Soccer Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 6, 2007 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Fla.


The Soccer Coaches Advisory Committee met at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building on Tuesday, Mar. 6, 2007 at 10 a.m. Those members present were: Bob Bauman, Jesuit HS (Tampa); Chris Byrd, Hamilton County HS (Jasper); Jim Griffin, Boone HS (Orlando)/FACA Representative; Jim Lieb, Bolles (Jacksonville); Agostinho Rodrigues, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando); and Jeff Watson, Miami Country Day.

FHSAA staff members present were: Denarvise Thornton, Senior Director of Athletics; Tamara Forrester, Associate Director of Athletics; Jamie Watkins, Associate Director of Athletics; and Karly Gallops, FHSAA Intern.

Members not in attendance were: Jeremy Witt (Gainesville High School) and Jerry McCabe (Melbourne High School).

I. Welcome, Introductions and Tour
After introductions, Tamara Forrester gave a tour of the FHSAA office and the meeting was called to order at 10:08 a.m. The committee unanimously elected Jim Griffin as Chairperson.

II. The current agenda and minutes from the Mar. 7, 2006 meeting were approved. New items from the Officials Advisory Committee were moved into new business.

III. Existing Athletic Regulations Manual/Recommendations for Updating
a. The FHSAA web site had the editorial update from page six in both manuals. Number 7 in section 107.04 should read NFHS Rule 12-8-3(c)(1).
b. Committee members asked for the pre-game on-field time to be clarified. The warm-up time is stated on page 21, but during the play-offs different officials associations interpret the maximum time differently. This is not a problem during the regular season.
c. The FHSAA Finals schedule was also brought up in regards to teams having a day off in between playing. Currently only class 5A & 6A are in this rotation. The committee believes that a rotation of which class has the day off would be fair. If possible in the future, they would like to see each team have a day off in between playing.

IV. Review of 2007 State Soccer Championships
a. Possible sites for 2008 & 2009 FHSAA Finals that coaches would like to see:
i. Tampa
ii. Orlando
iii. Jacksonville
iv. Fort Lauderdale
b. Mr. Rodrigues stated that he was very impressed with the girls officiating this year. It was very nice to see some great officials that were capable of doing such high level games.
c. Mrs. Forrester gave a brief recap of what happened during the Girls & Boys Finals. Items discussed were illegal uniforms, vandalism, injuries, and sportsmanship.
d. There was concern with the size of the field that was played on at the Finals. The preferred size by the committee is 70 yards x 120 yards. Not many schools have a full size field that is played on during regular season play and the coaches in attendance that walked the field believed it to be 75 yards x 120 yards. The coaches believed that this was a big difference compared to what the teams and officials were familiar with.
e. Several coaches brought up the t-shirt design for the finals. Their players claimed that the design was too loud, and they only bought the shirts because their names were on the back. A recommendation was to have a contest in which the athletes are able to submit a design for the t-shirts that are sold by Team IP.

V. National Federation Rules Review
a. Mrs. Forrester went over the handout for the 2007-08 rule changes from NFHS and explained the timeline for clarification and implementation.
b. Mr. Lieb explained that shinguards are still going to be an issue if they are bulky and heavy. The coaches agreed that players feel that they can weigh them down and they can lose control of the ball.
c. The committee believes that there needs to be a change in the warm-up and certifying of players being properly equipped. Coaches are often asked to verify that their players are properly equipped during the warm-up, yet many of the players are not completely dressed while they are on the field warming up. The committee believes officials should line up and check the players before the game starts that this would help with ensuring proper equipment being worn during the game. If the player is not properly equipped, a correction can be made at that time. There is concern that there is selective and subjective enforcement of this rule.

VI. Mrs. Forrester discussed sportsmanship and summarized the ejections for the 2006-2007 season. Again, there has been an increase in ejections from last season.
a. Mr. Bauman commented that officiating and sportsmanship has gotten better in Sarasota and Polk County with the Double Dual.
b. The committee also expressed concern that injuries are sometimes not dealt with by the officials, for they may see it as a dive when the student is truly hurt.

