Soccer Handbook

BOYS & GIRLS SOCCER PLAYOFF HANDBOOK

PIAA District One Chairperson
Dr. Mike Barber

District One Executive Director
Sean Kelly – skelly@piaa.org| 267-884-1028

District One Soccer Chairperson
Seth Brunner - athletics@garnetvalley.org | 610-291-3330

GENERAL STATEMENT

District One Boys and Girls Soccer Playoff contests are conducted under the authority of the PIAA District One Committee and in accordance with the PIAA Constitution, By-Laws, Policies, and NFHS Soccer Rules. Participation in the District One Soccer Playoffs constitutes agreement to comply with all PIAA and District One rules and procedures.

The District One Committee reserves the right to adjust dates, times, locations, and management procedures when deemed necessary for the safety of participants, officials, and spectators, or for the orderly conduct of the tournament.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Entry into the District One Soccer Playoffs is voluntary. Schools that qualify for and enter the tournament agree to abide by all District One and PIAA regulations governing postseason play.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT AND CLASSIFICATIONS

District One Soccer Playoffs will be conducted by classification as established by PIAA. Tournament format, including single-elimination and any playback games, and the number of teams qualifying for the PIAA State Championships will be determined annually by the District One Committee and communicated prior to the seeding meeting.

TOURNAMENT DATES AND GAME TIMES

Official District One playoff dates and recommended game times will be posted on the District One website. Requests to adjust game dates or start times must be mutually agreed upon by both competing schools and approved in advance by the District One Soccer Chair and District One Office.

Any postponed contest is expected to be played on the next available playable date.

SEEDING AND POWER RATING SYSTEM

Teams will be selected and seeded by using the approved District One power rating system. All opponents on a team’s schedule are included in the power ranking calculation. All regular season contests must be completed by the published deadline prior to the seeding meeting.

· District One Postseason league playoff and championship contests do not count toward power ratings.

· Postseason league playoff and championship contests for non- District One opponents do count towards their overall records.

SEEDING MEETING

A seeding meeting will be conducted via Zoom for all schools eligible for the District One Soccer Playoffs. The meeting is open. All coaches and athletic administrators are encouraged to attend.

HOST ATHLETIC DIRECTORS MEETING

A Host Athletic Directors Meeting will be conducted via Zoom for all schools hosting District One playoff contests. Tournament policies, site responsibilities, and game management expectations will be reviewed. Attendance is mandatory for host schools.

HOME TEAM DESIGNATION AND UNIFORMS

DISTRICT ONE Playoffs

  • HOME Team - The higher-seeded team shall be the home team and shall wear DARK jerseys and socks.

  • VISITING TEAM - The lower-seeded team shall be the visiting team and shall wear SOLID WHITE jerseys and socks.

 PIAA STATE Playoffs

  • HOME TEAM - The Team at the TOP of the pairing in the brackets shall be the HOME Team for all first round through and including semi-finals, and, therefore, shall wear DARK jerseys and socks.

PIAA OFFICIALS

PIAA-registered officials will be assigned by District One.  District One will be responsible for paying official’s fees. Assigned officials will be communicated to host schools in advance of the contest.

Host schools are expected to provide appropriate security when officials arrive and depart from the facility.

MEDICAL COVERAGE

A certified athletic trainer is recommended for all District One Soccer contests.  When available, schools are encouraged to bring their own athletic trainer and necessary supplies for neutral site contests.

GAME BALLS AND BALL RUNNERS

The official ball of the District One Soccer Playoffs shall be the designated PIAA approved soccer ball. Official game balls will be provided to the contest manager. In the event the approved games are not available, the higher seeded team will provide the NHFS certified game balls for approval by the game official

Each competing school is required to provide four (4) ball runners for each contest.

PRE-GAME MEETING

A mandatory pre-game meeting will be conducted ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the contest. The meeting shall include the contest manager, assigned officials, head coaches, team captains, and an administrative representative from each school.

PRACTICE AND PRE-CONTEST WARM-UPS

Single Games: Teams shall be provided with thirty (30) minutes of warm-up time on the competition surface prior to the contest.  Teams can begin to warm up prior to thirty (30) minutes with mutual agreement.

Double/Triple Headers:  When competing as the second or third game of a double/triple header, teams shall be provided with fifteen (20) minutes of warm-up time on the competition surface prior to the contest.

