Officials now have option of issuing a yellow card when a player illegally denies a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Monday approved a modification to the double jeopardy portion of the penalty for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
The panel, which met via conference call, supported the new rule that gives the referee discretion to issue a yellow card (caution) when a defender makes a legitimate attempt to play the ball when denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and commits a direct free kick offense in the penalty area. The awarding of a penalty kick remains a part of the rule.
Previously, when a defender committed a foul while denying an obvious scoring opportunity, a penalty kick was awarded and the official issued a red card to immediately eject the player who committed the foul.
NCAA Soccer Committee calls for changing double jeopardy rule: https://t.co/6wANSEKk1N #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/bl3rQBzYbd
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) February 15, 2017
Kickoffs and restarts
The panel also approved a new rule that allows the ball to be kicked in any direction on a kickoff.
Previously, NCAA rules stated that the ball must be kicked forward on a kickoff. The change mirrors the rule that is used in international play.
Additionally, the panel approved a rule requiring that the ball must clearly move on any restart.