VII. Old Business
a. OAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Eliminate the “Blue Card.”
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Rodrigues
SAC 1st Reading: Disapprove 6-0
OAC 1st Reading: Approve 26-0
ADAC 1st Reading: Disapprove 9-0
OAC 2nd Reading: Approve 21-0


VIII. New Business
a. OAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
The length of JV games in soccer will be 30 minutes.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Bauman
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve
FHSAA will clarify current rule during the online rules presentation that games will be 40 minutes. Home school’s contract with officials association will be honored if 30 minutes.

Recommendation # 2
To increase the number of officials at the FHSAA Finals to include a fourth official. This official shall be paid a game fee of $35.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Bauman
SAC 1st READING: 6-0 Approve
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve

Recommendation # 3
Add a fee scale for Double-Dual officiating in the FHSAA Officials Guidebook.
Varsity: $46 each official
JV: $36 each official
MOTION: Watson/2nd Rodrigues
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve

Recommendation # 4
Table the implementation of the “Double Dual” system of control.
MOTION: Bauman/2nd Lieb
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove
OAC 1st Reading: 4-19 Motion Fails

Recommendation # 5
Amend the NFHS Soccer Rule 5-2-2d(3) to establish a protocol for checking in athletes.
AMENDED: The line-up should be conducted 5 minutes before game time. Strike on the 18-yard line. Change medal to metal. Strike light for home and dark for visitors under “socks.” Modify NFHS Rule 4-3 penalty: Should a player after his/her equipment has been approved by the referee at the line-up be altered and deemed illegal, the player shall receive a caution (yellow card) instead of the coach.
MOTION: Bauman/2nd Lieb
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve FAST TRACK
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve To administratively be clarified by the FHSAA.

Recommendation # 6
To update the FHSAA Officials Guidebook to include uniforms tops that are yellow with black pinstripes as the primary jersey and black knee socks with three stripes at the top. Goalies that are in conflict with the officials must change their jersey.
AMENDED: Strike the line above.
MOTION: Bauman/2nd Watson
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve To be administratively clarified by the FHSAA.

b. SCAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Submit an NFHS Rule change for home teams to wear dark uniforms and visiting teams wear white.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Bauman
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve

Recommendation # 2
Substitutions shall be allowed during the hydration time-out no matter the game stoppage.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Griffin
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve FAST TRACK

Recommendation # 3
Allow two 5-minute sudden-victory overtime periods.
AMENDED: Varsity only, regular season.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Rodrigues
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve

Recommendation # 4
Referees enforce the shinguard rule.
MOTION: Withdrawn

Recommendation # 5
Each county will keep track of yellow cards. A player who accumulates 5 cards will sit out one game.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Bauman
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove

c. FACA Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Modify the mercy rule: Both coaches must agree to continue, no further score is recorded, normal game rules will apply.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Bauman
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Refer back to FACA for working within the FHSAA rules.

IX. Open Agenda
a. Double Dual Officiating-The committee members expressed how they believed that the double dual officiating will be a positive impact on the game and sportsmanship. Mr. Bauman liked what he saw in Polk County. The system worked great and it was a way to have a presence on the field for the officials at all times. All officials are actively involved in the game and they share authority, which is key. The coaches want to make sure officials will confer when there are two different calls and to work as a team.
b. Mr. Bauman stated that a coach in his area is interested in the FHSAA developing a Soccer Shoot Out, similar to the FHSAA 3 Point Contest. Mr. Thornton asked that the committee gather ideas on how to implement such a contest. Before consideration will be made, the 3 Point Contest wrinkles need to be ironed out.
c. The coaches would like to see the calendar pushed back at least a week, especially the girls, to avoid the winter break and district tournaments falling less than a week after everyone returns from exams and break.
d. The 2007-08 district assignments are on the web site and planning meetings will take place April 2-19. The committee is still concerned with the smaller classes having very few teams within their districts and the larger classes having too many teams. The FHSAA has allowed districts to unanimously vote to limit their district tournaments to 4, 6, and 8 teams if needed. This information will also be placed in the District Planning Meeting Packet.

X. The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.