Prep Soccer- The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) boards had a joint meeting, and the result is some new changes to take effect in the upcoming 2025 regular season and playoffs.
There was a total of four joint approvals that will affect the upcoming play.
- Overtimes and Draws
There will be no overtime permitted for any regular season match at any level. Tied regular season matches will result in a draw. An exception will be given to regular season tournaments that need a winner to advance; however, the teams will immediately proceed to penalty kicks.
Postseason matches will keep their overtime policy of two sudden victory overtime periods and penalty kicks to determine a winner.
- Continuous Clock
If a team is ahead by 10 goals in the first half of a match, then there will be a continuous clock until the lead falls under 10 goals or halftime arrives.
If the lead is 10 at halftime, then the game will conclude. If a 10-goal lead is reached at any point in the second half, then the game will conclude at that point.
- Weather Delay Guidance
No weather delay for a postseason match will exceed three hours past the original start time.
An example would be if a match started at 7 pm, then the teams may not start or restart the game after 10 pm. Teams may mutually agree to end the match if there is a team leading in the second half.
- Five-Minute Sit Out for a Yellow Card
The NFHS rule surrounding players getting yellow cards will now be applied instead of the Iowa adaptation.
NFHS RULE 12-8 PENALTY: 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.
The IHSAA soccer advisory committee also agreed to permit 17 matches per level for schools and the maximum amount of halves a player or team can play in one day is four.