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Rule 1-6 – The Field of Play
Section 6:
- The NJSIAA is requiring perimeter fencing or roping twenty-five (25) feet from the official side
and end lines for VARSITY games. The obvious intent is to separate unauthorized people from
teams, coaches, and official scorers. Where field configuration may prohibit full adherence
(twenty-five (25) feet) or use of public parks or elementary school fields make fencing
unmanageable, large rubber cones or other temporary markings are acceptable provided the
spectator separation is accomplished. Adult supervision may be needed in these cases. - If officials feel these conditions are not fulfilled, they are to play the game, but report the
infraction to the administration of the home team and the NJSIAA Central Office.
Section 8: Other field equipment – behind the scorers table: - Any recording devices (ie: Veo systems) MUST be as far away from the boundary line as the
height of the camera stand and properly anchored to the ground.
Rationale: For Player safety, all recording devices must be far enough from the field of play
that if they fall over, it will not injure anyone on the field.
Rule 4-2-2 Other Equipment - AS PROVIDED BY NFHS RULES, hair-control devices and other adornments in the hair
that are securely fastened to the head and do not present a risk of injury to the player,
teammates or opponents are allowed. Officials must address this with the head coach
NOT the players.
Rule 4-2-8 – Player Equipment - A protective face mask may be worn by a player with a facial injury. The mask may be made of
hard material but must be molded to the face with no protrusions. A medical release for the
Player signed by a physician (MD/DO) shall be available at the game site. (Approval notes
signed by the school athletic trainer ARE NOT acceptable). The Danmar Warrior
facemask model 1200 without earflaps is an approved NFHS/NJSIAA substitute mask that
may be worn during interscholastic competition. (Photo Attached)
Rule 5 – The Referee, and Assistant Referees – Section 1 – General - Article 1: Note: The (3) person diagonal officiating system may only be used for any of the
following contests:
o Scrimmages
o Night games
o Weekend games
o Local Tournaments
o NJSIAA Sectional Semifinal & Final, Semifinal & Group Finals
NOTE: For afternoon regular season games, schools may request their league assignors to
assign 3 officials up to three times per season per gender.
Rule 6:2:3 – Timer - If there is a designated paid or unpaid clock operator the stadium clock will be official and will
be run down to :00. The on-field officials will hold the official time at all times and may ask the
clock operator to correct the stadium clock during a stoppage during the game. If there is no
designated clock operator the stadium clock is not to be used for time; it may be used to keep
score only.
Rule 7 – Duration of Game, Length of Periods – Section 1 – Length of Periods - Article 1:
o The duration of Varsity games shall be two (2) equal halves of forty (40) minutes each.
Junior Varsity (JV) and freshmen may play forty (40) minute halves upon adoption by
individual conferences. - Article 3:
o During the regular season, if less than one half (1/2) of a game has been played, the
game will be rescheduled from the start. Any red card DQ which carries a 2 game
suspension given at any time will count regardless of when the stoppage was.
o State Tournament games suspended because of conditions which make it impossible
to continue play, should be played to completion from the point of interruption. If the
losing team at the point of interruption, does not want to return to complete the game,
the game will be complete.
Section 3 – Tie Games – All Varsity games tied at the end of regulation time, MUST use the following procedure: - Article 1:
o Up to two (2) “sudden victory” overtime periods of ten (10) minutes each will be played.
The first team to score shall be declared the winner. If the score is still even, at the
completion of the 2nd overtime period, the game shall be recorded as a tie. In State
Tournament games, if the score remains tied after the completion of the overtime
periods, kicks from the penalty mark will be taken to determine the winner.
o Teams that do not play overtime, other than for reasons of the elements or conditions,
will both forfeit the game. No contest shall exceed 100 minutes of playing time.
During the regular season, when a game ends in a tie after overtime, it shall be recorded as a tie and
the teams will split the PowerPoints.
For all regular season County, Conference, or league tournaments that require a team to advance,
the advancing team shall be recorded as the winner regardless of the overtime procedure used. The
advancing team shall receive all the PowerPoints. When entering the results in njschoolsports, the
final score should reflect one (1) additional point for the advancing team.
*** NEW FOR 2025 SEASON- The NJSIAA has adopted a “Mercy Rule” for both boys and girls soccer for all interscholastic contests excluding the state championship final game. *** - The game will end at the 20-minute mark of the second half if the goal differential is six (6) or more goals. After the 20-minute mark of the second half, the game will end once the goal differential becomes six (6) or more goals.
