​​2024-2025 IFAB Law Changes Link.

Below is a summary.  Follow the link above for details.

Law 1. The Field of Play
 1.11 Goal line technology (GLT).

​The indication of whether a goal has been scored must be immediate and automatically confirmed within one second by the GLT system only to the match officials (via the referee’s watch, by vibration and visual signal, and/or via the referee’s earpiece/headset); it may also be sent to the video operation room (VOR)

Law 3.  The Players

3.2 Number of substitutions

Competitions may use additional permanent concussion substitutions in accordance with the protocol listed under ‘Notes and modifications’.

​3.10 Team captain

​Each team must have a captain on the field of play who wears an identifying armband. The team captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team​

Law 4.  The Player's Equipment
4.2 Compulsory equipment

​The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items: 

-Shinguards – these must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks. Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards

-The team captain must wear the armband issued or authorised by the relevant competition organiser, or a single-coloured armband that may also have the word ‘captain’ or the letter ‘C’ or a translation thereof, which should also be a single colour (see also ‘General modifications’).

4.4 Other equipment

Non-dangerous protective equipment, for example gloves, headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted, as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles. Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms.

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct

12.3 Disciplinary action

​Cautions for unsporting behavior: There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behavior including if a player:

​-handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
-denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence

Sending-off offences
A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:
-denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
-denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence outside their own penalty area

​Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)

Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.

Law 14. The Penalty Kick
14.1 Procedure

​The ball must be stationary, on with part of the ball touching or overhanging the center of the penalty mark, and the goalposts, crossbar and goal net must not be moving.

14.2 Offences and sanctions

If, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
-a team-mate of the player taking the penalty kick is penalized for encroachment only if:
-the encroachment clearly impacted on the goalkeeper; or
the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and then scores, attempts to score or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
-a team-mate of the goalkeeper is penalized for encroachment only if:
-the encroachment clearly impacted on the kicker; or
the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and this prevents the opponents from scoring, attempting to score or creating a goal-scoring opportunity

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NFHS Rule changes for 2024-25 high school season: (link to NFHS)

4-1-4d: Clarifies there is not a limitation on the color of tape or sock worn at or below the ankle.
Rationale: Athletes have the flexibility to modify socks within the existing regulations. Frequently, they remove the foot of one sock to layer another underneath, enhancing comfort or grip inside their shoes and fastening the top sock around the ankle. Any tape or similar material used above the ankle must match the sock's color, while at or below the ankle, any color is allowed. Referees are no longer required to oversee socks below the ankle.

Rule 12: Reorganized the rule for clarity and consistency.
Rationale: The Fouls and Misconduct rule has been revised to eliminate duplicate language and improve usability. The main changes involve reorganizing the existing rule for clarity. Sections have been rearranged to enhance ease of reference, and a new section addressing Stopping a Promising Attack (SPA) has been included. Certain general language in the rule has been modified to align with other rules codes. Section 6, Ejections, provides an ordered list of offenses by severity to allow associations more flexibility for determining post-game sanctions for misconduct. Additionally, an article has been added to clarify that all necessary conditions must be met for DOGSO (Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity) to be applicable.

2024-2025 Editorial Changes
3-4-3, 6-2-3, 12-9-1g

2024-25 Points of Emphasis

1. Official’s Toolbox for Game Management
2. Stopping a Promising Attack
3. After a Goa