Soccer Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 18, 2002 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Office
Gainesville, Florida


The meeting was called to order by Cecelia S. Jackson at 2 p.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Pat Crandall, Episcopal High School, Rene’ Mirandilla, Manatee High School, Manny Soutullo, Miami Southridge High School, Stephen Papp, Hialeah Miami Lakes High School, Bill Eissele, Lake Mary High School (FACA), Ronald L. Allen, Associate Commissioner, and Denarvise Thornton, Assistant Director of Athletics.

Following a welcome by the FHSAA Staff, introductions were made and travel vouchers completed. Ms. Jackson provided an overview of the responsibilities of an advisory committee and a brief review of the agenda. Bill Eissele was selected as chairman.

SECOND READING: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JUNE 14, 2002

Recommendation #1: District Seeding Policy – Change to current policy to mandates a team to play a district opponent once instead of twice. (Motion by Soutullo, Second-Hooper)
SAC Vote: 6-0
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0
ADAC 1st Vote: 9-0 to support recommendation w/modification to schedule district opponents once or twice, if by unanimous vote of the schools in the district.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve.

Rationale: This allows schools in large districts more flexibility in scheduling district and non-district opponents. This change will allow area schools to make adjustment where there are cut backs in the number of contest permitted and reduce travel expenses.

Recommendation #2: Squad Participation Rule – Change the rule to one day instead of three days when a player may move from junior varsity to varsity or vice versa. A player may not violate the number of games a team/school is allowed in a week. (Motion-Cappello, Second-Hooper)
SAC Vote: 6-0
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0
ADAC 1st Vote: Vote 9-0 to approve.
ADAC 2nd Vote: Vote 8-0 to approve

Rationale: In making this change, it places soccer in alignment with other sports that have the one-day participation rule.

Recommendation #3: FHSAA Goal Differential – Reduce the goal differential from 10 to 8.
It would be very hard for a team to make up the difference of ten or eight goals. (Motion-Crandall, Second-Soutullo)
SAC Vote: 5-1
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0
ADAC 1st Vote: 9-0 to support recommendation.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve.

Rationale: By state association adoption, the coaches initially selected 10 goals as the differential for terminating a game. Because of the high goal differential, the losing team in some instances due to their frustration with the winning team display behavior that is inappropriate and initiate contact that could cause injuries.

Recommendation #4: District Coaches Recommended List of Officials – Mandatory for the coaches that each district submit to the FHSAA by deadline a list of officials from their local
officials association(s)or area ranked from 1-10 for state series consideration which include the state championships. A form shall be sent to each district leader/ or placed in the FHSAA Soccer Manual to be submitted by deadline to the FHSAA office. (Motion-Eissele, Second-McCorkle)
SAC Vote: 6-0
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0
ADAC 1st Vote: 9-0 to support recommendation.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve as amended.

Rationale: To assist the FHSAA in recognizing competent officials to assure that the best trained officials are working the state championships. This will not take the place of the local association making recommendation to the FHSAA office.

Recommendation #5: Serious Foul Play – FHSAA to modify the penalty for serious foul play when a player deliberately handles the ball to prevent a scoring opportunity when there is no contact with the opponent. Player will be issued a blue card and disqualified for the remained of the game. (Motion-Eisele, Second-Crandall)
SAC Vote: 6-0
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0
ADAC 1st Vote: 9-0 to support modification on serious foul play penalty which requires the player to be suspended for seven days and two contest for a handball on scoring opportunity.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve.

Rationale: The current penalty of a red card, player ejected and suspended from play for seven days and two contests seemed too severe. The NF penalty remains the same in that the player is disqualified, team plays short and the opponent awarded a direct free kick (penalty kick in the penalty area). Recommend the use of a blue card for this penalty to eliminate any possible confusion with the issuance of yellow and red cards.

Discussion of New Recommendations: These recommendations were discussed and the committee took no action. Discussion of excessive use of red cards, education and training of officials with cooperation of the schools, requiring local associations to do better training and possible addition of another soccer classification.

Discussion of State Tournaments 2002: Tournaments ran well even though it rained for three days. Outstanding and exciting games at both sites. Discussion of the fields, current contract and searching for sites after the 2003 season.

Discussion of Soccer Ejections for 2002 Season: The committee was given a partial summary of ejections. Encouraged staff to continue during rules clinics to focus on and encourage coaches to develop better sportsmanship programs for their teams and spectators.

Open Discussion: Discussion of the training of officials and the student officials program. Coaches and officials to develop a better relationship so that training younger officials becomes a team effort.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.