Question Number: 25365

League Specific 8/29/2011

RE: High School

Jeff Goldstein of Monticello, NY USA asks...

I have been a ref for 15 years. I recently decided to try my hand at being a high school ref. At the first training session the head of the organization began by telling us about 'penalty shots'. I knew it was going to be a rough day. He then went into free kicks and showed us how an IFK could be taken by the first player 'topping' the ball and the second player shoots and scores. I said that I would call that a 'no goal' as the first player never put the ball into play because the ball never moved. I referred him to NFHS rule 13.3.2 which stated just that. He referred me to rule 18.1.n Definitions which states 'the ball is considered to have moved when it is touched by the kicker's foot'. Touching is not moving! How can this organization change the definition of an English word? Move is defined as a change in position. I know this is trifling but of how many more words have they changed definitions. In your opinion, which definition of move should I use? Or should I just get out while I can?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you accept games under the aegis of NFHS, you have to follow the rules and definitions of NFHS. And then don't get confused when you go back to do a USSF game.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I almost walked out of my first high school soccer referee meeting as well.

My advice is to stick around. There are very few differences between high school and LOTG - - when the ball is in play. The spirit, pride and honor that comes with playing for your school is reflected on the field. I believe high school soccer is important for our community. The players deserve good referees.

The few differences that arise when the ball is out of play, tend to be grounded in two notions: (a) NFHS hasn't kept up with all of recent changes in laws and interpretations by IFAB or USSF; or (b) the rules facilitate the view that high school athletics is an extension of the classroom and what is needed for professional matches is different than for high school boys and girls.

As to a 'tap of the ball', it wasn't too long ago that USSF judged a tap of the ball as 'kicked.' In many parts of the world, it still is. The interpretation of 'moves' , however, is not one for which there is a major difference. The USSF advice is that 'the distance to be moved is minimal.' (ATR 13.5).
Nonetheless, both NFHS and USSF require the referee to judge 'kicked and moves' based on a feel for the game.

I stuck around, and I'm glad I did. I now instruct our local high school association on the rules differences.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
As someone loooking at this from a distance there are few differences that cause what I would believe to be protestable decisions if they were not to be fully implemented which is the same for FIFA games. In FIFA games I have seen many 'tapped' restarts that players just accept and get on with play. Indeed if you were to view many USSF games in the US I suspect that there are plenty of tapped restarts where play is allowed to continue as the referee deemed the ball to have moved. Many years ago the ball had to roll its circumference before it was in play. That no longer exists with 'moves' now left to the referee's interpretation. BTW as someone who play golf I find it difficult to agree to the notion that when a ball is touched with the foot that it has not 'moved' and I don't necessarily agree with USSF's one line in 13.5 that simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball are not sufficient. Both those action can & does move the ball.
For me I would focus on the big ticket items where there are significant differences such as substitution rules, cautions and dismissal, time keeping, restarts after injuries etc. Those are the areas more likely to cause diffculty for the new referee coming with FIFA training.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No one has complained more than I used to on this site about High School rules. That said, heed what Ref Wickham says. The biggest difference is the use of the 2 man system which I simply would never comply with so I do not referee NFHS games. When I was younger, had local schools utilized 3 man crews I would have worked games for local high schools.

ANY assignment you accept may have modifications of the LOTG. You need to know what they are before you show up to work. You accept the match you also accept the rules changes