NYSPHSAA ADOPTS SEVERAL NEW RULES FOR 2022-23, INCLUDING NEW GIRLS SOCCER OVERTIME RULE (2022-08-07)
The Sports ReportsLAKE PLACID — The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held its annual central committee meeting here Tuesday and Wednesday, and voted on several proposals that will impact various high school sports — most notably the girls soccer overtime rule.
Representatives of the 11 sections approved a change to the overtime procedure in the regular season and post season for girls soccer.
Regular season games will consist of two 40-minute halves with two 10-minute sudden-victory overtimes. Previously the girls played two full 10-minute overtime periods.
Beginning with Sectional play and continuing through the state tournament, overtimes will consist of two 15- minute sudden-victory periods. If the match is still tied, it will be decided on penalty kicks. The only exception to this would be in the state championship game where co-champions may be declared after the two sudden-victory overtime periods.
In other news:
• While it won't be implemented until 2023-24, New York will also officially install six classifications for the following sports: boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, baseball, softball and girls volleyball.
• NYSPHSAA is waiving the seven-day rule for football for the first two weeks of the upcoming fall season. The seven-day rule prevents teams from practicing and playing games on seven consecutive days.
Football teams are required to hold 10 practices prior to their first game. With the seven-day rule in effect, teams had little cushion from the official start of fall practices on Aug. 20 to their first game.
While the state's safety committee did have some concerns, it was noted that the seven-day rule is often waived during the spring season due to New York's frequent weather postponements.
• Girls flag football and girls wrestling was granted emerging sport status due to four sections having at least four teams each. This will result in a girls flag football and girls wrestling committees being formed this fall and eventually a culminating championship to be developed.
• The Committee voted to adopt NFHS rules for 8-man football with waivers and NYSPHSAA specific rules was approved for implementation starting in the fall of 2022. (New York is waiving the NFHS's rule that requires an 80-yard field.)
• Though votes have been tabled for another day, the NYSPHSAA did discuss an extension of its pilot program for high school wrestling regarding using 13 weight classes.
The dip to 13 weight classes, down from 15, was approved prior to the 2020-21 school year. However, state championships were not held due to COVID-19, and the wrestling committee wants another year of study before permanently adopting the change.