Practice or warm-ups on the competition field during halftime or by teams not currently competing at the site are prohibited.

INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SUSPENDED CONTESTS

Contests will be played as scheduled whenever possible. Decisions regarding postponement prior to the start of a contest shall be made by the contest manager in consultation with the District One Soccer Chair. Once a contest begins, authority rests with the officials and the site manager.

Any contest suspended due to circumstances beyond control shall resume from the point of suspension unless the contest is declared an official Contest because one (1) complete half or more of the Contest has been played and one (1) Team has scored the greater number of goals.

GOAL DIFFERENTIAL / RUNNING CLOCK RULE

By PIAA Board of Directors adoption, a running clock shall be implemented in the second half when one team gains a six (6) goal differential over its opponent.

PLAYOFF OVERTIME AND TIE-BREAKER PROCEDURES

When a District One Soccer Playoff contest ends regulation play with the score tied, the following PIAA-adopted tie-breaker procedure shall be used to determine a winner:

1.       Teams shall return to their respective team areas. There shall be a five (5) minute interval during which teams may confer with their coaches. The referee shall review overtime procedures with both teams.

2.       A maximum of two (2) sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played, each not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes. a. A coin toss shall be conducted in accordance with NFHS Soccer Rules to determine choice of ends. b. At the conclusion of the first overtime period, teams shall change ends. c. There shall be a two (2) minute interval between overtime periods.

3.       If the score remains tied following the overtime periods, the contest shall be decided by kicks from the penalty mark:

a. The referee shall select the goal at which all kicks shall be taken.

b. Each coach shall select any five (5) eligible players, including the goalkeeper, who were on or off the field at the end of the contest, excluding any disqualified players.

c. A coin toss shall determine which team kicks first.

d. Teams shall alternate kicks. No follow-up is permitted.

e. The defending team may change goalkeepers prior to each kick.

f. After five (5) kicks by each team, the team scoring the greater number of goals shall be declared the winner.

g. One (1) goal shall be added to the winning team’s score, and advancement shall be noted as occurring via tiebreaker.

4. If the score remains tied after five (5) kicks by each team:

a. Each coach shall select five (5) different eligible players than those who participated in the first round of kicks.

b. Kicks shall continue in a sudden victory format until the winner is determined.

c. If a team has fewer than ten (10) available players, all remaining eligible players must be used before repeating kickers.

5. During all penalty kick procedures, all players, coaches, and bench personnel not actively participating as a kicker or goalkeeper must remain in their designated team area.

Note: For PIAA State Championship contests, overtime periods may be extended in length in accordance with PIAA policy.

SITE AND GAME MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The site manager and game manager are responsible for ensuring proper staffing, security, facility readiness, and overall contest administration in accordance with District One policies.

Principals and Athletic Directors are responsible for supervising their respective students, spectators, and school personnel.

ADMISSION, TICKETING, AND PASSES

All District One Soccer Playoff contests played in a stadium or enclosed field will utilize digital ticketing through Hometown Ticketing. Ticket prices will be established annually by the District One Committee. Cash sales are now permitted.

All team personnel must enter the contest site together.

Comp tickets for Administrators must be requested through the District One office.

Only District One Committee and Steering Committee passes will be honored. League, coach, or officials passes will not be accepted.

SPORTSMANSHIP AND SPECTATOR DECORUM

District One playoff contests are conducted with the expectation of good sportsmanship from all participants and spectators. Prohibited items and behaviors include artificial noisemakers, unsporting signage, throwing of objects, and disruptive conduct.

Spectators are prohibited from entering the field of play before, during, or after the contest until all teams and officials have exited the competition area.

MEDIA AND BROADCASTING

The District One Committee reserves all rights to audio, video, and digital coverage of District One playoff contests. Any broadcast, livestream, or recording requires prior written approval from the District One Office.

POSTGAME PROCEDURES

Postgame handshakes, awards, and team departures shall be conducted in an orderly manner under the direction of the contest manager and school administration. Spectators are not permitted on the field of play.

AWARDS AND ADVANCEMENT

District One Champions and Runners-Up will receive trophies and (22) medals as determined annually by the District One Committee. 

Teams are asked to provide a numerical roster before each contest.

Schools advancing to the PIAA State Championships must comply with all PIAA entry requirements, deadlines, and procedures.