2023 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[College Soccer Observer]

As a former college athlete, and as a parent of two former college athletes...I wholeheartedly endorse the elimination of OT in regular season games.  Many of these teams play up to 3 games a week during some stretches...including back-to-back weekend games.  The addition of up to 20 additional playing minutes puts that much more stress and strain on tired bodies...particularly for teams with thin rosters who overplay their starters.

I honestly ago back and forth. Absolutely support the argument to not over play these players.....however, all these ties affect a better assessment of teams, and Id love to find a way to solve for this......I also think it impacts readiness for post season play when OT is utilized. Not sure if there is a perfect answer, but all these ties leave me wanting.....

Does anybody know the OT rules that will be used in the postseason?  Is it 2 10 minute sessions with a golden goal followed by a shootout?

2 ten minute overtimes played to completion.  Not golden goal.  Then pks if necessary.

[College Soccer Observer]

Totally agree as to thin teams. Coaches have adapted by playing many more players earlier in the season in case of injuries later in the season especially since they play such compact schedules. Strong teams recruit and can point to kids getting playing time.  Kid may not start, but knows that. If they work hard in practice, they'll be an option off of the bench. If they do well in the time they are in, they'll get more time most likely.  If a player ahead gets hurt, he'll maybe start or get even more time.

As to ties. F&M had 5 ties last year which is the highest in program history. Twice they had 4 ties in a season. In 2021, one tie, the other games - 3 wins in OT v one loss in OT. 3-1-1. They would have had 5 ties under 2022 rules. In 2019, one tie and three wins in OT. 3-0-1. 4 ties under 2022 rules.

Just let them play!  I know the players love it. Did they actually do some sort of study to support no OT?  If not, they seem to have made a lot of conclusions without considering all the variables. Also, I know that D1 runs the show and D1 coaches tend to not substitute much at all.

Someone told me it was referee driven in that they didn't want to do the extra 20 minutes without extra compensation.

100% not referee driven.  Here is how the process works.
1.  Anyone connected with college soccer can propose a rule change.
2.  The rules committee compiles the suggested changes in a survey that goes out to all coaches and officials to gather feedback.
3.  The rules committee then votes on changes.  There are 8 voting members, none of whom are referees.  The current voting members from Division 1 are:  Rudy Fuller, administrator, U of Pennsylvania; Tim Cupello, Coach, UC Riverside Men; Courney Sirmans, Coach, Miami (OH) Women, Amy Calabrese, administrator, Louisville.  The Division 2 members are Kim Sutton, Coach Cal State Chico Women and Eric Crawford, Coach, Georgia Southwestern Men.  The Division 3 members are Brandon Bianco, Coach, Denison Men and Brandon Koons, Coach, Otterbein Women.  There are three people on the committee with an officiating background, but they do not vote:  They are John Collins, national coordinator; Rich Grady, Secretary Rules Editor, and Daniel Radford, active referee.
4.  Changes that are approved by the committee are sent out the the coaches and officials for further feeback, and the committee then revotes on the changes it had approved earlier.
5.  All changes must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP).  This group approves all rules changes for all sports.

The primary mover of the elimination of overtime was coaches complaining about the extra wear and tear.  Because this was approved under the guise of a healthy and safety rule change, I would not expect this to be reversed any time soon.

[Cartobo29]

I played one college season (and all of high school) with golden goal OTs and now the better part of two seasons without them. I mostly understand the arguments against (wear and tear, unlike the professional game, etc.), but the bottom line for me is that golden goals are so much fun. I'm lucky enough to have scored a golden goal myself, and it remains one of the coolest feelings I've ever had, but the feeling of a teammate scoring a golden goal (and the subsequent celebrations) isn't too far behind. I'm an attacking player, so I obviously have a different relationship with goals than players further back on the pitch, but I really miss golden goals and I think they deliver ecstatic memories that live forever - and that's what D3 soccer is all about.

Again, though, I understand why coaches might not want to add 20 minutes to many regular season games in an already crazy-congested season. In the end, it's probably what's best for the players too.

For me, the obvious rule change to make is the timing system. The clock stopping at the referee's discretion and then the game ending immediately at 0:00 is frustrating. Officials often stop the clock when they shouldn't or don't when they should, and the hard stop at 90 minutes leaves no time for making up for these mistakes. Not to open another can of worms, but I would've changed the timing rules lightyears before I changed the OT rules.

[northman]

Someone made the point that D3 programs only play 16 games vs. professional leagues playing 40.  The Premier League, for example, plays 38 regular season games.  Keep in mind that D3 is playing 16 games in two months, while the EPL is playing 38 games in almost ten months.  And on top of that, D3 athletes are student athletes and are expected to make their academics their first priority.  They're not professionals with world class facilities, full-time medical staffs, nutritionists, etc. with nothing else to do but train, compete, and rest in between...

[Ejay]

the bottom line for me is that golden goals are so much fun. I'm lucky enough to have scored a golden goal myself, and it remains one of the coolest feelings I've ever had, but the feeling of a teammate scoring a golden goal (and the subsequent celebrations) isn't too far behind. I'm an attacking player, so I obviously have a different relationship with goals than players further back on the pitch, but I really miss golden goals and I think they deliver ecstatic memories that live forever - and that's what D3 soccer is all about.