Rule 12 – Fouls and Misconduct Section 9 – Misconduct - Article 2:
Clarification for Subsection a through g – A player has always been defined in the Rules
as one of the 22 players actually playing in the game. Those team members on the
roster who are not in the game are substitutes, not “players”.
A team does not play short if a coach or substitute is sent off the field.
o Subsections a through g – the NJSIAA emphasizes that a player, coach, or bench
personnel guilty of violent conduct (verbal or physical), taunting, serious foul play,
spitting, using insulting, offensive, or abusive language or gesture, leaving the team
area to participate in a fight or altercation is committing a disqualifying offense. The first
such offense will result in a red card disqualification and a two (2) game disqualification. A previous caution need not have been issued to the perpetrator. For each player sent off (not coach or bench substitute), the team must play short one person for the rest of the game. The official issuing the send-off shall display a red card in one hand.
o Subsection c – as an exception to above reference to subsections a through g, a player
sent off for receiving a second yellow card shall be disqualified from that game only but
will not have to suffer the additional two game disqualification and no DQ report is
required. For each player sent off (not coach or bench substitute), the team must
play short one person for the rest of the game. The official issuing the second yellow
card shall first display the yellow card in one hand, then lower that hand, and then shall
display the red card in the same hand.
o Subsection d – as an exception to above reference to subsections a through g, a
player who commits serious foul play under subsection d2 by deliberately handling the
ball attempting to prevent a goal and the goal is not scored (other than a goalkeeper
within his/her own penalty area) shall be disqualified from that game only, but will not
have to suffer the additional two game disqualification and no DQ report is required.
For each player (not coach or bench substitute), the team must play short one
person for the rest of the game. The official issuing the send-off shall display a red card
in one hand.
Subsection d – as an exception to above reference to subsections a through g, a
player who commits serious foul play under subsection d3 by committing a foul in a
non-flagrant manner outside the penalty area when attempting to deny an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity, and the goal is not scored shall be disqualified from that
game only, but will not have to suffer the additional two game disqualification and no
DQ report is required. For each player sent off (not coach or bench substitute),
the team must play short one person for the rest of the game. The official issuing the
send-off shall display a red card in one hand.
o Clarification for coaches being disqualified during a game:
o Coaches-
o The coach will be given cards for all misconduct in the team area.
o Any coach who is removed from the field by an official is NOT permitted to return
to the field until the officials have left the game venue.
NOTE: Should the foul that denies the obvious goal scoring opportunity be violent conduct under
subsection a, or use disproportionate and unnecessary force under subsection d1, anywhere on the
field including the penalty are whether a goal is scored or not the player will receive the additional two game suspension and a DQ report is required. For each player sent off (not coach or bench
substitute), the team must play short one person for the rest of the game. The official issuing the
sendoff shall display a red card in one hand. A referee reporting a disqualification to NJSIAA must
specify the facts and section under which the disqualification occurred.
The NJSIAA Concussion Policy is aligned with the New Jersey State Law as it applies to suspected
concussed athletes.
NJSIAA Tournament Tie-Game Procedure:
All tournament games including the state finals will follow the following tie-game procedure. If a
tournament game ends in a tie, the overtime procedure will be as follows: - There shall be up to two (2) ten (10) -minute “sudden victory” overtime periods.
o Coin toss shall be held as in Rule 5-2-2(E).
o Teams shall change ends if a second overtime period is required.
o There shall be a two (2)-minute interval between periods. - If the score remains tied:
o The head referee shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks from the penalty mark
shall be taken.
o Each coach will select five (5) players, on or off the field (except those who have been
disqualified), to take the kicks.
o A coin toss shall be held as in Rule 5-2-2(E). The team winning the toss shall have the
choice of kicking first or second.
o Teams will alternate kickers. There is no follow-up on the kick.
o The defending team may change the goalkeeper prior to each kick.
o Following five (5) kicks for each team, the team scoring on the greatest number of
these kicks shall advance. The kicks shall end at the point where the advancing team
has been determined. - If the score remains tied after each team has taken five (5) kicks:
o Each coach will select any five (5) players, whether or not a player participated in the
initial five (5) kicks, to take another set of five (5) kicks in the same team order in a
sudden victory situation, wherein if one team scores and the other team does not
score, the game is ended without more kicks being taken. - If the score remains tied after the second set of five kicks, the process will continue to repeat
until a winner is determined.