MIAA GAME DECIDING RULES 2026

​

(pasted directly from MIAA for Officials quick referefence)

 

6. RULES National Federation Soccer Rules for Boys’ & Girls’ will be followed - Unless otherwise modified by MIAA.

 

7.  REGULATION PLAYING TIME Each team will be granted a minimum of 20-minutes on-field warm-up time. The time of the game will be two (2) 40-minute halves. There will be no stop time unless indicated by the officials. Half-time will be 10 minutes. Official time is kept on the field by the referee.

 

8.   TIE BREAKING METHOD

1. When the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the referee will instruct both teams to return to their respective team boxes. There will be a five-minute rest period where teams may confer with their coaches; and the head referee will instruct both teams as to the proper procedure.

​

2.  Procedure a. b. c. There will be a ten-minute sudden victory overtime period. In the State Final ONLY, this overtime period will be fifteen (15) minutes. A coin toss shall be held as in National Federation Soccer Rule 5-2-2(d) (3). If a tie still exists after the first ten-minute sudden victory period, a second ten-minute sudden victory period will be played and teams will change ends. In the State Final ONLY, this second overtime period will be fifteen (15) minutes.

 

If the score still remains tied all coaches, officials, and team captains shall assemble at the halfway line to review the procedure outlined below:

A. The referee(s) shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks from the penalty line shall be taken.

​

B. Each coach will select any 5 players from his/her final roster (excluding those who may have been disqualified) for the first round of kicks. These five selected players will all shoot, unless a winner can be determined in 3 shots, in any order according to the coach’s decision. The coach may substitute for any or all players in this original group, prior to their turn.  

 

C. A coin toss shall be held as in rule 5-2-2(d)(3). The team winning the toss shall have the choice of kicking first or second.

 

D. Teams will alternate kickers. There is no follow-up on the kick.

 

E. The defending team may change the goalkeeper prior to each penalty kick.

 

F. Following five kicks for each team, the team scoring on the greatest number of these kicks shall be declared the winner.

 

G. Add one goal to the winning team score and credit the team with a victory.  An asterisk (*) may be placed by the team advancing to indicate the advancement was the result of a tie breaker system.

 

If the score remains tied after each team has had five kicks:

 

A. Each coach will select another five eligible players, who did not participate in the preceding round. This group may shoot in any order and be substituted for, prior to their turn, as determined by their coach. This round is in “Sudden Victory” mode, unlike the first round. The team with the most goals after an equal number of attempts is declared the winner.

 

B. If a tie exists after this round is complete, each coach will select ANY five shooters for Round #3. They may shoot in any order and be substituted for as in paragraph 5a. This round continues in “Sudden Victory” mode.

 

C. If a tie still exists, each coach will select five players for Round #4 who did not shoot in the preceding round. They, too, may shoot in any order and be substituted for by any eligible player who did not shoot in Round #3. “Sudden Victory” mode continues.

 

D. If a tie still exists, the sequence repeats as written in paragraph 5b above (the numbers of these “Rounds” are to be changed appropriately). A winner is declared when one team has more goals and an equal of fewer shooter attempts.

 

E. It is important to note that in every odd numbered round of kicks, ALL players on the roster, excluding those who have been disqualified, are eligible to participate.

 

In every even numbered round, players who just participated in the preceding round are NOT eligible. During the tie-breaker penalty kicks, the ball remains alive until its momentum is spent, it goes out of bounds, or it is retouched by the kicker.