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2007-2008 Soccer Information

Submitted by webmaster on Fri, 10/05/2007 - 1:10pm.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  1. Soccer is a state championship event for boys and girls played in the Spring season with the following classification structure: Class AAAAA, AAAA, AAA, AA/A

  2. All soccer games will be played according to the rules published by the National Federation, and all National Federation recommendations for “State Adoption” have been adopted by the GHSA.

  3. Notification of entry in AA/A Soccer must be filed in writing with the GHSA Office no later than April 1, for the upcoming school year so that teams may be placed into Areas for competition. All other classifications are structured according to regions.

  4. The number of soccer games allowed (not including state tournaments) shall be eighteen (18). If a region/area chooses to play a region/area tournament, those games must be included as part of the 18-game total allowed. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.

  5. All GHSA varsity soccer games shall be played with one or more officially-dressed officials who are registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials.

  6. In accordance with By-Law 2.66, only one night before a school day per week may be used with competitions beginning at 6:00 p.m. or later.
    1. For evening games, a single game must start no later than 7:30 p.m.
    2. For evening games, a double-header must start no later than 6:00 p.m.

  7. Teams arriving late for a contest by thirty (30) minutes or more shall forfeit the game, and shall pay the officials unless prior arrangements are made in a timely manner, and both teams agree to start the game late or reschedule it. Consideration will also be given to emergency situations over which the traveling school has no control. The host school has the responsibility of notifying the officials of these changes.

  8. A student may not participate in more than three (3) halves of soccer per day.
    1. Sub-varsity matches are limited to 35-minute halves.
    2. Sub-varsity team matches are limited to 25-minute halves.

  9. During regular season competition played between teams of different classifications, there will be no overtime procedure invoked when regulation play ends with a tie score, unless both coaches agree and inform the game officials prior to the start of the game. During regular season competition between schools in the same classification, and during region and state playoff competition, the overtime precedure listed below with be invoked:
    1. The overtime will consist of two (2) five-minute periods.
    2. If the score remains tied following the overtime periods, a “shootout” of penalty kicks will determine the winner.
    3. A coin toss shall take place to determine which team will put the ball in play for the first overtime period.

  10. In accordance with the National Federation allowance for a state adoption (Rule 7-2), when there is a competitive imbalance between the teams, the game will be shortened as follows:
    1. If a team is ten (10) or more goals down at the midpoint of the first half, that will be considered the end of the half, and the teams will play a twenty (20) minute second half.
    2. If a team is ten (10) or more goals behind at halftime, the second half will be restricted to twenty (20) minutes.
    3. When a team is fifteen (15) or more goals behind in the second half, the game will be terminated.

  11. In accordance with GHSA By-Laws, soccer coaches will be required to attend a GHSA rules clinic. Failure to do so will result in a $50.00 fine for the school for each coach who does not attend.

REGION/AREA COMPETITION:

  1. Region or Area Tie-Breaking Procedure (to use for seeding purposes):
    1. Record against all teams in the Area.
    2. Winning team in head-to-head competition between schools that are tied.
    3. Goals allowed in head-to-head competition between schools that are tied.
    4. Goal differential in head-to-head competition between schools that are tied (maximum of three (3) goals per game).
    5. Goals allowed in all Area games
    6. Goal differential in all Area games (maximum of three (3) goals per game).
    7. Percentage of wins in all games with teams in the same classification.
    8. In any step of the tie-breaking process if a three-way tie is broken so that all ties are broken, that step determines the placements. If two teams remain tied after a step is completed, revert back to head-to-head record to break the tie. If the tie cannot be broken, move to the next step.

  2. If Region/Areas sub-divide into Sub-Regions/Sub-Areas, then the same tie-breaking procedures (B1 through B7) should be used substituting the word “Sub-Area” for “Area.”

  3. All soccer matches between schools from the same classification must be played to completion unless the team that is behind chooses not to complete the match. Matches that are interrupted by weather or mechanical difficulties will be replayed from the point of interruption.

  4. For Area and State competition, if the score is still tied at the end of the second overtime period, the penalty kick procedure will be used to determine the winner.

  5. Financial procedures for all Area/Region playoffs will be determined by the Area/Region. The host school is responsible for payment of officials out of the gate receipts. The admission fees for State playoffs begin immediately after Area winners are determined.

  6. PENALTY KICK PROCEDURE: The teams will go into a penalty kick “shootout” immediately after the two (2) five-minute overtime procedure has taken place, if a tie score still exists.
    1. The head referee shall choose the goal at which the penalty kicks will be taken.
    2. Each coach will select any five eligible players (including goalkeeper) to take the kicks.
    3. A coin toss shall be held with the team winning the toss having the choice of kicking first or last.
    4. Teams will alternate kickers, and there is no follow-up on the kicks.
    5. The defending team may change goalkeepers prior to each kick.
    6. Following the five (5) kicks from each team, the teams with the greater number of successful kicks will be given one (1) point and declared the winner.
    7. If the same number of penalty kicks are successful for each team, each coach will select five (5) different eligible players who will kick in a “sudden victory” situation. NOTE: Each team will have an opportunity to kick in each round of the “sudden victory” situation.
    8. If there is no “sudden victory” after the five (5) kicks, keep repeating the process until a winner is determined.

STATE COMPETITION:

  1. Four teams from each Region/Area in each classification (AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and AA/A) will advance to the state tournament.
    1. Region/Area winners must be determined by April 16, 2008.
    2. It is the responsibilities of the host team are to furnish game balls beyond those furnished by the GHSA
    3. In the event that two schools involved can not agree on the arrangements for the series (dates, times, etc.) the GHSA Executive Director will make a ruling to cover the situation.
    4. In all rounds, the higher seeded team will host, unless the competing teams have the same seeding. In that case, the (H) printed on the bracket will designate the host team.

  2. Finances:
    1. The GHSA will receive 12% of the gross gate receipts.
    2. A pre-set amount for game officials fees will be sent to the GHSA office, along with the 12% of gross gate receipts,and the GHSA office will be responsible for paying the officials.
    3. The visiting team shall be paid $.60 per mile (one way) for travel.
    4. After these three expenses are paid the schools involved will share the remaining gate receipts equally.
    5. The host school is responsible for security, facility fees, maintenance costs, etc., and these expenses shall not be taken out of gate receipts.

  3. Admission must be charged at all playoff games. Beginning immediately after Area winners are determined, fees for state playoff games are $7.00 for adults, and $5.00 for students high school and under, for pre-sale only when applicable. When pre-sale is not applicable, all fees at the gate will be $7.00.

  4. In order to host a state playoff game, the following site requirements must be met:
    1. Seating requirements (seats at 24 inches each):
      A: 750, AA: 750, AAA: 1,000, AAAA: 1,500, AAAAA - 2,000
    2. Adequate restroom facilities must be provided
    3. Dressing area must be provided for the visiting team
    4. The playing area must be configured in such a way that spectators must enter through an admission gate.
    5. The field must be sufficiently lighted to allow for night play for all semifinal and final matches.
    6. Host sites for State Championships (boys and girls) are subject to approval of the GHSA Executive Director.

  5. In the post-season tournaments, it is necessary to have team benches located on the same side of the field. This will be true even in situations where fans are kept on opposite sides of the field.