Soccer Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 3, 2008 • 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. 3, 2008 at 10 a.m. Those members present were: Bob Bauman, Jesuit HS (Tampa); Jeremy Witt, Gainesville HS; 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 John Stewart, Executive Director; Denarvise Thornton, Associate Executive Director for Athletic Administration; Tamara Forrester, Director of Athletics; and Travis Kwok, FHSAA Intern.

Members not in attendance were: Chris Byrd, Hamilton County HS (Jasper) and Jerry McCabe, Melbourne HS.

I. Welcome and Introductions
Tamara Forrester welcomed all the members of the committee and the meeting was called to order at 10:08 a.m. after introductions. The committee unanimously elected Bob Bauman as Chairperson.

II. The current agenda and minutes from the Mar. 6, 2007 meeting were approved.

III. Existing Athletic Regulations Manual/Recommendations for Updating
a. Committee members discussed officials enforcing the 20 minute warm-up rule during the State Series. If there is an available field, the members would like for teams to be allowed on the field prior to the 20-minute warm-up session. The warm-up time is stated on page 21, but during the play-offs officials associations interpret the maximum time differently. This is not a problem during the regular season. The committee decided to request next year for a waiver the 20-minute time limit on stand alone games during the state series, provided the home administration is in agreement and the facility is ready.
b. The FHSAA Finals schedule was also brought up in regards to teams having a day off in between playing. The committee still 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 2008 State Soccer Championships
a. Mrs. Forrester gave a brief recap of the Girls & Boys Finals. Items discussed were weather delays, illegal equipment, only one card, and sportsmanship.
b. Mr. Bauman brought up the topic about warm-up areas during the State Finals. He is concerned there are no areas for teams to stretch and warm-up adequately before the 20-minute timed warm-up.
c. Possible sites for 2009 & 2010 FHSAA Finals were discussed, and warm-up areas were a benefit of any new sites. Tampa and Kissimmee were discussed as possible hosts.

V. National Federation Rules Review
a. Mrs. Forrester went over the handout for the 2008-09 rule changes from NFHS and explained players will be penalized (yellow card) for subsequent violations of illegal equipment rules.
b. The NOCSAE tag is required to be affixed or sewn into all shinguards. Officials will need to review players’ equipment prior to contests. The first few games of the season will be important for officials to physically check each player to ensure compliance; however, it is the coach’s ultimate responsibility to have players in the proper equipment.

VI. Mrs. Forrester discussed sportsmanship and summarized the ejections for the 2007-2008 season. There has been a slight increase in ejections from last season, more from coaches and girls programs.
a. The committee noted that the fans were better throughout the season and during the State Finals.
b. With the addition of the Double Dual System (DDS), the number of cards did not increase greatly due to the number of whistles on the field increasing, and the number did not decrease greatly with the presence of more officials on the field.
c. There has been an increase in the number of boys programs over last year competing and more are expected next year due to the discontinuance of Fall Soccer.

VII. Old Business
a. OAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
The length of JV games will be 30 minutes.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Griffin
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-2 Disapprove
SAC 2nd Reading: 6-0 Disapprove

Recommendation # 2
Increase the number of officials at the FHSAA Finals to include a fourth official.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Witt
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
OAC 1st Reading: 23-0 Approve
SAC 2nd Reading: 6-0 Approve

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 Griffin
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-0 Disapprove
SAC 2nd Reading: 6-0 Approve (Amended)

Recommendation # 2
All two 5-minute sudden-victory overtime periods during the regular season for varsity teams.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Rodrigues
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 5-3 Approve
SAC 2nd Reading: 6-0 Approve

VIII. New Business
a. SAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Revise the state series bracket to allow the district champion and runner-up to meet in the region final.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Lieb
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve

Recommendation # 2
Allow the “timeout” for water breaks in each half to be optional.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Watson
SAC 1st READING: 6-0 Approve

Recommendation # 3
Return to the traditional diagonal system instead of the double dual system.
MOTION: Lieb/2nd Witt
SAC 1st Reading: 5-0 Table 1 Abstention

b. FACA Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Move the officials test date to before the girls’ season.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Rodrigues
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Approve
FHSAA: This should be handled administratively, and obsolete, due to the officials moving to online testing.

c. OAC Recommendations
Recommendation # 1
Require coaches to attend a FHSAA field clinic once every 4 years.
MOTION: Griffin/2nd Witt
OAC 1st Reading: 21-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-0 Disapprove
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove
SAC: Officials may attend FACA clinic and hold a session every year.

Recommendation # 2
An athlete that receives 2 yellow cards shall be subject to the FHSAA’s policy on unsportsmanlike conduct.
MOTION: Witt/2nd Griffin
OAC 1st Reading: 15-2 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-0 Disapprove
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove

Recommendation # 3
A player of coach who has received a total of five cautions in one season shall be subject to the provisions of the FHSAA policy on Unsporting Conduct. Each three additional caution shall result in additional FHSAA action.
MOTION: Watson/2nd Bauman
OAC 1st Reading: 17-2 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-0 Disapprove
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove

Recommendation # 4
Any team that receives four or more red cards during a regular season will be declared ineligible for all postseason play.
MOTION: Watson/2nd Griffin
OAC 1st Reading: 10-9 Approve
ADAC 1st Reading: 8-0 Disapprove
SAC 1st Reading: 6-0 Disapprove

IX. Open Agenda
a. Double Dual Officiating-The committee members expressed concern with officials not being prepared, not enough training with the new system, some associations still enforcing only the center official can card (which is not the FHSAA protocol), and poor positioning of officials. When the DDS was officiated by associations who have been working it for more than one season, the concerns were not as prevalent. There was a lengthy discussion on the need for training of officials, consistency in calls, and enforcing the rules as intended and published.
b. Seat up for election during 2008-09:
i. Section 1 Boys (Lieb)
ii. Section 2 Boys (Witt)
iii. Section 3 Girls (McCabe)
iv. Section 4 Girls (open)
c. Stadium Clocks – The committee reviewed the NFHS rule that does not provide for stopping the clock at 2:00 and the remaining time being kept on the field. Additionally, there was an email that the FHSAA received with regard to clock operators not following the NFHS protocol during the postseason.
d. Problem Athletes – In reference to the numerous OAC recommendations on conduct, the coaches need to be accountable and act as role models for their athletes. Local officials associations need to work with schools and coaches who are continual problems.
e. Blue Cards – Mr. Lieb suggested since the removal of the blue card was not passed, can the FHSAA move toward issuing the red card as prescribed by the NFHS without having to be written up? Staff clarified that any red card given in any sport is to be reported to the FHSAA, thus the reason why the blue card was introduced. The committee may reintroduce the removal of the blue card again at their next meeting.

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