Soccer Refereeing News
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New RULES implemented starting in S2020
In accordance with FIFA & US Youth Soccer governing bodies, MYSL (Massac Youth Soccer League) is implementing revisions to their existing game rules. For the full set of the local MYSL rules, see downloadable age-group rules at the bottom of this REFEREE webpage.
In brief, the main rule differences being implemented starting for the MYSL S2020 season include the following:
DROPPED BALLS (Law 8 & 9): Most dropped ball situations will now be conducted with singular players - not dual players. For a drop ball situation WITHIN the penalty area - the drop ball will be awarded to the defensive team. For a drop ball situation OUTSIDE the penalty area - the drop ball will be awarded to the team that last had possession at the time of the drop ball situation. (Local modification to FIFA) For situations where possession is not discernible by the referee, the referee has the option to conduct a dual drop ball.
GOAL KICKS (Law 16): For goal kicks, the ball is in play once the kick is taken & no longer is required to leave the penalty area to be in live play. This means that either the kicking team or the non-kicking team can play the ball legally within the penalty area once it moves. The kicking team may place players within the penalty area prior to the goal kick while the non-kicking team CANNOT have players within the penalty area prior to the goal kick.
Local modifications:
3rd-4th grade MYSL rules: A BUILD-UP line will be marked on the field between the top of the penalty area & half-line. Upon either a goal kick OR ANY situation where the goal keeper obtains clear possession during LIVE play, the non-kicking team must retreat past the BUILD-UP line & cannot advance inside the BUILD-UP line until the goal kick is made or until the goal keeper releases the ball. Players from the team with possession are not required to retreat past the build-up line on such plays & legally can position & play the ball anywhere on the field. Regardless of the position of the non-possession team players during the retreat - if the goal kick occurs or the goal keeper releases ball before a full retreat past the build-up line occurs - the ball is considered live & play continues. Goal keeper is allowed to "punt" the ball during live play situations.
1st-2nd grade MYSL rules: Similar to the 3rd-4th grade retreat rules - 1st-2nd grade will however have the non-possession team retreat past the HALF-LINE. This will apply for not only goal kick situations (as it has been in the recent past) but (NEW) also will apply for live ball situations where the goal keeper gets possession. Once the ball is kicked for a goal kick or the goal keeper releases the ball - the ball is considered live regardless of the retreating players position.
PreK-K MYSL rules: Similar to the 1st-2nd grade retreat rules - the retreat will be past the HALF-LINE. With exception that there is no designated goal keeper in PreK-K so there the goal keeper possession portion of the rule does not obviously apply.
HANDBALL (Law 12): Deliberate handball remains an offence. However not much has drastically changed from FIFA - one notable exception is if the ball goes into the goal after "accidentally" touching the attacking play hand/arm - it is considered a non-goal & will be awarded a free kick to the defensive team.
KICK-OFF (Law 8): Coin toss will be different. The winner of the toss - gets to choose two options: (a) to take the initial kick-off OR (b) to choose which goal to attack first. If the winner of the toss chooses (a) to take the kick-off then the loser of the toss gets to choose which side they want to attack first. If the winner of the toss chooses (b) picks which goal -then the loser of the toss gets the initial kickoff.
TEAM OFFICIALS (Law 5 & 12): Team officials (coaches) can now be formally issued yellow (cautioned) or red (sending off) cards by the referee.
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Soccer Referee Training Opportunity
Massac Youth Soccer League (MYSL) is trains and develops its own local referee pool.
The Massac Soccer Boosters provides mentoring and support for new and prospective referees. New soccer referee certification clinics are typically performed in the months of January-March. To find out more information or to review the latest schedule of clinics in the area, contact the MYSL Referee Coordinator Troy at caritroy91@gmail.com.
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US Soccer Instructional Videos for Referees:
The following are links to the US Soccer website that provide good instructional videos on proper signaling for referees.
http://www.ussoccer.com/media-library/Videos/Referees/Procedures/Procedures--Assistant-Referee-Signals.aspx
http://www.ussoccer.com/media-library/Videos/Referees/Procedures/Referee-Signals.aspx
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MYSL Referee Pay-Rate Schedule
Click on the downloadable file for MYSL Pay-Rates:
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MYSL Age-Division Rules
Click on the downloadable file for Current & Updated MYSL Age-Division Rules:
MYSL 3v3 Official Rules:
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