate environment
or you are school teachers and can mentor someone in responding
to difficult situations with assessors, assignors, clinicians,
other referees or game management.
Mentoring is not limited to young or new referees. The options
are out there. The key is to take the first step in helping someone.
When I first started officiating college games I was very fortunate,
because I came along at a time when there were many Bill
O’Tooles in the local NISOA chapter who would spend hours and
hours helping me and other young officials develop our abilities.
Once I heard an individual I respected say, "I don’t want to be
forgotten when I retire from refereeing, I want to help someone
take my place" I didn't quite understand what he meant until several
years later when I realized all the time and dedication this
person gave to me.
We have all heard Dr. Bernabei say many times Family first,
job second and refereeing third, but that should not stop any of us
from looking for a few minutes to help someone along the way.
The world has changed a lot since Mr. O’Toole and I sat in the
shade and talked about our U-6 & U-8 games for that morning. I
know most everyone has a hundred things going on in their life
and as soon as the game is over we want to get back to those
things. There are many ways you can find a few minutes to spend
with your crew for the day and talk about the game and how each
of you might have done something different. For example: What
about stopping along the way and have refreshments? Better yet
whenever possible ride to the game together or least part of the
way and use this time going and coming to help each other
become better NISOA officials.
A few extra hours in bringing someone along will go miles in
continuing the tradition of NISOA - producing quality college officials.
When your time comes to step away, you can then be proud
that you mentored someone who became your replacement and
they too will then have a Mr. O’Toole to remember.
MISCELLANEOUS
Women Less Likely Than Men To Fake Soccer Injuries
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., – July 6, 2011–Women don’t fake them. Soccer injuries that is. With the Women’s World Cup in full swing in Germany, soccer fans can now rest assured that women are less likely than their male counterparts to fake on-field injuries, according to a new study published in the July issue of the journal Research in Sports Medicine by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.“Injuries are common in women’s soccer and seem to be on the rise at the international level,” said Daryl Rosenbaum, M.D., an assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist. “The goals of our study were to determine the frequency of apparent injury incidents in women’s international soccer and estimate what proportion of these incidents is authentic. It is clear from this study that female players don’t fake injuries at the same rate as their male counter parts.”Rosenbaum said that in 2008, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the international governing body of soccer, issued a directive calling for “the football family to unite in denouncing injury simulation and working to eradicate this scourge from the game.”Results of a study conducted in 2010 by Rosenbaum show that the faking or exaggerating of injuries at the men’s international level may be a valid concern. He hopes his research will help determine if injury simulation in soccer is due to the nature of the sport or is specific to certain types of participants.Video recordings of 47 televised games from two international women’s tournaments were reviewed to identify incidents in which a player behaved as if injured. Apparent injuries were considered “definite” if a player withdrew from participation within five minutes or if bleeding was visible; the remaining incidents were considered “questionable.” A total of 270 apparent injuries were observed, a rate of 5.74 per game. The “definite” injury rate was only 0.78 per match compared to 4.96 for “questionable” injuries.“While it was difficult to know for certain if a player had a true injury or was faking or embellishing, we found that only 13.7 percent of apparent injuries met our definition for a “definite injury,” Rosenbaum said. “Also consider that we saw six apparent injuries per match in the 2007 Women’s World Cup but team physicians from the tournament reported only 2.3 injuries per match, so it looks like there may be some simulation in the women’s game.”Rosenbaum’s research indicates that apparent injury incidents for women are much less frequent than for men however, occurring at a rate of 5.74 per match as compared to 11.26 per men’s match. The proportion of apparent injuries that were classified as “definite” was nearly twice as high for women, 13.7 percent, as compared to 7.2 percent for men. Rosenbaum said questionable injuries are more likely to be associated with contact and referee sanctions than “definite” injuries which may indicate that players may use these situations to try and deceive the referee. There was no evidence that teams that did this frequently won more often, nor was there any evidence that players used simulation as a way to try and rest or kill time.“In the end, I think this study shows that women are less likely than men to fake soccer injuries,” Rosenbaum said. “What isn’t clear is if injury simulation is used to gain a tactical advantage. Only the players themselves know the answer to that question.”Funding for the study was provided by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist. Co-authors are: Ravi Sanghani, M.D., Wake Forest School of Medicine; Stephen W. Davis, M.A., Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist; Travis Woolen, High Point University.Media Relations Contacts: Marguerite Beck: marbeck@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-2415; Bonnie Davis:bdavis@wfubmc.edu, 336-716-4977