Major Rule Changes to Worldwide Soccer (2019/2020)

The IFAB has updated the FIFA Laws of the Game for the 2019/2020 seasonal year. Updates are generally made every year. However the 2019/2020 changes are the most sweeping of any year in recent history.

Farmington United games generally all conform to the current year FIFA Laws of the Game, other than slight adaptations to the rules defined by FCYSL, NMYSA and USYS.

Therefore it is important for all coaches to become familiar with the LOTG (Laws of the Game), and keep up-to-date with them each year.

Changes to the law have occurred in the following areas:

1. Handball

2. Subbed player leaving field of play

3. Goalkeeper one foot on line with penalty kick

4. Free Kicks

5. Penalty Kicks

6. Dropped Ball

7. Players' Equipment

8. Illegal Celebrations

9. Medical / Cooling Breaks

10. Goal Kicks

11. Coin Toss

12. Delayed Yellow cards for advantage play

13. Coach yellow/red cards

14. Goals deflected off referees

Some changes are very subtle or even informational for clarification purposes. But others are significant.

The official summary of changes from IFAB can be found at:

http://theifab.com/document/for-football-bodies

FCYSL modified rules can be found at:

https://www.fcysl.soccer/rules

An excellent podcast summarizing these changes from the youth soccer game perspective can be found at:

https://www.coachingsoccerweekly.com/192-soccer-rules-changes-for-the-2019-20-season/

Coaches should definitely be aware of these changes, but also be prepared for any modification that might be made at the local level by FCYSL if appropriate. Any such changes would be distributed to coaches, and published to the FCYSL rules page linked above.

Watch for these rule changes in the FIFA Women's World Cup that is currently in play. These changes became effective June 1, 2019.