PIAA Adoptions/Modifications

PIAA has adopted the rules within the 2024/25 NFHS Soccer Rules Book with the following modifications (PIAA Adoptions) including the pre-2011-2012 NFHS Officials Soccer Signals:

• Adopt -  Rule 12-6-1 and adopt the “Soft Red” for fouls identified as misconduct.  All second yellow cards issued will be considered a soft red. The player is ejected from the game; however, the team may substitute for that player and the player does not receive a future game suspension.

• Adopt - Misconduct - Any coach and/or adult team personnel removed, ejected or disqualified from a contest who refuses to leave the competition area (out of sight and sound) as directed by the contest official will result in a forfeiture of the contest.

• Adopt - Rule 7-1-5, running clock after goals, at all levels (varsity, junior varsity, or otherwise) of competition, when one team gains a 7- goal differential over its opponent. Beginning with the 2019 season, the 7-goal difference has been reduced to 6-goal difference.

• Adopt -  Rule 7-1-3, if less than one-half of the contest has been played, restart from the suspension of play. 

• Adopt - Rule 7-3-1, tie contests, as follows: Senior high school varsity soccer Regular Season Contests which are tied at the end of eighty minutes of play shall be resolved by playing no more than two "sudden victory" overtime periods not to exceed ten minutes each; and modify the Sample Tournament Progression for senior high school varsity soccer Regular Season Tournaments and Postseason Contests, as set forth in the NFHS Soccer Rules Book, to provide for no more than two "sudden victory" overtime periods not to exceed fifteen minutes each. If the score remains tied, proceed to the penalty kick procedure.

• Modify - Rule 12-8-1 PENALTY, to provide for a 5-minute playing time sit out following the issuance of a yellow card to a player, with the opportunity for that player’s Team to substitute for that player. 

• Modify - Rule 3-3-1c3 (Concussion Rule), to clarify that “an appropriate health-care professional” is a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathic medicine (MD or DO).

• Modify - Rule 5-1-1, to use either a head referee and a referee or a center referee and two side referees (Dual or Double Dual System).