Video challenges a possibility if approved by NCAA Oversight Panel

[Ron Boerger]

As reported by the NCAA yesterday:

In men's and women's soccer games where video review is used, coaches could be allowed to make two video challenges per game for the 2026-27 academic year. [...]

Under the video review challenge proposal, each coach can make a maximum of two challenges at any point in a game.

In the first 80 minutes of a game, officials would initiate video review only for clock issues and to see whether the ball crossed the goal line. In the final 10 minutes of regulation and overtime, officials would be able to initiate video review on all allowable plays.

However, officials would not initiate video review in the last 10 minutes of regulation or overtime if a team still has challenges remaining.

The rationale for the recommendation is to help the officials get the call right while maintaining the pace and flow of the game.

Other recommended changes:

• The time goalkeepers must release the ball after gaining possession could increase to eight seconds next season. Officials would make an accompanying visual signal for the final five seconds of the count. If the goalkeeper doesn't release the ball within eight seconds, the opposing team would be awarded a corner kick. This change would align the NCAA with international rules.
  
  Currently, goalkeepers have six seconds to release the ball after gaining possession, and if the ball isn't released, the opposing team receives an indirect free kick.
  
• Teams would be allowed to make substitutions any time the clock is stopped in Divisions II and III men's competition and all three women's divisions.
• If a player competes in a match that the player should have sat out due to a previous ejection or disqualification, the penalty for illegal participation would be changed to two games each for the illegal participant and the head coach. The team using the ineligible participant would have to forfeit the game, and the score would be recorded 3-0.
• For violent behavior red card ejections, the NCAA secretary-rules editor and a designated committee, rather than the referee on the field during the game, would determine acts of Violent Behavior II.
• Teams could have four 15-by-15-foot commercial logos on the field (two on each half) on the field of play outside the penalty areas if they do not obscure required markings.
• In games where video review is used, a video match official could assist the referee. The official either could be at the game site or at a centralized location.
• All yellow cards given to the coaching staff would be charged to the head coach for accumulation purposes.
• For all three women's divisions and Division II and III men's regular-season games, a running clock would occur in the last 15 minutes if there is a five-goal margin. The clock would return to standard rules if the margin drops below five goals.
• If a player from each team is treated by medical personnel after a penalty kick is awarded, both players could remain in the game.
• Each red card ejection will carry its own penalty with no additional games missed for successive red cards.
• Devices for collecting data could be worn on the wrist or arm if properly padded and covered.
• If a game is delayed by weather, there would be a maximum three-hour wait from the scheduled start time until the all-clear is given to begin warmups. If a game has started, there would be a three-hour window from the point of the first interruption to the all-clear to resume play. Conferences would have oversight to extend these windows.

[SierraFD3soccer]

The time goalkeepers must release the ball after gaining possession could increase to eight seconds next season. Officials would make an accompanying visual signal for the final five seconds of the count. If the goalkeeper doesn't release the ball within eight seconds, the opposing team would be awarded a corner kick. This change would align the NCAA with international rules.

Currently, goalkeepers have six seconds to release the ball after gaining possession, and if the ball isn't released, the opposing team receives an indirect free kick.

About time - I really hope it is enforced just like they do when taking the ball up court in basketball . Ref don't seem to even warn keepers with the 6 sec. penalty much less give indirect kicks.

[Kuiper]

The time goalkeepers must release the ball after gaining possession could increase to eight seconds next season. Officials would make an accompanying visual signal for the final five seconds of the count. If the goalkeeper doesn't release the ball within eight seconds, the opposing team would be awarded a corner kick. This change would align the NCAA with international rules.

Currently, goalkeepers have six seconds to release the ball after gaining possession, and if the ball isn't released, the opposing team receives an indirect free kick.

About time - I really hope it is enforced just like they do when taking the ball up court in basketball . Ref don't seem to even warn keepers with the 6 sec. penalty much less give indirect kicks.

There was a play last fall in the Colorado College v. Concordia TX game in the last seconds of the game that would have been directly impacted by the new GK rule.  They called CC's GK for holding the ball beyond 6 seconds, but never indicated the count and did so in a game-defining situation when they did not enforce the rule in earlier moments in the game. It allowed Concordia to score the game-tying goal because the restart currently does not require the referee's whistle and there was no time for the CC defense to get back to the box to defend the restart.

If the NCAA adopts to sport-specific committee's recommendation, the referee will be required to give a hand signal for the last 5 seconds AND the consequence for failing to get the ball off in time would be a corner kick rather than an indirect free kick.  I expect the more reasonable consequences will result in more referees making the call.