THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MIAA SOCCER

Welcome to the 2018 soccer season. My name is Ric Beaudoin and I am

the new MIAA State Interpreter. I follow a man that has very big shoes to

fill. His name is Cal Perry and I would like to thank him for his many years

of dedicated service, time and commitment to high school soccer. Cal

served the MIAA soccer committee as the state interpreter. He recently

retired from his position and duties as well as those of the representative

to the MISOA committee. His time in these positions were served with

dignity, professionalism and most importantly, wisdom. Please join me in

thanking Cal Perry. This thank you is extended from all reaches of the

state. As his elected successor I only hope to serve you and the game with

same amount of enthusiasm and dedication as I travel throughout the

state, fulfilling my responsibilities of this position.

As we approach our service to this game, I would like to leave you with a

few thoughts. Approach your responsibilities with a three- prong mantra:

1. Be prepared! (know the rules!)

2. Be physically fit! (get plenty of rest and stay hydrated)

3. Be professional in appearance, fairness, and communication! (help one

another on the field)

We all agree that the venue in which the game is played is an extension of

the classroom. With this comes an inherent duty to carry forward the

responsibility of an educator. Last, but by no means least, keep safety as

your primary focus as you enter the upcoming season. Enjoy and be well.

Ric Beaudoin

MIAA State Interpreter

ricbo10@hotmail.com or 508-254-3091

IMPORTANT DATES

Cut-Off Date 2018

The Cut-Off Date for 2018 Soccer Season is

Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

2018 Dates to Remember

August 23, 2018

First Practice Date

September 2, 2018

First Contest Date

Varsity Rosters are required to be entered

in “Members Only” prior to the first varsity

contest.

September 30, 2018

Schedule & Commitment Due

October 23, 2018

Sportsmanship responsibility of competing

schools compliance policy due

October 30, 2018

Cut-off Date

October 31, 2018

Tournament Seeding

November 17, 2018

Championship Saturday, all divisions

Soccer Uniform Rule Change

Beginning this fall (2018), the home team shall wear dark jerseys and

socks, and the visiting team shall wear white or light jerseys and socks.

“This change allows home teams to wear their school-color jerseys at

home,” said Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials and

liaison to the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee. “It also could provide the

opportunity to use an alternative color uniform for special events.”

From the State Interpreter

ON the PITCH ● Fall 2018 ● page 2

Team Sportsmanship Award Winners

The Massachusetts high school soccer community--school administrators, coaches, players, game officials, and the MIAA State

Soccer Committee, has worked diligently over the past decade to improve the quality of interscholastic soccer, with a strong

emphasis on sportsmanship. Through a unified effort and with a balance of educational programs and strict accountability

measures, the goal has been to significantly reduce the negative behaviors exhibited by some soccer players, coaches, and

spectators.

The MIAA Soccer Committee would like to recognize those schools, whose soccer teams, during the 2017 season,

distinguished themselves in the area of good sportsmanship, which earned them an MIAA Soccer Team Sportsmanship Award

presented at the 2017 State Soccer Finals. These are teams which, through the collective efforts of their coaches, players,

fans, and administrators, demonstrated their unique commitment to sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics.

Congratulations to the following MIAA Soccer Teams:

Congratulations 2017 MIAA Soccer

Officials of the Year!

ThinkTaylor Concussion

Awareness Week

September 10-14, 2018

During the week of September 10th, all

MIAA Member High School varsity athletes

will take part in ThinkTaylor/MIAA

Concussion Awareness Week.

Please take part in the #TTpledge with your

students at ThinkTaylor.org and by posting

your support on social media using

#TTpledge.

Mary Fitzgerald Joel Perry

Canton HS

(Boys)

Lynn English HS

(Boys)

North Attleborough HS

(Girls)

ON the PITCH ● Fall 2018 ● page 3

MIAA/NFHS Soccer Rule Highlights

2018-2019 NFHS

Soccer Rule Changes

Athlete & Coach Disqualifications

11-1-4: A Player is offside and penalized if, at

the time the ball touches or is played by a

teammate, the player, in an offside position,

becomes involved in active play by:

a. interfering with play or with an opponent

or;

b. seeks to gain an advantage by being in

that position.

