1. FHSAA Pre-Season Webinar
Soccer Officials

2. Introduction Alex Ozuna Assistant Director of Athletics
ext. 320
Girls Soccer Administrator
Will Adams Assistant Director of Athletics ext. 470 Boys Soccer Administrator

3. Important Dates Girls Dates Boys Dates
Soccer Training Session Agendas Due Sept.12 Sept. 12
Officials Registration Deadline Sept Sept. 30
Online Rules Exams Oct Oct
Preseason Tournament Dates Oct Oct.27-Nov.1
First Competition Date Oct Nov. 3
Online Make-up Exams Nov Nov. 6-12
Late Registration Deadline Nov Nov. 12
Soccer Recommendation Forms ed Nov Nov. 17
Soccer Recommendation Forms Due Jan. 2 Jan. 2
Last Competition Date Jan Jan. 17
District Tournament Dates Jan Jan ;23-24
Regional Tournament Dates Jan. 22,27,30 Jan. 29, Feb. 3,6
State Championship Dates Feb Feb
Soccer Game/Match Reports Due Mar. 6 Mar. 6

4. NFHS/FHSAA Rule Changes
NFHS Rule – Official Game Clock
FHSAA Rule Modification – The official game time will be kept on the field by a contest official. If a stadium clock is available, the clock will be considered unofficial.
NFHS Rule 3-3-2B(2) - Substitutions
If the referee stops the clock for an apparent injury to a field player or goalkeeper, the field player or goalkeeper will have to leave the field. The field player may be replaced and the goalkeeper must be replaced.
NFHS Rule – General
The jurisdiction of the officials shall begin on their arrival at the field of play and its immediate surroundings (to begin their official responsibilities), which shall be no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.
RULE 3-3-2b(2) – SUBSTITUTIONS
ART Time for Substitutions: either team may substitute an unlimited number of players from the bench, provided they report to the scorer's table or nearest official and are beckoned in as per 3-4-1(a):
a. when a goal is scored.
b. when a player is injured:
1. A coach or appropriate health-care professional may not enter the field without approval from a referee.
2. If the referee stops the clock for an apparent injury to a field player or goalkeeper, the field player or goalkeeper will have to leave the field. The field player may be replaced, and the goalkeeper shall be replaced.
COMMENTS ON THE RULES
Risk minimization is one of the major tenets of NFHS sports and the rules-writing process. The committee wanted to make sure that players who were apparently injured were evaluated by a coach or an appropriate health-care professional. The overriding concern is the safety of all players. Previously, the goalkeeper was not required to leave the game when the referee stopped the clock.
This new rule requires the field player and goalkeeper to receive equal protection.
RULE – GENERAL
ART The jurisdiction of the officials shall begin on their arrival at the field of play and its immediate surroundings (to begin their official responsibilities), which shall be not later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the game and end with their leaving the field of play and its immediate surroundings. They shall enforce the rules, and their decisions on points of fact are final. The officials can only correct a decision so long as the game has not been restarted. The officials retain clerical authority over the contest through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualifications, that are responsive to actions occurring while the referees had jurisdiction. State associations may intercede in the event of unusual incidents that occur before, during or after the officials’ jurisdiction has ended or in the event that a contest is terminated prior to the conclusion
of regulation play. Protests of NFHS rules are not recognized. The officials shall not use video replays to assist in any decision. The officials shall not use any tobacco products during this period.
The jurisdiction of the officials shall begin on their arrival at the field of play and its immediate surroundings, which shall be no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. Previously, the jurisdiction of the officials began 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. The original intent was to establish a minimum arrival time for the officiating crew and not to place a limit on the start of
their jurisdiction. Jurisdiction now begins at the time of their arrival.

5. NFHS Points of Emphasis
Sportsmanship
Players, coaches, game officials and spectators must use appropriate language and refrain from insulting, offensive and/or abusive language and gestures. Behavior on the field should be consistent with athletics as an extension of the classroom.
Communication
Game Officials are encouraged to effectively communicate with one another as well as with players and coaches throughout the game.
Penalty Kick
Once the approach to the ball has started, the kicker’s movement may not be interrupted. A continuous forward motion throughout the approach is necessary. If continuous forward motion does not occur, the restart is a retake of the penalty kick regardless of whether a goal is scored or not.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers can wear the same colored socks as their teammates but not their opponents.
Goalkeepers must have a number on the front of their jersey or shorts/pants and on the back of their jerseys.

6. NFHS Points of Emphasis
Concussion Management
The contest official is to be cognizant of student-athletes who display signs, symptoms or behaviors of a concussion (see NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion) and immediately stop play for injury evaluation within the rules of the game. At that point, the contest official’s job is done. It is important to note that the responsibility of the contest official is limited to activities that occur on the field. Once the participant has been removed from a contest due to a suspected concussion, the coach, school and appropriate healthcare professional(s) assume full responsibility for that athlete’s further evaluation and safety.

7. FHSAA Soccer Official State Series Uniform
Starting with the sport season, soccer officials will be required wear mandatory official uniforms during the state series, which runs from the start of the district tournament through the conclusion of the state championship game.

