ges go into effect 1 July 2004.

Law 1 The Field of Play

Field SurfaceNew section:

Matches may be
played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of
the competition.

Law 1 The Field of Play; New Decision 7

Where artificial
surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative
teams of associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition
matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality
Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard,
unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.

IFABs Reason: Advances in artificial surface
technology have created high quality surfaces, which are fully acceptable
at all levels of the game. This proposal recognises the surface of the
field in the Laws of the Game for the first time and also the fact that
artificial surfaces in identified levels of international competition
must meet recognised FIFA standards.

Law 1 The Field of Play; New Decision 8

Where a technical
area exists, it must meet the requirements approved by the International
FA Board, which are contained in this publication.

IFABs Reason: This new International FA Board
Decision gives formal recognition to the text on the technical area,
which is published as an appendix to the Laws in the Laws of the Game
booklet.

AYSO Comment: AYSOs technical area is called the Coaches Area. It extends
ten yards on each side of the halfway line, the front and back edges,
respectively, one and three yards from the touch line. Participation
by coaches during AYSO games is limited to positive instruction and encouragement.
Coaches must remain within the coaches area.

Law 3 The Number of Players

Other MatchesThis section has been replaced with the following:

In other matches,
up to six substitutes may be used.

IFABs Reason: The practice of making large
numbers of substitutions in friendly matches devalues the game and creates
a farcical situation. The number of substitutes used in friendly matches
must be controlled.

AYSO Comment: This change does not impact AYSO; our substitution
rules are given in the AYSO National Rules and Regulations.

Law 5 The Referee; Revised Decision 2

The new text reads as follows:

In tournaments
or competitions where a fourth official is appointed, his role and duties
must be in accordance with the guidelines approved by the International
FA Board, which are contained in this publication.

IFABs Reason: This additional text using the
phrase which are contained in this publication is to provide consistent
wording with other IFAB Decisions and to formally recognise the guidelines
on the fourth official published in the Laws of the Game booklet.

Law 7 The Duration of the Match

Extra TimeThe text reading Competition rules may provide
for two further equal periods to be played. The conditions of Law 8
will apply. is being deleted. It will now be included in Procedures
to determine the winner of a match following Law 17 in the Law Book.

 

Law 10 The Method of Scoring

Competition
RulesThis paragraph has been revised to read as follows:

When competition
rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn,
only the following procedures, which have been approved by the International
FA Board, are permitted:

 Away goals rule

 Extra time

 Kicks from the
penalty mark

Law 10 The Method of Scoring; New Decision 1

Only procedures
to determine the winner of a match, which are approved by the International
FA Board and contained in this publication, are permitted in competition
rules.

IFABs Reasons
for both Law 10 changes: These texts confirm the decision
taken at the Annual Business Meeting of the IFAB in September 2003 that
competition rules to determine the winner of a match may only include
procedures that have been approved by the International FA Board.

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct; New Decision 6

The new decision reads as follows:

A player who
removes his jersey when celebrating a goal must be cautioned for unsporting
behaviour.

IFABs Reason: The removal of the jersey after
a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid such excessive
displays of celebration.

AYSO Comment: We want to avoid unnecessarily cautioning players.
Until this decision is widely understood, coaches should instruct their
players to not remove their jerseys to celebrate the scoring of a goal.
Referees, during equipment inspection, should also remind players.

Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match

The Golden Goal is no longer an approved method of
breaking a tie. The paragraphs down to Kicks from the Penalty Mark
have been replaced by the following:

Away goals, extra
time and taking kicks from the penalty mark are methods of determining
the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning
team after a match has been drawn.

Away Goals

Competition rules
may provide that where teams play each other home and away, if the scores
are equal after the second match, any goals scored at the ground of
the opposing team will count double.

Extra Time

Competition rules
may provide for two further equal periods, not exceeding 15 minutes
each, to be played. The conditions of Law 8 will apply.

Kicks from the Penalty Mark

Text unchanged

IFABs Reason: This text confirms the procedures
proposed earlier.

Other Issues Discussed

Radio Communication System

It was recognised that this technology could make a positive contribution
to match control but it was also recognised that such a system must
only be used for communication between the match officials and must
not be used for broadcasting purposes.

Radio Communication between Players and Technical
Staff

The Board supported FIFAs opposition to the use of radio communication
between players and technical staff.

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