Shinguards

Players must wear shinguards which shall provide adequate reasonable protection be professionally manufactured, age-appropriate, not altered, and worn under the sock with the bottom edge of the shinquard not more than 2 inches from the ankle.

A player must wear the shinguards at the bottom of the shin on the front of the leg. The bottom must be no more than 2 inches from the ankle, which is the knobby bone on either side of the top of the foot. Usually three fingers will be 3 inches. Do NOT place your fingers or a ruler on the shinguards to measure this, do it by eyesight. Usually players help you recognize that the distance is not correct. They tape the bottom of the shinguards to hold them up. Take a look at where the tape is to start judging the distance. Socks must be pulled up, covering the shinguards and not tucked into the shinguards.

Players are required to wear shinguards, which are meant to provide adequate and reasonable protection. The shinguards must be:

1) professionally manufactured

2) age-appropriate

3) not be altered from their manufactured state

4) shall be worn under the sock

5) shall be worn on the front of the leg where the shin is located.

6) the bottom edge of the shinguards shall be no more than two (2) inches above the ankle

Players whose shinguards do not meet these criteria may not play until the equipment is corrected and approved by the referee.

Jewelry

Jewelry of any kind is illegal equipment and may not be worn. Religious and/or medical jewelry may be worn if taped to the body with the medical data visible. Items worn for adornment whether made of metal, stone or fabric is considered to be jewelry. String bracelets are illegal equipment. When a player is wearing tape the referee should ask what the tape is for. If it is covering jewelry the tape and jewelry must be removed.

If the player chooses not to remove the jewelry, the player chooses not to play.

Knee Braces

Knee braces with hard surfaces (almost all knee braces have hard surfaces) must be covered by sleeve manufactured for such purpose. An alternate covering may be ¼ inch closed cell, slow recovery foam. These are the only coverings that make the knee brace with hard surfaces legal. Any other coverings such as “Ace Bandage” are not legal. A medical release is NOT required.

Ankle Braces

The sock must cover ankle braces. If the sock does not cover the brace, the brace is considered to be illegal equipment.

Apparel Under Uniform

Visible apparel worn under the player’s shorts must be the same basic color as the dominant color of the player’s shorts. Visible is defined as they can be seen while standing or while running. Not all players have to wear the apparel, but if more than 1 wears the apparel, they all have to be the same length. If the Goalkeeper wears apparel under the shorts it must be the same basic color as the dominant color of the goalkeeper’s shorts and does not have to be the same length as the goalkeeper’s teammates. Thigh supports, calf supports, and “Ace Bandages” are not considered as this type of apparel.

Visible apparel worn under the player’s jersey need not be the same color as the player’s jersey. However if more than 1 player wears apparel under the jersey, all apparel worn under the jersey must be the same color and the same length. If there are more than one color and/or length go with the color/length that is dominant among the team. If there is no dominant color/length let the coach decide which color/length the team will use. Again, the goalkeeper’s apparel under the jersey (if worn) does not have to match the color or length of the goalkeeper’s teammates.

Fred Hiler

TASO Soccer Rules Interpreter

END OF INSTRUCTIONS