8. FHSAA Soccer Official State Series Uniform
The FHSAA official uniform providers are Honigs Whistle Shop and Gerry Davis/Cliff Keen
Honigs Whistle Shop:
Details: FHSAA Shield embroidered on the chest pocket, FHSAA Acronym and USA Flag embroidered on the right and left sleeves, with Velcro on the inside of both chest pockets to keep the pockets closed.
Cost: $44.95
Contact: Fred Collida, (800)
Website:
Gerry Davis/Cliff Keen:
Details: Fully sublimated design; there is no embroidery or patches attached to the shirt. The FHSAA logo, FHSAA acronym and American Flag are dyed directly into fabric. Both pockets have a flap with Velcro on the inside to keep the pockets closed.
Cost: $55.90
Contact: Customer Service, (800)
Website:  

9. FHSAA Soccer Card Accumulation System
Pilot Program
Need the assistance of two associations in collecting and accounting the number of cards teams in a given area receives during the sport season.
The association will record the number of cards issued per game, what type of card was issued per game (yellow/red/blue), which team received the card(s) per game, and the reason for the card issuance
Objective
Identify potential problem areas
Reduce overly aggressive play over time
Reduce number of card issuance and ejects over time

10. New Soccer Officials Ranking System
Starting with the sport season, an officials new ranking system will be in place for the sport of soccer.
The new ranking system will use the following criteria when rating the officials:
Evaluation Score 40
Test Results 30
Previous Year’s Contest Officiated 10 (1/2 Credit for Varsity; ¼ Credit for Sub Varsity; Max at 10 points)
Field Clinic Attendance 10 (Once every 4 years)
Training Sessions Attendance 10 (1 Points/Pre-approved Session Attendance; Max at 10)
Years of Service (Bonus Points) 10 (0-3=2;4-6=4;7-10=6;11-14=8;15+=10)
110

11. New Soccer Officials Ranking System
Ranking Categories
Rank 1 and Rank 2 officials will be eligible for officiating state series games
Rank 3 officials will be ineligible for officiating state series games
Ranking Breakdown
Rank 1 =
Rank 2 =
Rank 3 = 69 – Below

12. FHSAA Soccer Officials Evaluation Program
Purpose
Discover Excellence
Stimulate Improvement
Give Officials Accurate Data for Reflection
Ascertain Weaknesses
Create an Additional Tool for Future Assignments
Cornerstone of the New Officials Ranking System
Goal
To Improve Individual Officials
To Rank Individual Officials by Their Ability
To Promote Standardized Mechanics Through the Evaluation Process

13. FHSAA Soccer Officials Evaluation Program
Evaluation Form
Match Difficulty
Professionalism/Pre-Game Responsibilities
Appearance/Fitness
Field Positioning
Mechanics/Signals
Application of Rules/Consistency
Communication with Player/Coaches/Partners
Comment Section
Overall Crew Impressions
Positive Feedback
Areas Needing Improvement
Additional Comments
Punctuality
Does the crew arrive at the field with ample time to conduct field inspections and captain’s meeting.
Is Physically Fit
A host of characteristics are encompassed in this phrase, like mobility, endurance level, and appropriate gestures.
Can the Official keep up with the game.
Wear the Proper Uniform
Is Well Groomed
An official should look clean and should seem to have taken care to present a pleasing appearance.
Field Coverage
Can the official cover his/her assigned area? Is the official moving with the flow of the game.
Positioning
Does the official position themselves properly during static and dynamic plays, is the official putting themselves in the correct position to make the proper call.
Signals
Is the official using proper signals and mechanics per the NFHS rules book.
Restarts
Is the game being restarted with the correct procedures given each situation.
Substitution
Are proper procedures being used during the game.
Decision Making
Is the official making the correct call given the situation?
Advantage
Is the official properly using the advantage, or is he/she failing to make the call.
Off-Ball Incidents
Is the officials aware of his/her surroundings? Is he/she attentive to the players which are away from the ball.
Foul Recognition
Serious Offenses/Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Does the official recognize the serious offense? Does the official cite the correct card (Yellow/Red/Blue) given the situation.
Communication with Crew
Communication with Coaches
Is the official communicating effectively with the coaches. Is he/she utilizing listening skills as well as verbal skills.
Player Management
Is the official his/her verbal skills as a misconduct prevention tool.
Composure
Overall Crew Impressions
Given an overall synopsis of the performance of the crew during the game.
Positive Feedback
Provide each official with some positive feedback to take away from their overall performance.
Areas Needing Improvement
Provide each official with areas they can improve moving forward.
Additional Comments
Note any specific circumstances, weather concerns, unsportsmanlike conduct, ejections, unusual circumstances, etc.
Individual/Crew comments that happened during the game that demonstrated a command or lack of the rules/mechanics.

14. FHSAA Soccer Officials Evaluation Program
Procedure
To be eligible for the state series, each official must be evaluated at least once every two years
The evaluation score received will be calculated into the ranking formula
If an official has multiple evaluations, the average score of the evaluations will be taken into the ranking formula
Each official and/or association is responsible for contacting and scheduling the date/time of each evaluations with one of the FHSAA Certified Soccer Evaluators
Once an evaluation has concluded, the evaluator will provide a copy of the evaluation to the contest official, the official’s association, and the FHSAA
The evaluations will be done at the expense of the association or the individual officials at a rate not exceeding $60 (including mileage) per crew

15. FHSAA Soccer Officials Evaluation Program
Name
Section
City
Phone
Timothy Fouts 1
Pace
Grant Merrill
Neptune Beach
Ralph Shuping
Trenton
Edward Guertin
Orange Park
Robert Breaux 2
Maitland
Gil Weber
Viera
Goree Fleck
St. Petersburg Beach
John Bauman
Winter Haven
Lutfi (Lou) Nassar 3
Sarasota
David Cattermole
Naples
Ermanno Rossi 4
Miami Beach
Melvin Weinbaum
Boynton Beach
John McGee
Southwest Ranches
Here is the current list of the FHSAA Certified Soccer Evaluators
Contact information for the FHSAA Certified Soccer Evaluators will be posted on the FHSAA Official’s page under the information box on the right side of the page.

16. Questions?
Contact Information
Girls Soccer
Alex Ozuna
(352) ext. 320
Boys Soccer
Will Adams
(352) ext. 470