The IHSAA and IGHSAU have announced changes for soccer to take effect for the upcoming season.
No overtime will be permitted for any regular season match at any level. Regular season matches tied at the end of regulation will result in a draw. An exception will be made for bracketed tournaments that require a team to advance to the next round. In this case, teams will proceed directly to penalty kicks from the mark to determine which team advances to the next round of the tournament. Postseason matches will remain unchanged regarding the overtime policy.
If a team is ahead by 10 goals in the first half of a match, there will be a continuous clock until either the score falls under 10 goals or halftime arrives. This is a change from having regular stoppage time kept regardless of the score in the first half. The 10-goal margin of victory remains. If the 10-goal margin occurs in the first half, the match will conclude at halftime. If the 10-goal margin occurs anytime during the second half, the match ends at that point.
The Iowa adaptation of players sitting out five minutes after receiving a yellow card is now eliminated and the NFHS rule will be applied. The rule states that a cautioned player shall leave the field and may be replaced. Should a team with a cautioned player elect to play shorthanded, the cautioned player may not re-enter nor be replaced until the next substitution opportunity.
