Any questions regarding recertification should be directed to:
Brittny Seem
Nebraska Referee Development Program
Registrar
402.540.8056
No soccer for Spring 2020 - Hope to see you in the Fall
Changes & Clarifications to Laws of the Game for 2019/20
VERY IMPORTANT - please review
2019/20 Laws of the Game – Changes and clarifications
Changes
• Yellow and red cards for misconduct by team officials
• A player being substituted leaving the field of play at the nearest point on the boundary line
• At a goal kick and a free kick for the defending team in their own penalty area
Team Officials
If any coach, assistant coach, athletic trainer or representative of the team on the sidelines is
found to be guilty of misconduct but the referee cannot distinguish who committed the infraction,
the highest-ranking team official will receive the Yellow/Red Card.
Substitutes
Anyone who is being substituted needs to leave at the closest point of the touchline/goal line. If the
halfway point is the closest point, please go off there.
ENSA & CYSL request that all substitutes enter and leave the field of play at midfield on the team bench side.
If you are injured or the safest point to exit the field is not the nearest, then the referee will indicate so and you can leave at the halfway point.
This change is trying to eliminate the practice of wasting time by substituting a player who is on
the opposite side of the field.
Goal kick
In the past, the team taking the goal kick could not touch the ball until it had left the penalty area.
Now, a player from the team in possession may reside in or enter the penalty area and touch the
ball as soon as it is in play. For the ball to considered be in play it must have been kicked and clearly
moved. This change is meant to speed up the play of the game.
Does this change affect the buildout line?
No, the spirit of the build-out line is still in effect in that players on the team not in
possession must move behind the buildout line until the ball is considered in play. The ball
is considered in play when it has been kicked and has clearly moved. Players for the team in
possession of the goal kick may choose to position themselves inside the penalty area. If a
team chooses to take a goal kick or free kick quickly, they are doing so at their own risk as
the normal build out line rules still apply.
NSSA Weather Policy
NEBRASKA STATE SOCCER ASSOCIATION (ALL LEAGUES) WEATHER PLAN JULY 19, 2014
Weather Safety Plan/Lightning Safety
Before games are played, league organizers are listening and monitoring the latest forecast to determine the likelihood of thunderstorms. If thunderstorms are forecasted, league organizers will consider canceling or postponing the activity. Once people start to arrive at an activity/event, the guidelines below should be followed.
Stopping Activities/Events:
In general, a significant lightning threat extends outward from the base of a thunderstorm cloud about 6 to 10 miles. Therefore, people should be in a safe place when a thunderstorm is 6 to 10 miles away. League Representatives, Site Supervisors and/or Referees can stop the activity/event. Team Staff should get the attention of the Referee if they witness any of the criteria within the Safety Plan. Here are some criteria used to stop activities:
1. If you see lightning or;
2. If you hear thunder.
