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.

[Hopkins92]

Point of clarification, because I'm too lazy to dig this up:

Does "release" pertain to the goalie holding the ball in their hands, or does it also pertain to when the ball is at their feet? If it's the latter, that seems problematic.

Also, it feels like tracking this should be something a 4th official could help backstop, but I don't think 4th officials are a mandated thing at the D3 level. (I guess someone could clarify that, too. :-))

Lastly, I wonder if there is a mandate that all D3 schools have a scoreboard that has a clock/timer. It has always been weird to me that in basketball there isn't a ten second clock, separate from the shot clock. But in any event, a ref can just look at the darn clock to see if they have hit 10 seconds. Having them do it manually (or whatever the term is) seems so antiquated and silly.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Point of clarification, because I'm too lazy to dig this up:

Does "release" pertain to the goalie holding the ball in their hands, or does it also pertain to when the ball is at their feet? If it's the latter, that seems problematic.

Also, it feels like tracking this should be something a 4th official could help backstop, but I don't think 4th officials are a mandated thing at the D3 level. (I guess someone could clarify that, too. :-))

Lastly, I wonder if there is a mandate that all D3 schools have a scoreboard that has a clock/timer. It has always been weird to me that in basketball there isn't a ten second clock, separate from the shot clock. But in any event, a ref can just look at the darn clock to see if they have hit 10 seconds. Having them do it manually (or whatever the term is) seems so antiquated and silly.

Don't know exactly if this is the way it will happen, but makes perfect sense. As to 8 sec, ref will count 8-6 in head and then out loud using his voice and hands 5-1. Laws of the Game Law 12 -

A corner kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds before releasing it.  A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with their hand(s)/ arm(s) when:
•  the ball is between their hands/arms or between their hand(s)/arm(s) and any surface (e.g. ground, own body)
• holding the ball in their outstretched open hand(s)
• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand. A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s).

from page 57

In theory and not sure if this will happen, one time corner kick, 2nd time corner with a yellow for delay of game, 3rd time corner 2nd yellow/red. Will depend on the referee, but delay is pretty much a judgement call for a referee. Def seen some refs give yellows for delay. From this website - -The goalkeeper will be warned for the first offence and cautioned with a yellow card for any subsequent offence(s). https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4079191

I think it is awesome, refs never have really called it with 6 seconds for some reason. IMO I think they never did bc of the consequence. My son would get warned, but never called in the end.  So, so, so many keepers hold the ball way to long. Now it will be like basketball going up the floor to the mid line with ref, waving his hand and using his fingers. As to a clock, I guess you could have used the shot clock, but no one really does.

[Hopkins92]

I love anything that cuts out time wasting. Huge pet peeve for almost all fans.

(I'm old enough that when I first started playing, you could pass back to the goalie and they could just pick it up and hold it for however long they liked. I would split GK duties with another player all the way through high school, playing midfield/defense in the other half. I was a bit of an anomaly at the time, being able to play keeper sweeper before that was really a thing. I actually "quit" playing goalie when I moved to MD... Didn't tell anyone that was my "real" position and made the high school team as a field player. Our goalies were terrible and one of my teammates outed me to coach... Rest is "history".


Nowadays, you've got guys like Neuer who probably could play at the highest level as a field player, but he's not some outlier, generally speaking.)

[SierraFD3soccer]

I love anything that cuts out time wasting. Huge pet peeve for almost all fans.

(I'm old enough that when I first started playing, you could pass back to the goalie and they could just pick it up and hold it for however long they liked. I would split GK duties with another player all the way through high school, playing midfield/defense in the other half. I was a bit of an anomaly at the time, being able to play keeper sweeper before that was really a thing. I actually "quit" playing goalie when I moved to MD... Didn't tell anyone that was my "real" position and made the high school team as a field player. Our goalies were terrible and one of my teammates outed me to coach... Rest is "history".


Nowadays, you've got guys like Neuer who probably could play at the highest level as a field player, but he's not some outlier, generally speaking.)

Hahaha. Yup remember that as well. Had to look it up. Apparently changed in 1992 which does not seem so long ago. The pass back was the main feature in the West Ger v. Austria 1982 pool play called "The Disgrace of Gijón"  Craziest fixed game. Algeria really, really got screwed.  https://youtu.be/M0mHp3iyWGg?si=L5zf7JK-OS2tdzW5 

[Kuiper]

I love anything that cuts out time wasting. Huge pet peeve for almost all fans.

(I'm old enough that when I first started playing, you could pass back to the goalie and they could just pick it up and hold it for however long they liked. I would split GK duties with another player all the way through high school, playing midfield/defense in the other half. I was a bit of an anomaly at the time, being able to play keeper sweeper before that was really a thing. I actually "quit" playing goalie when I moved to MD... Didn't tell anyone that was my "real" position and made the high school team as a field player. Our goalies were terrible and one of my teammates outed me to coach... Rest is "history".


Nowadays, you've got guys like Neuer who probably could play at the highest level as a field player, but he's not some outlier, generally speaking.)

That was the soccer equivalent of Dean Smith's famous "Four Corners Offense."  Of all the rule changes in all sports, the pass-back rule might have been the one that did the most to change the game and the requirements for playing a position on the field. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Absolutely agree.

Can you even imagine if Arsene Wenger's idea for offsides happens?? One's entire body has to be free of the backline to be offsides. IMO, that'll change the game even more than the passback rule. https://youtu.be/uar7_PATBqA?si=0zB2vIe2lHgyKgTW

Looks like the Canadian Premier League will try it. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpv7dr41yndo

[SierraFD3soccer]

Absolutely agree.

Can you even imagine if Arsene Wenger's idea for offsides happens?? One's entire body has to be free of the backline to be offsides. IMO, that'll change the game even more than the passback rule. https://youtu.be/uar7_PATBqA?si=0zB2vIe2lHgyKgTW

Looks like the Canadian Premier League will try it. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpv7dr41yndo

Looking over this, the days of the slow or maybe just not to fast huge centerback may be numbered if the Wenger's rule happens.

[Hopkins92]

That has been floated for YEARS and I'm pretty annoyed it wasn't in place for this round of the WC. The fact that they are having a trial season in Canada is very encouraging.

The VAR process that splits hairs should favor allowing more goals, not the opposite.

[Hopkins92]

I love anything that cuts out time wasting. Huge pet peeve for almost all fans.

(I'm old enough that when I first started playing, you could pass back to the goalie and they could just pick it up and hold it for however long they liked. I would split GK duties with another player all the way through high school, playing midfield/defense in the other half. I was a bit of an anomaly at the time, being able to play keeper sweeper before that was really a thing. I actually "quit" playing goalie when I moved to MD... Didn't tell anyone that was my "real" position and made the high school team as a field player. Our goalies were terrible and one of my teammates outed me to coach... Rest is "history".


Nowadays, you've got guys like Neuer who probably could play at the highest level as a field player, but he's not some outlier, generally speaking.)

Hahaha. Yup remember that as well. Had to look it up. Apparently changed in 1992 which does not seem so long ago. The pass back was the main feature in the West Ger v. Austria 1982 pool play called "The Disgrace of Gijón"  Craziest fixed game. Algeria really, really got screwed.  https://youtu.be/M0mHp3iyWGg?si=L5zf7JK-OS2tdzW5 

Again, showing my age, I actually remember reading/hearing about that game.

I'm actually kind of shocked it wasn't changed until 92. I guess because I kept playing into my 30s and adapted with the new rules... I don't really remember being able to pick up back passes playing in college. That said, I remember punting a TON, which is funny thinking about how Hop plays today.