Soccer Rules Interpretations - 2026-27

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Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.
Davis Whitfield, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2026

SITUATION 1: Legal home jersey or illegal home jersey?

RULING: (a) Illegal, (b) illegal, (c) illegal, (d) legal. COMMENT: The home team shall wear dark jerseys, and dark is defined as any color which contrasts with white. (4-1-2)

SITUATION 2: Legal visitor's or illegal visitor’s jersey?

(e)

RULING: (a) Illegal, (b) illegal, (c) illegal, (d) illegal, (e) illegal. COMMENT: The visiting team jersey shall be solid white. (4-1-2)

SITUATION 3: A2 is about to receive the ball. B3, who is close and behind the defender, shouts to mislead the opponent. A2 hesitates and fails to control the ball, turning it over to B3. The referee stops play and awards an indirect free kick (INDFK) and cautions B3 for unsporting behavior. RULING: Correct procedure. The referee may award an IDFK if they feel the verbal offense warrants the stoppage. (12-3-6, 13-2-1c)

SITUATION 4: On a penalty kick, the defending team, B2, shouts loudly at the moment that A10 is about to kick the ball. This is unfair interference and distracts the kicker. The referee retakes the penalty kick. RULING: Correct procedure. (12-3-6)

SITUATION 5: Attacker A5 enters the penalty area before the ball was kicked and collects the ball from the rebound off the crossbar, shoots and scores. The referee blows the whistle and awards an IDFK for the defending team where A5 first touched the ball. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: This is an example where A5’s encroachment offense has impact on the penalty kick and thus results in an indirect free kick (IDFK) for the defending team located from where A5 touched the ball. (14-1-2)

SITUATION 6: Player A2 takes a penalty kick and runs up to the ball. Before the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper encroaches and clearly impacts the kicker, A2, who kicks the ball (a) over the crossbar; (b) which deflects off the goalkeeper over the crossbar; (c) which is caught and held by the goalkeeper. The referee orders the penalty kick to be retaken. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The goalkeeper’s encroachment is penalized because it impacted the kicker, and the ball did not enter the goal. The goalkeeper is warned for the first encroachment offense in the game and cautioned for any subsequent offense. (14-1-3)