New Mexico Activities Association

Important Dates:
August 13 (First Practice Date)
October 1 (Team Photos Due On-Line)
October 27 (Seeding/ Selection Meeting) Girls at 7:00 PM and Boys at 7:45 PM
October 29 (World Cup Match Ups Released)
November 1-3 (World Cup Format)
November 8 (State Semifinals)
November 9 (State Championship Finals)

POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Improperly Equipped Players
Beginning with the 2007 soccer season, if a player enters the game improperly equipped, and it is discovered by an official, the coach will be cautioned (yellow card).

This addition to NFHS Rule 4-3 was one of four major rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee at its January

28-29 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

"Rule 4-3 previously placed responsibility on the coach to ensure that each of his or her players is properly equipped. This change will now provide a consequence for coaches who fail to comply with the rule.

As a result of this addition to Rule 4-3, a portion of Rule 5-2-2-d-3 was deleted that required the official to examine the uniform and equipment of each player to ensure compliance with the rules. While the legality of player equipment is determined by the referee, the head coach has the responsibility to ensure that players are properly equipped.

A change in shinguard requirements approved last year aimed at reducing the risk of injury has been delayed one year. Instead of the 2007 season, shinguards must meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standard effective with the 2008 season.

Not all manufacturers could guarantee that shinguards would be available prior to the start of the fall (2007) season in all areas of the country. The delay will give manufacturers more time to adequately supply these types of shinguards to local equipment suppliers.

Manufacturers are required to produce shinguards that will minimize risk to players. Correctly sized and safety-regulated shinguards should greatly assist in the reduction of leg injuries in high school soccer.

The new NOCSAE shinguards will be stamped or labeled with the NOCSAE logo. They will specify which size is correct for a particular sized player, making it easy for players, coaches and officials to differentiate which shinguards are to be worn.

The final major rules change involves placement of the team benches on opposite sides of the field. Although team benches are on the same side of the field in most cases, Rule 1-5 does allow an exception for teams to be placed on opposite sides of the field. Beginning next year, when teams are placed on opposite sides of the field, they shall be placed diagonally across from each other.

Several editorial changes were made, with the most significant ones in Rules 1-4-1 and 5-3-1. The rules committee clarified in Rule 1-4-1 that portable goals should be anchored at least two yards in front of the base of the existing football goal posts, not two yards in front of the uprights. Rule 5-3-1 clarifies the mechanic that is to be used by officials when coaches or bench personnel receive a subsequent caution for misconduct. The correct mechanic calls for showing a yellow card first, followed by a red card, as opposed to showing the yellow and red cards together.

NMAA Misconduct Progression Rule
Rule (NMAA Handbook, 7.17.5):
A. Yellow cards received during regular season or tournament competition must be counted. Once a player has accumulated five yellow cards, they are suspended for the next game. Once the player accumulates three additional yellow cards (totaling eight yellow cards), they are suspended for the next two games and are required to attend a meeting with the school’s Athletic Director, head coach and the NMAA Executive Director or his/her designee. Any additional yellow cards received by a player after eight total cards will be subject to more severe penalties by the NMAA Executive Director, including but not limited to suspension from additional contests.

B. Any team whose players and coaches, during the regular season, collectively receive a total of 24 or more yellow cards (including all second yellow/red cards and straight red cards) will be required to attend a meeting with the school’s Athletic Director and the NMAA Executive Director or his/her designee.

C. Any school receiving 32 or more yellow cards will be prohibited from participation in post-season. Any yellow/red cards received by the coach will count toward the 32 card total. (Note: The 32 card total is in effect for a two-year block, at which time this amount will be revisited by the NMAA Soccer Sport-Specific Committee and NMAA Commission.)

D. If a player receives a red card or a second yellow card resulting in disqualification, that individual is suspended for the next scheduled game. These are minimum penalties. All yellow and red cards must be reported to the NMAA.

E. Upon the commencement of post-season, all players and coaches receive a “clean slate” for the accumulation of cards. However, any pending sit-out resulting from the accumulation of cards or a direct send-off must be fulfilled in post-season if the requirement for a sit-out has not been satisfied during the regular season. For example, if a player receives his/her fifth yellow card or is sent off during the final regular season game, he/she will be required to sit out the first game of the post-season if the team has qualified for post-season competition or the first game of the next season if the team has not qualified for post-season competition.

Out-of-Season Coaching During the School Year
There shall be no out-of-season coaching during the school year of current or potential athletes, including feeder-school students beginning at the 7th grade (8th grade in schools that do not allow 8th grade participation at the high school level), with the exception of an athletic class or one hour a day Monday through Friday for those sports programs that do not have an athletic class. This provision applies to all school coaches, paid and volunteer. This rule prohibits coaching these individuals on any team (school or non-school sponsored) out-of-season during the school year.

7.4.1 Violations for Out-of-Season Coaching During the School Year
Violation of this rule will result in the following sanctions:
First Offense: The member school will be fined $2,500.00, which must be by the member school prior to its participation in any further contests in that particular sport. The coach who is violation of the rule will be instructed to adhere to this rule.
Second Offense: The member school will be fined $5,000.00, which must be paid by the member school prior to its participation in any further contests in that particular sport. The NMAA will also contact the Public Education Department Licensing Department and inform them of the offending coach’s “unethical practices” in connection with his or her coaching license.
Third Offense: The coach will be suspended for up to two years. The member school will be placed on probation with possible suspension of up to two years for post-season competition.

