Certified Shinguards

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I have officiated for about 5 years now and I have played for many more, but this year the state's sports association is implementing a new rule. All players must wear some type of certified shinguards. These shinguards are huge, but they look very protective and I think they are good. If a referee observes players without these shinguards they can be removed from the field until they get proper playing gear. Any thoughts, what are your state associations rules on shinguards?

[NJ Ref]

It sounds like your State Association is taking their lead from college and high school soccer. In both of these, NOCSAE approved shinguards will be required in the 2007 season. However, I’ve heard rumblings that the manufactures have been slow to respond to the requirements and therefore many will not be ready to supply for this coming season. Specifically, I’ve heard high school might postpone the requirement.

Anyway, NOCSAE are the folks that approve other sports equipment, most notably are football helmets. For soccer, the NOCSAE approved shinguards will have a height range printed on them to attempt to avoid that six foot player wearing his 7 year old brother’s shinguards.

My guess is that your State Association is taking the approach to avoid litigation. The attitude that if it is there, why aren’t we requiring it! Have to wait and see how this all unfolds and what requirements will be made of the officials in enforcing this requirement. I just can't see the official asking players to drop their socks.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

It sounds like your State Association is taking their lead from college and high school soccer. In both of these, NOCSAE approved shinguards will be required in the 2007 season. However, I’ve heard rumblings that the manufactures have been slow to respond to the requirements and therefore many will not be ready to supply for this coming season. Specifically, I’ve heard high school might postpone the requirement.

Anyway, NOCSAE are the folks that approve other sports equipment, most notably are football helmets. For soccer, the NOCSAE approved shinguards will have a height range printed on them to attempt to avoid that six foot player wearing his 7 year old brother’s shinguards.

My guess is that your State Association is taking the approach to avoid litigation. The attitude that if it is there, why aren’t we requiring it! Have to wait and see how this all unfolds and what requirements will be made of the officials in enforcing this requirement. I just can't see the official asking players to drop their socks.
Yeah, I think its a good idea. Picked up a bad ankle injury as a player because I was stupid enough to wear those little compression slip in shinguards.

[keeper1031]

Hey i'm both a ref and player and I hate the new rule for highschool shinguards. I think it just dosn't make sense to me why if somebody wants to put themselves in danger they cant. If i decide to wear a 2 inch shinguard the only person that could be harmed is ME.

[ref2coach]

FYI for those who care about NFHS (US High School) rules. The 2/20/2007 rules meeting regarding the 07/08 seasonal year it was decided to delay the requirement for shin guards to carry the "nocsae seal" until the 08/09 seasonal year. Copy of bulletin provided below

Contact: Tim Flannery

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 20, 2007) -- Beginning with the 2007-08 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 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," said Tim Flannery, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the committee. "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 2007-08, shinguards must meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standard effective with the 2008-09 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," Flannery said. "This will give manufacturers more time to adequately supply these types of shinguards to local equipment suppliers."

Bob Lombardi, chair of the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee and associate executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, said although the requirement has been delayed one year, the eventual implementation will be a positive step for high school soccer.

"Players no longer will be able to wear inappropriate, undersized shinguards," Lombardi said. "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.

"With this change, substitutes will be able to be seen easier since they should no longer be standing in front of the team benches," Flannery said.

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.

Soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys and girls at the high school level. According to the 2005-06 High School Athletics Participation Survey, 358,935 boys are involved in soccer and 321,555 girls participate in the sport.

______________________________________________