Soccer Governing Rules Revised 6/07
1. GOVERNING RULES
1.1 All soccer competition in the CIF Central Section shall be conducted in accordance with the National Federation of State High School Association's Rules, along with the CIF Central Section Regulations and Procedures recommended by the Section's Soccer Advisory Committee and approved by the Board of Managers.
1.2 The CIF Central Section Soccer Advisory Committee shall be composed of one representative from each participating league. The committee chairperson shall be appointed annually by the Central Section President.
2. GENERAL RULES
2.1 If an official size soccer field is not available, then an official size football field shall be minimum for league play.
2.2 League schedules should assure the determination of all play-off representatives by the last contest date.
2.3 Varsity games will consist of two 40- minute halves, junior varsity of two 35- minute halves, frosh of two 35-minute halves, unless otherwise shortened by mutual consent.
2.4 A game with a tie score at the end of regulation play will be finished by playing 2-10 minute overtime periods. If their is no winner, the contest ends in a tie. ( Board of Managers Jan. 2007)
3. ELIGIBILITY
3.1 All participants must meet State and Central Section eligibility requirements.
3.2 In the sport of soccer only, it is permissible for a student on a high school soccer team to compete in contests on an "outside" soccer team, except during the period of November 15 through March 15. A student on a high school soccer team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an "outside" soccer team during the student's high school season of soccer.
4. SEASON OF SPORT
4.1 The season of sport is defined as that period which starts with the first inter-school contest (scrimmage, practice game, league game, or tournament), and ends with the last regularly scheduled game (except play-offs).
4.2 The last day to start team practice will be prescribed by the Central Section.
4.3 There shall be no interschool contests held until five calendar days, excluding Sundays, have elapsed since the last league contest of the previous fall.
4.3.1 A scrimmage may be held after the team has had ten (10) calendar days of practice, excluding Sundays. (Exception) Waiver of the mandatory five days of practice for winter athletes who have been in the fall play-offs. ( State rules are the Wrestling must have 5 days.).
4.4 Maximum number of games allowed per season is 20, excluding play-offs.
4.5 Maximum number of tournaments allowed per season is three.
4.6 A tournament shall count as two games toward the season total.
4.7 Maximum number of games allowed per week is two, excluding tournaments and make-up games. The respective League Commissioner must approve deviations.
5. CLASSIFICATION OF TEAMS
5.1 Soccer classifications are varsity, junior varsity, and freshman for league and practice games.
5.2 Only varsity teams will compete in the play-offs
6. OFFICIALS
6.1 Officials will be assigned by respective accredited officials associations.
6.2 Fees will be in accordance with current CIF fee scale.
6.3 The will be at least two officials for all levels, if available.
7. PLAY-OFF PROCEDURES--GENERAL INFORMATION
7.1 Soccer play-offs will be conducted on a Section basis. No single Section (Valley) champion will be declared.
Divisions are subject to change by using the Section approved Division placement procedure to attain the 16 team brackets for each division.
7.2 If regulation time ends in a tie, the tie will be broken according to NFHSA rules.
7.3 Division I-VI
1. All schools are eligible teams for the play-offs.
2. Seeding of each Division will then proceed using an holistic approach.
3. In the first play-off round, teams finishing in first place in league will be given a home game, if possible.
4. The selection and seeding committee will be composed of the three League Commissioners, Section Commissioner and the Soccer Advisory Chairperson (non-voting).
5. Criteria to seed and break ties can include: (Approved, Board of Managers Jan. 2008)
The following criteria will be used with 1 point being given to each category. The team who earns the most points against the other team will receive the higher seed. This criteria is to be used if there is a tie between two or more teams are being considered for a certain seed.
Head to Head
Strength of Schedule/Overall record
Record vs. Common opponents
Place in Common tournaments
Record vs. Play-off teams in same Division
6. Semi-final games will be played on the Tuesday before the finals for both Boys and Girls. Finals will be played on Friday's at 7:00 if the host school has lights or on Saturday at 1:00 if the host school does not have lights. Accommodations for schools having both Boys and Girls teams in the play-offs will be made by the Section Office. ( Board of managers 2008).
7.4 The SPAULDING TF 2000 FIFA NFHS OR INFUSION PROFESSIONAL SOCCER BALLS ARE THE OFFICIAL SOCCER BALLS FOR THE CIF CENTRAL SECTION PLAY-OFFS
EJECTIONS
8.1 Ejections and Appeals
First ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next CIF contest. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.
Second ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next two CIF contests. The next contest could be the second game of a doubleheader or even the next season of sport. Athletes competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible in both sports.
Third ejection
Any player or coach ejected from a contest or scrimmage for unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible for the next 365 days. Any appeal must go to the Section Commissioner
APPEALS PROCEDURE- First and Second Ejection
Unless otherwise specified, an appeal of an ineligibility of a player or coach may be made, in writing, through the player or coach’s site administrator to the Central Section Commissioner or his or her designees for consideration of reinstatement. The Section Commissioner and or his or her designee will convey results to all schools involved. ( Approved by Board of Managers-Apr. 2004)