Q1: Can a high school coach coach a club sport during the school year?

A1: Yes, as long as the club team is made up of students who are not current or potential/feeder school athletes as identified above. For example, a boy’s basketball coach may coach a girls’ basketball club team, or a boys’ basketball club team with students who are not current or potential/feeder athletes.

Q2: If a district does not allow 8th graders to participate at the high school level, who are considered the potential/feeder school students?

A2: Students in the 8th grade and above are considered the potential/feeder school students.

Q3: If a district allows 8th graders to participate at the high school level, who are considered the potential/feeder school students?

A3: Students in the 7th grade and above are considered the potential/feeder school students.

Q4: A coach’s daughter plays on his high school team. Can he coach her in club?

A4: Yes. However, no other current/potential/feeder school students may be on that club team.

Q5: Can a volunteer, non-paid individual help with stats for a particular school and then coach a club team out-of-season during the school year which includes current/potential/feeder school students of that same school?

A5: Yes, as long as he/she is not assisting at any practices or working in any other coaching capacity on the bench or sideline during a regular or post-season game.

Q6: Can a coach (paid or volunteer) travel to events with a club team which includes current/potential/feeder school students as long as he/she is not serving as their coach?

A6: No, because he/she still has contact with those current/potential/feeder school students in the club environment.

Q7: If a coach resigns after his/her season is over and coaches a club team with current/potential/feeder athletes, then re-signs a contract with that same school for the next season, is this acceptable?

A7: No. The school will be subject to the $2500 fine.

7.4.2 Coaching Student Athletes Outside of School/Player Following Coach
If a Student participates on a non-school team (i.e. AAU, American Legion, club settings, etc.) that is affiliated with or coached by a coach from a school other than the one the Student attends, or has attended, and then transfers to that school, regardless of change in bona fide residence, it will be assumed that the Student has been recruited to attend that school or transferred to that school for athletic reasons and the Student will be ineligible for varsity athletic participation for 180 school days/365 calendar days. If the Student transfers to a school that his/her coach has relocated to within the past year, regardless of change in the Student’s bona fide residence, it will be assumed that the Student transferred to that school for athletic reasons and he/she will be ineligible there for varsity athletic participation for 180 school days/365 calendar days.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Seeding/ Selection Meetings:
The State Championship Seeding/ Selection meeting will be held on Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 PM. All seasons must be completed by 6:00 PM on October 27.

Packet Pick Up:
All coaches will be required to pick up at coaches packet at the New Mexico Activities Association prior to their first World Cup match up. The packet will include player, manager and coaches passes, map of complex, time schedule, field assignments, etc.

Passes:
All coaches, players and managers must be listed on-line in order to receive a pass for the State Soccer Championships. Any coaches, players or managers not listed on-line prior to Friday, October 26 will be charged $20.00 per pass in the form of an invoice to their school. Managers are limited to two per team.

Bus Parking:
Designated parking lots will be made available for bus parking at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex. The complex map, enclosed in the coaches packet, will detail the parking lot(s).

Tickets:
Spectator tickets will only be available for purchase at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex on the day of the event. Tickets will cost $6.00 per person.

Brackets/ Results:
All brackets/ results will be posted on the NMAA website immediately following each contest.

Official Book:
The official book will be kept by a certified official.

Water:
Water will be provided by the NMAA for each team during play.

World Cup Format:
The World Cup format will be held Nov. 1-3 (Thur.-Sat.) at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex.

Each classification will seed 12 teams on October 27 at 7:00 PM. Those 12 seeds will be divided into four pools of three and will play Nov. 1-3. See below.
Seed #1 (A1)
Seed #2 (B1)
Seed #3 (C1)
Seed #4 (D1)
Seed #5 (D2)
Seed #6 (C2)
Seed #7 (B2)
Seed #8 (A2)
Seed #9 (A3)
Seed #10 (B3)
Seed #11 (C3)
Seed #12 (D3)

Pools   (A1, A2, A3)
            (B1, B2, B3)
            (C1, C2, C3)
            (D1, D2, D3)

Teams will be assured two games; playing each opponent within their pool. The winner of each pool will advance to the semifinals on November 8.

It is important to note that the number one team in each pool will have a day off in between pool play games. For example Sandia Prep would not play on Friday in pool play because they are the number one seed (see example below).
A1 (Sandia Prep) vs. A2 (Hatch Valley) Thur.
A2 (Hatch Valley) vs. A3 (Portales) Fri.
A1 (Sandia Prep) vs. A3 (Portales) Sat.

The World Cup tournament match ups will be released by the NMAA on Monday, October 29, 2007.

World Cup Field Locations:
Each classification will play on four fields. Each pool will play on the same field throughout World Cup play. Fields 7 and 8 at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex will not be utilized during World Cup play. The four field system will be used on a three year rotational basis. For example, if Class A-AAA play on the lower fields during the 2007 World Cup play, they will play on the middle fields during the 2008 World Cup and the upper fields during the 2009 World Cup.

State Semifinals and Finals:
The state semifinals will be played on November 8 with games beginning at 11:00 AM. The State Championship finals will be played on November 9 with games beginning at 1:30 PM.

Coaches will not be required to pick up a coaches packet for the Semifinals and Finals.

PROCEED TO UNIT V