 Law Changes for 2006 
References: USSF has provided some additional reference materials for your review. Specifically, there are memoranda available that cover: Law 4 - The players' equipment New text: The basic compuslory eqipment of a plaayer comprises the following SEPARATE items (followed by a list of items, none of which change). This is in response to the introduction of a single-piece unisuit by one of the FIFA member National Teams. The new language is specifically intended to prohibit this style of uniform. Law 10 - The method of scoring New text: When completion rules require there to be a winning team after a match or home-and-away tie has been drawn, only the following procedures, which have been approved by the International F.A. Board, are permitted: (followed by a list of tie-breaking procedures, unchanged from the present text: This is a technical change intended to include "home and away" ties with regular match ties as qualifying for a tie-breaking procedure. Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct Cautionable Offenses The Board amended the fifth mandatory yellow card offense. New text: fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in. They have also extended cautions to substitutes: New text: A substitute or substituted player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following three offenses: 1. is guilty of unsporting behavior 2. shows dissent by word or action 3 delays the restart of play The above revisions add the minimum-distance requirement for throw-ins to the reasons for cautioning a player for "failing to respect the required distance" . Previously, this was considered "unsporting behavior". Second, it clearly indicates that substitutes, and substituted players, can be shown the yellow card. Finally, it clarifies the offenses that are specific to substitutes and result in a mandatory yellow card. Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct Sending-off Offenses FIFA has also extended the use of the red card to substitutes. New Text: A player, substitute, or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses: (text of offenses is unchanged) New Text: A player, substitute, or substituted player who has been sent off and shown the red card must leave the vicinity of the field of play and technical area. Referees are advised that when a substitute, or substituted player is sent off for any violent action, regardless of when, where or how committed, that substitute or substituted player should be reported as having been shown the red card for violent conduct.
Law 14 - Penalty Kicks
Last year, we were given guidance as to where the IFK was to be taken should the player taking the penalty kick infringe upon the Laws of the Game. This year, the wording has been changed to be specific: New Text: The player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game:
1. the referee allows the kick to proceed
2. if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken 3. if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an IFK, fom the place where the infringement occurred, to the defending team. The same change is made to the text in the case where a team-mate of the kicker commits the infringement. An additional change has been made to the case where a team-make of the goalkeeper infringes: New Text: The team-mate of the goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game
1. the referee allows the kick to proceed
2. if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded 3. if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken. Again, these changes simply codify the guidance outline in last year's advice. Law 17 - The Corner Kick Previously, opponents were required to remain at least 10 yards from the ball. This has been amended to state 10 yards (9.15m) from the corner arc. Fields are normally marked in this way and this brings the Law for Corner Kicks in to alignment with Law 1 (The Field of Play). Additional Instructions Delaying the restart of play An experiment was conducted in certain competitions throughout 2005. Based on the results of these experiments, additional guidance is provided surrounding cautions for delaying a restart . Old Text: Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by tactics such as: (followed by al ist of five bullet points describing specific ways a player might delay the restart of play) New Text: Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by tactics such as: (followed by a list of five bullet points describing specific ways a player might delay the restart of play: Addition: provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play The behavior which is the focus of this instruction includes attempts by a scoring team to take possession of th eball from teh opponent's goal and players who attempt to gain control of the ball at a stoppage. Referees should attempt to anticipate and forestall such offenses, saving the caution for the most flagrant cases where the offending player is unwilling to desist in the provocation. |
 |
 |
