| Law/Rule |
USSF |
VHSL |
| I/1 The Field of Play |
| Maximum Field Dimensions |
130 yds x 100 yds |
120 yds x 75 yds |
| Minimum Field Dimensions |
100 yds x 50 yds |
100 yds x 55 yds |
| Line widths |
up to 5 inches |
4 inches |
| Goalpost & Crossbar width |
up to 5 inches |
4-5 inch square, 3-4 inch diameter required, padding optional |
| Nets |
not required |
required & ext. 24 inch back from crossbar |
| Team & Spectator areas |
not required |
specifically defined |
| Suitable Field Conditions |
determined by referee |
determined by host until start, referee after
start of play |
|
| II/2 The Ball |
| Game Ball(s) |
only 1 required & changed only with referee
authority |
minimum 3 similar balls with authenticating mark
& at least 2 ball holders |
|
| III/3 The Players/Substitutes |
| Captain |
none required |
designated field player/team |
| Position by Coin Toss |
winner chooses attacking end |
winner chooses kick or end |
| Rosters |
11 players & subs up to 7 |
all players & bench personnel |
| Subs become players |
when sub enters at halfway line |
when ref beckons onto field after report to scorer/asst
ref |
| Tactical, Positive Coaching |
by any one designee always |
coaches, not during injury |
| Improper Switch of GK with player - no notification
to ref |
mandatory caution of both |
warn both on first offense |
| Injured player return (not subbed at injury) |
referee can beckon at any time |
reenter at any stoppage in play |
| Team Playing shorthanded |
referee can beckon at any time |
additional players may enter at any stoppage in
play |
| Substitution opportunities |
{allowable modifications} |
includes own corner kick. Also, team not in possession
may substitute on a throw in or corner kick if the team in possession substitutes |
|
| IV/4 Equipment |
| Stockings |
required |
required & of a single, dominant color |
| Shin guards |
provide appropriate protection |
age- and size-appropriate shinguards that have not been
altered , 2 inches from shoe |
| Illegal equipment reentry |
checked by referee (or can be designated) |
checked by any official |
|
| V&VI/5&6 Officials |
| Numbers |
ref with 2 asst refs or club linesmen |
Head ref & ref, or Ref & 2 AR (flags/whistles),
assisted by timer & scorer |
| Timekeeper |
referee |
timer, unless coaches agree to referee on field |
| Whistle Use |
required to stop play only |
required to stop, and also for kickoff, PK, sub,
caution, send-off, injury, encroachment |
| Uniform |
no headwear |
caps optional |
| Pre-game conference |
recommended |
address coaches and players concerning good sportsmanship |
|
| VII/7 Duration of Match |
| Shortened halves |
agreement of ref & teams |
agreed by coaches or ordered by ref for cause |
| Clock stoppages |
none |
as directed by referee -- stop clock on goals,
injuries, cautions, disqualifications, and penalty kicks |
| Added time |
mandatory |
none |
| Half-time |
up to 15 mins, only changed by ref |
10 mins, only changed by coaches agreement |
| Overtime |
none, unless winner required, then 15 mins x 2,
poss PKs |
2 periods up to 10 mins* unless winner required,
then 5 mins x 2 (SV), poss PKs |
|
| *By adoption of the VHSL Executive Committee regular
season Varsity match overtime periods shall be 5 minutes each and
played in their entirety. |
| VIII/8 Start & Restarts |
| Drop Ball |
0 - 22 players involved |
between 2 opposing players |
| Simultaneous touch out |
spot of exit from field |
5 yds inside touchline |
| Temporary stoppages during play |
drop ball |
IFK for team in possession or drop ball |
| Cautions during play |
spot of offense |
spot of ball |
|
| IX/9 Ball In & Out, X/10 Method of Scoring & XI/11
Offside: same in USSF & VHSL |
| XII/12 Fouls & Misconduct |
| Cautioned Players (substitution opportunity) |
Not required to leave field |
Required to leave field until next legal sub opportunity |
| Cautioned Players (manager/coach notification) |
Not required |
Mandatory |
| Cautions |
Unsporting behavior (includes taunting), tobacco
not addressed |
Unsportsmanlike conduct (does not include taunting),
use of tobacco prohibited. Also incidental use of vulgar or
profane language |
| Throw in to goalkeeper |
Mandatory caution |
Caution not required |
| Pass back to goalkeepoer (trickery) |
Mandatory caution |
Caution not required |
| Send-offs |
Offensive, Insulting or Abusive language |
Called disqualification. Foul or abusive language.
Also entry during altercation/fight |
| Send-offs during play |
No substitutes permitted |
Subs permitted for taunting** & second caution |
| Send-offs at half-time |
No substitute for player |
Sub permitted |
|
| **By adoption of VHSL Executive Committee in 1998 "Taunting"
shall result in a single red card shown to the player, a substitute
shall not be permitted, the player is ineligible for the next contest
and an ejection report must be filed by the official. |
| XIII/13 Free Kicks are same in USSF & VHSL |
| XIV/14 Penalty kicks |
| Infringement by attacker only -- rebound from
GK or goal |
play continues unless to infringing attacker,
then IFK, warn on first offense |
IFK to defending team & caution attacker |
| -- saved & held by GK |
play continues & warn on first offense |
Play on - advantage & caution attacker at
next stoppage |
|
| XV/15 Throw-ins |
| Ball not entering field of play |
throw in again by team attempting throw in |
throw in awarded to opposing team |
|
| XVI/16 Goal Kicks & XVII/17 Corner Kicks: same USSF
& VHSL |
| OTHER |
| Kicks from Penalty spot/line |
only players at end of OT, coin toss winner kicks
first, all players must kick before anyone rekicks, team reduces
to equal numbers if opponents playing short |
any eligible player on roster, coin toss winner
chooses who goes first, ten players must kick before anyone
rekicks |
|
