by Derek Davis
Daily Lobo
The Zero Tolerance Foul Language Rule will not affect college soccer fields this season. The proposed rule called for the use of red cards to mediate bad language on the soccer pitch.
In early August the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet voted against the proposal. At the same time, Division II and III Cabinets approved the measure. The matter will now move to an NCAA oversight committee for a final decision, which could take months.
Although UNM men's soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein does not necessarily favor the regulation, it does not overly concern him.
"The rule is a little strong, but our guys are well disciplined," he said.
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In soccer, a red card will prohibit a player from participating in the game in which the card was assigned, as well as the following game.
If the measure is passed, red cards will be dealt to players and coaches who do not hold their tongues. The only piece of discretion referees will use will be to determine whether the foul language was used intentionally or unintentionally.
The proposed rule says that any unintentional use of foul language will result in a red card. The team will be allowed to replace that player, but only if the referee rules that foul language was a slip of the tongue.
For the player who uses foul language intentionally, a red card will be assigned and that player will sit out the remainder of the game and the following contest. The team will not be able to replace the player, and consequently, will finish the contest a player short. This is evidence that the rule could potentially affect the outcome of numerous contests.
Proponents of the NCAA rule maintain the absence of foul language will improve soccer's image and provide a positive example to fans. The rule is also designed to promote consistency for referees by providing a defined rule to work from.
Opponents of the proposed rule feel it will disrupt the flow of the game, their philosophy being a good referee is one you do not remember.
For this season referees have been advised to follow last year's NCAA rulebook on the use of foul language. In years past referees have enjoyed discretion concerning the use of foul language.
