Soccer Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 21, 2005 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


The meeting was called to order by Cecelia S. Jackson at 10 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Dale Hermann, Columbia (Lake City); Jason Gray, Leesburg; James Cross, George Jenkins(Lakeland); David Villano, Ransom Everglades (Miami); William Drew, Miami Springs; and Bill Eissele, Lake Mary. Staff in attendance: Cecelia Jackson, Tamara Wilsey, Sonny Hester and John Stewart. Also in attendance was John Fuller from Trinity Catholic (Ocala).

Following a welcome by the FHSAA Staff, introductions were made and travel vouchers completed. Bill Eissele served as chairman for the meeting. The agenda and the previous minutes were approved. (Motion-Hermann, Second-Villano)

Recommendations for 2005-06
Recommendation #1: District Seeding Policy – Delete #5 in the seeding policy used as a tiebreak when teams are tied for district bracketing purposes. (Motion-Gray, Second-Cross)
SAC Vote: 4-2 to approve
ADAC: Vote: 9-0 to approve with modification. Modification was to delete #5 for all sports.
SAC 2nd Vote: 5-0 to approve. Also agree with the ADAC modification.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve
Rationale: Delete this item from the tiebreak provisions because it does not reflect district play. Schools that elect to play strong or weak schedules when #5 is used distort the seeding procedure especially when a smaller team is forced to play larger schools in the area because there is no one else to play. Re-number the coin toss (#6) to become #5.

Recommendation #3: Adjust Junior Varsity playing time - Change the current FHSAA requirement of 40 minute-halves for junior varsity games to allow 30-minute halves as allowed under National Federation by state association adoption. (Motion-Villano, Second-Drew)
Note: This ADAC Recommendation was presented to the SAC and the vote was unanimous not to support the 30 minute halve option. The rationale remains the same.
SAC Vote: 6-0 to disapprove.
ADAC: No Action (Note: A new recommendation submitted by ADAC - to allow school districts/or individual schools the option to play 30-minute halves - See AD recommendations)
SAC Vote: 5-0 not to support ADAC recommendation.
ADAC 2nd Vote: 8-0 to approve as stated above.
Rationale: Keep the current rule that allows the coach to put all JV players in the game.

Recommendation #1 (2005) - One-minute timeout for re-hydration. Allow a 1-minute timeout during the second half for re-hydration of players and for coaches to deal with player situations. Players shall remain on the field and there shall be no substitutions. The timeout shall occur when there is stoppage for a throw-in or goal kick immediately prior to or after the 20-minute mark at the discretion of the referee when there is no offensive scoring opportunity.
SAC Vote: 4-1 to Approve
ADAC Vote: 8-1 to approve as amended and to fast track. Allow a one-minute time out in each half immediately prior to or after the 20-minute mark at the discretion of the referee when there is no offensive scoring opportunity.
Rationale: Soccer is a very physical sport and it is the only sport where sufficient time cannot be taken to re-hydrate players or deal with player situations. It is true that the tradition of the sport does not allow for timeouts. By allowing players to re-hydrate, some of the minor injuries and fake injuries (dives) would not be displayed toward the end of the game. Coaches and players in the bench area encourage players to stay down which should not be the way to stop the game to rest or to get fluids. Officials have had the authority to allow for water breaks on high humidity days but very seldom use the provision. In football, the requirement is mandatory for most of the season and these games are played at night. Fall soccer and a large number of winter soccer games are played in the afternoon with heat and high humidity.

Discussion of State Tournaments 2005
The tournaments for boys and girls were held at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for 2005. The Broward County Athletic Association as host did a tremendous job again. The current contract has an extension provision for the 2006-07 school year, which is under consideration.

Discussion of Soccer Ejections for 2004-05 Season
The committee was given a full summary of ejections for boys and girls soccer as compared to other sports. The committee discussed the number and kinds of ejections for soccer. The committee will receive a breakdown of the boys' ejections later. The committee was encouraged by Dr. Stewart to focus on coaches meetings and any other communications to encourage schools to develop better sportsmanship programs for their teams and spectators. Discussed a recommendation to go to the ADAC regarding schools that receive 3 red cards be placed on administrative probation and more than three to be placed on restrictive probation. ( Note: ADAC voted to place schools with 3 red cards for gross unsportsmanlike during regular season on administration probation; 4 or more red cards for gross unsportsmanlike conduct during regular season on restrictive probation and remove from the state series.)

Discussion of the results of the Soccer Survey
Discussed the percentage of coaches and officials that participated in the survey. It was suggest that a statement for behavior of the spectators be added to the survey to get feed back from everyone.

Discussion of National Federation Rules for 2005-06
The committee reviewed the new NF rules changes for 2005-06. Taunting was added to 12-8-3b and is now a red card ejection and the head coaches were added to the pre-game conference.

Open Discussion
The committee again discussed the participation of very young players (6th, 7th and 8th graders) in team sports where they are competing against very mature players. The committee has a great concern for the safety of those less developed players. Also discussed a concern from the OAC regarding players that received a double yellow sitting out the next game.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.