The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee recommended modifying the double jeopardy portion of the penalty for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

All rules proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel before being implemented. The panel is scheduled to discuss soccer rules proposals via conference call later this month.

The committee, which met Feb. 7 and 8 in Indianapolis, wants to amend the double jeopardy component for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in the penalty area. The referee is currently required to award a penalty kick and issue a red card to the offending player. The proposed change still requires the referee to award a penalty kick, but gives the referee discretion to issue a yellow card (caution) when the defender makes a legitimate attempt to play the ball.

Currently, when a defender commits a foul while denying an obvious scoring opportunity, a penalty kick is awarded, and the official issues a red card to immediately eject the player who committed the foul.

Kickoffs and restarts

The committee also recommended that the ball can be kicked in any direction on a kickoff.

Currently, NCAA rules state that the ball must be kicked forward on a kickoff. This proposal, if approved, would mirror the rule that is used in international play.

Additionally, the committee recommended that the ball must clearly move forward on any restart.