Soccer

Girls Soccer

Boys Soccer

2023 GIRLS AND BOYS SOCCER GUIDE

I. SEASON

Soccer has been classified as a fall sport. The fall season may open on August 17th for girls and boys (all divisions), and conclude on November 4th for all divisions (weather dependent).

No school shall schedule more than fourteen contests, exclusive of playoffs sanctioned by the V.P.A.

All Vermont soccer coaches are now required to complete or must have already completed the NFHS concussion education program before the first practice of the Fall season. Coaches must remember that this requirement must be renewed every two years.

As of the Fall of 2016, all coaches are required to have AED/CPR education and shall have training with their school’s Emergency Act Plan. This must be renewed every 2 years.

The following preseason training procedures have been adopted. During the preseason schools
will follow these new procedures:

• teams may use double practices starting the first day of practice, however, the practices cannot total more than 3 ½ hours (max 2 hours for one practice and 1 ½ hours for the other)
• there is to be a minimum of a 3-hour rest period between practices (for recovery and hydration). During this 3 hours period, you cannot conduct any active training sessions (no walk-through) but you can do a classroom meeting.
• a scrimmage can be held at any time. There is no minimum number of practices required to participate in a scrimmage.
• No team shall have consecutive days of double training sessions.
• a school must complete 10 practices before its first game.

The VPA soccer committee has set a goal of trying to play all championship games on turf this year (2023) and on multiple days.

II. RULES

The current issue of the National Federation Soccer Rules shall be the official playing rules for interscholastic soccer among member schools in the State of Vermont, except as varied by the Vermont Soccer Guide. Any game that is stopped before the completion of the first half, is to be replayed in its entirety. The rescheduling of games will be conducted between schools. If an agreement to reschedule a game cannot be met, the VPA Executive or Associate Executive Director, and Chair of the Soccer Committee will mediate.

Encourage each V.P.A. member school and coach to monitor the number of accumulated yellow and red cards and to develop a yellow/red policy for the team.
Note – in the 2023-2023 soccer season, any team that acquires more than two ejections (of the 2 game variety) will be required to meet with the Activities Standards Committee before entering or continuing in the tournament. The purpose is to discuss steps being taken to address this situation.

POINT OF EMPHASIS – the NFHS Points of Emphasis is located on page 78 of the NFHS Soccer Rules Book. Coaches are responsible for reading this information as the points will apply to coaching a team. 2023-2023 Rules Changes are on pages 2-3 of the NFHS Soccer Rules book. It is recommended that all schools have a pre-season meeting with an official who can explain new and current rules for the year to the team.

Ejection of Player(s) and Coach(es):

Three situations exist:

TWO (2) GAME SUSPENSIONS:

• A player or coach who is ejected from a game for the following infractions which are harmful in nature shall be suspended from playing or coaching for that game and the next two contests.
• Verbally harmful conduct. NO SUBSTITUTE IS ALLOWED FOR THE PLAYER.
• Malicious physical contact. (including fighting) NO SUBSTITUTE IS ALLOWED FOR THE PLAYER.
• Taunting – No substitute is allowed.

ONE (1) GAME SUSPENSION: Rule 12-8-2I-when a player receives a second caution in the same game, he/she will be disqualified with a red card and the team will now play the remainder of the game without replacing the disqualified player (2021)

CURRENT GAME SUSPENSION:
An intentional handball that prevents a goal. Ejection from that game only if the goal is
prevented. If a goal is scored, a yellow card is given and you then follow the yellow card
procedures.

Accumulation of Yellow Cards. , All schools are required to keep track of the number of yellow
Cards accumulated by their teams as reported by officials.

MOUTH PIECES: It is recommended that all players wear a mouth guard that covers all upper molars, as well as upper front teeth. Mouthguards are recommended to be worn in all practices and competitions and are recommended to all participants at all levels (e.g. freshman, junior varsity, and varsity for boys and girls).

OVERTIME: (Regular Season)
There will be a five-minute mandatory time out after the regulation time.
There will be two -10 minute sudden victory overtime periods. If the teams remain tied after the two overtime, a tie is declared.

In 2023, the post-season tournament will be open to all schools.

It is the belief of the VPA that everyone is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the game. With that in mind, coaches, officials, and team captains will meet for a pre-game conference to discuss all game procedures and expectations.

For the Fall 2021 season, the VPA has implemented a running clock rule. In the 2nd half, if there is a 5-goal deficit then the clock will continue to run unless there is a severe injury.

2023 Soccer Rule Changes: Please see page 2 of the NFHS Soccer rules book for changes.

III. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

To qualify for tournament consideration, a team must have completed at least an eight-game schedule with three different schools by the time of the picks and submit an application.

All scores must be submitted prior to Oct 22.
LAST DATE TO PLAY GAMES:
Boys: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Girls: Saturday, October 21, 2023

APPLICATIONS DUE:
Boys: Sunday, October 22, 2023
Girls: Sunday, October 22, 2023

TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS AVAILABLE:
Girls: Monday, October 23, 2023, Noon
Boys: Monday, October 23, 2023, Noon

PLAYDOWNS:
Boys & Girls: Div. 1, 2, 3 & 4 – Tuesday/Wednesday October 24/25, 2023

QUARTERFINALS:
Boys & Girls – Div. 1, 2, 3, & 4 –Friday/Saturday, October 27/28, 2023

SEMI-FINALS:
Boys & Girls- Tuesday/Wednesday, Oct 31, Nov 1, 2023

FINALS:
Boys & Girls – Friday/Saturday, November 3/4, 2023
8 Finals all the same day (Note: Friday, November 3rd is only used if possible)

*For the finals, the tournament director shall be responsible for determining, in case of inclement weather, whether or not the game will be played, or continued if play has started.

IV. TOURNAMENT PROCEDURE

For playoff consideration, the minimum size of the field will be 100 yards x 60 yards, and meet regulations as set by the Federation Rule Book.

Unsuitable Fields:
For tournament play, a school with an unsuitable field (due to size or condition), shall provide a backup field, with the approval of the committee.

In the playoff games through finals the Select Royale Soccer Ball will be used by all schools.

In games, all tournament games where a winner must evolve, the following procedure will
be used for breaking ties:

• There will be a five-minute mandatory time out after the regulation time.
• There will be a maximum of two 15-minute sudden victory overtime periods, eleven-on-eleven.
• Teams will switch ends at the conclusion of the first eleven-on-eleven sudden victory overtime with a 2-minute break. If the score is tied after both sudden victories over time, each team will select any five players to take penalty kicks in an alternating fashion. The order of kicks will be determined by a coin toss. The same players or different players may be selected for each round. Additional kicks will be conducted in rounds of five. The team scoring the most significant number of these kicks will be declared the winner.
• A game interrupted before the completion of the 1st half will be replayed in its entirety. A game interrupted during the 2nd half will be replayed from the point of suspension unless both teams agree not to complete the contest, in which case the score will become final.

In the State Finals each school will provide two ball persons to run the sidelines. The ball persons will receive free admittance and a $5.00 honorarium from the Tournament Director.