A player in an offside position receiving the ball

from an opponent, who deliberately plays the

ball (except from a deliberate save), is not

considered to have gained an advantage.

Indirect free kick at the spot of the infraction

(even in own half), subject to the provisions in P

13.1.3

49.1 The contest official who disqualifies a student or coach under

the provision of this rule should immediately inform the coach of

each team, official scorer (if any), and state the violation. If the

game official fails to file his/her written coach/student contest

disqualification form, the individual is nevertheless bound by the

suspension. An Official who fails to complete the form required as

a result of an athlete or coach disqualification shall be suspended

from officiating any MIAA contest in that sport for at least two

weeks or until the form is completed and received by the principal

of the disqualified athlete or coach. Judgments of game officials

are not subject to appeal. If the event does not have officials (e.g.

golf, tennis) it is the responsibility of the site manager to report any

disqualification to the Athletic Director who in turn will complete

the MIAA Coach or Student Contest Disqualification Form.

49.2 The athletic director in charge of the contest, or his/her

designee, is responsible for: (1) having the official disqualification

forms available for game officials, and (2) sending copies to the

principal of each school involved, the athletic director of each

school involved, and the executive director of the MIAA. Contest

official(s) should complete the forms before leaving the site of the

contest.

NFHS 4-1-1a, b:

a. The home team shall wear dark

jerseys and socks (dark is defined as any

color which contrasts with white), and

the visiting team shall wear white or light

jerseys and socks. Prior to and during

the game, jerseys shall be tucked into

the shorts, unless manufactured to be

worn outside.

b. Both socks shall be the same color,

with the home team wearing socks of a

single dominant color, but not

necessarily the color of the jersey and

the visiting team wearing solid white or

light sock. If tape or a similar material

(stays/ straps) is applied externally to

the socks, it must be of similar color as

that part of the sock to which it is

applied.

NFHS 4-1-1d, e:

d. If visible apparel is worn under the

jersey and/or shorts, it shall be of similar

length for an individual and a solid liked-

color for the team.

NFHS 8-1-2: At the moment of the

kickoff, all players, except the player

taking the kickoff, shall be in their team's

half of the field. Players opposing the

kicker shall be at least 10 yards from the

ball until it is kicked.

MIAA Rule 78.2.11 Any player who

receives a third yellow card in a season

shall be suspended from the next

contest; a fourth yellow card and

subsequent yellow cards in a season

shall result in suspension for two

contests. This penalty carries over to the

next soccer season (or next season if

senior) if happens in last contest, or the

next to last contest.

MIAA Rule 78.2.13 Any coach (head or

assistant) who receives a red card, is

ejected from the contest and shall be

suspended from coaching for the next

two contests. If a coach receives a

second red card in a season, the coach

shall be disqualified for one year. The

contest may continue if appropriate

administration is available.

MIAA Rule 78.2.14 A deliberate

(intentional) handball to prevent a ball

from entering the goal is a red card

offense. However, the offender will be

suspended from the remainder of that

contest and only the next regularly

scheduled contest.

MIAA Rule 78.2.17 Any team whose

players/coaches receive collectively five

(5) yellow and/or red cards in a contest

(including pre & post game) will result in

immediate termination of the contest,

and result in forfeiture by the offending

team.

Click image to access the MIAA Handbook

ON the PITCH ● Fall 2018 ● page 4

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

First Practice

Thursday August

23rd

First Contest/

Roster Due Online

Sunday

September 2nd

Cutoff Date

Tuesday,

October 30th

Seeding (N/S/C/

W)

No Games

Brackets Posted

Sectional

Games Begin

(N/S/C/W)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Championship

Saturday!

D1, D2 D3 & D4

State Finals

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

State Finals

(Rain/Snow

Date)

Thanksgiving

25 26 27 28 29 30

November 2018/MIAA Soccer Calendar

The Official Soccer Ball

of the MIAA