My kid scored two golden goals his Sr. year in HS and it was an awesome experience for him.  I never had that opportunity because I never had golden goal. But watching him and and his friends "walk off" a game looked amazing.

[WUPHF]

Though not directly referee driven, the rule change has either purposefully or accidentally made it easier for schools to manage the referee shortage.

[Kuiper]

My recollection is that in a couple of Simple Coach-to-Coach interviews when SC asked coaches about their views on OT, one practical logistical issue they mentioned is that the potential for OT makes it difficult for travel arrangements coming home.  For some, that means an even later bus ride home, which is tough for kids who have to go to class the next day although not a huge deal, but for others in places where air travel is a fact of life even in D3 (e.g., in the SCAC with Colorado College, UAA schools, and lots of schools in non-conference games) it can potentially mean missing the last flight out that night or not making your connection and being stuck overnight in an airport.  My guess is that more accommodating scheduling of game times and eliminating games involving flights and even long bus rides would mitigate that issue pretty completely, but in a large part of the country it's not that easy unless the NCAA simply withdraws from those areas altogether.  I doubt this logistical issue entered into the rules committee's deliberations, but I wouldn't be surprised if coaches mentioned it in their feedback or it was in the back of their mind when they were agreeing about the health and safety aspects.

[College Soccer Observer]

Though not directly referee driven, the rule change has either purposefully or accidentally made it easier for schools to manage the referee shortage.

How?  If the same field is being used for both men's and women's games, nothing changes.  Crews could still do both games if that is the assignor/conference preference.  If, like Middlebury, the men and women play on different fields and the times overlap, nothing changes because the same crew cannot do both games. 

[camosfan]

Overtime just is not necessary, in regular season you still end up with a tie if the scores are even at the end of overtime!

[PaulNewman]

The Rhodes Lynx, now 8-1-3, get a big win over Oglethorpe 2-1.  The Stormy Petrels had a significant advantage stats-wise, but otoh Rhodes played with 10 men from the 34th minute on after a red card.

[SierraFD3soccer]

If you all what to want to watch a very, very good game, check out the F&M Hop game.  1-0 Hop in the 7th min.  Meyer No. 9 goal.

In the 24th min or so. Stupid foul by Hop. Free kick by F&M and for some reason Hop did not set up its line at the 18, but rather right in front of the goal. Kick into the box, easy header by Oscar Horowitz. 1-1 Koliebe's 5th assist (has 8 goals this season).

F&M has been raiding Hops back line all game. Putting max pressure. Hop just trying to pass it out off danger like it has for years.  Slip up by Hop, Kaliebe one on one with keeper, passes to Horowitz and pass into the back of the net. 2-1 Horowitz's 16th goal and Koliebe's 6th assist.

Probably going to a few more goals on both sides.

Lots of soccer left. https://www.centennialconference.tv/godiplomats/

[SierraFD3soccer]

If you all what to want to watch a very, very good game, check out the F&M Hop game.  1-0 Hop in the 7th min.  Meyer No. 9 goal.

In the 24th min or so. Stupid foul by Hop. Free kick by F&M and for some reason Hop did not set up its line at the 18, but rather right in front of the goal. Kick into the box, easy header by Oscar Horowitz. 1-1 Koliebe's 5th assist (has 8 goals this season).

F&M has been raiding Hops back line all game. Putting max pressure. Hop just trying to pass it out off danger like it has for years.  Slip up by Hop, Kaliebe one on one with keeper, passes to Horowitz and pass into the back of the net. 2-1 Horowitz's 16th goal and Koliebe's 6th assist.

Probably going to a few more goals on both sides.

Lots of soccer left. https://www.centennialconference.tv/godiplomats/

Sorry Hop. Tough day so far, still a lot of soccer yet.  Koa Kaliebe picks the pocket again of the Hop back at the top of the 17 while they were trying to clear by passing it out. Oscar finishes again. Hat trick by Horowitz and hat trick assists for Kaliebe. Horowitz is now tied with F&M's season goal leader with 17 now.
 

[Hopkins Walk-On]

The Hopkins defense has been atrocious. How can you not guard the leading scorer in the conference on a free kick that you know is going right in front of the goal? Then two giveaways out of the back. When Hopkins does get the ball in its offensive third, F&M is really scrapping to challenge everything. Hopkins can't get a shot off.

[SierraFD3soccer]

The Hopkins defense has been atrocious. How can you not guard the leading scorer in the conference on a free kick that you know is going right in front of the goal? Then two giveaways out of the back. When Hopkins does get the ball in its offensive third, F&M is really scrapping to challenge everything. Hopkins can't get a shot off.

F&M has been relentless in the past, but this is uber. Horowitz came to F&M as a back. In 2021, his sophomore year, he made a run against JHU from the back and scored a very nice goal to make it 2-0.  With the graduation of F&M top scorers, Coach Wagner put Oscar up top and he had 7 goals until he got injured half way through last year.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Ummm, 4-1. Yup, Horowitz No. 4 Kaliebe 4th assists (8 assists this year) did all the hard work with three defenders around him by making the good pass to Oscar. No. 18 on the season.  Had to look it up, some call it a "haul" some call  "double brace"

Bad defense by F&M, great finish by JHU's Meyer 4-2