Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2019

RULES BOOK CORRECTIONS: (Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions.)

Page 14, Rule 2-2-4: If the ball becomes deflated during play, it is declared dead where it was last played and the game is resumed by a drop ball between any two number of opposing players at the spot where it was last played. If the ball becomes deflated within the goal area, then the ball is dropped between any two number of opposing players subject to the provisions of Rule 9-2-2.

Page 20, Rule 3-4-3: The clock shall be stopped when a substitute by the team in the lead is beckoned onto the field in the final five minutes of the second period or in the fourth quarter (if the game is played in quarters).

Page 38, Rule 7-4-3: The clock shall be stopped when a substitute by the team in the lead is beckoned onto the field in the final five minutes of the second period only or the fourth period (if the state plays in quarters.)

Preseason Guide Changes:
Page 2, Time-Out and In (7-4-3): line 5 delete second period of overtime; lines 11-12 delete the same phrase second period of overtime.

Page 5, Offside (11-1-4): Delete the last sentence of the second paragraph: Indirect free kick at the spot of the infraction (even in own half).

Page 6, Shielding as a Tactic: – Second paragraph, last sentence is incomplete. Add at the end of the sentence: …crossing out of the field for a green goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.

Webinar Dates:
• Fall – September 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m., EST
• Spring – April 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., EST

Rule Change Proposal Portal is now open for Soccer. Proposals due date: November 1, 2019