AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME AND DECISIONS OF THE BOARD
LAW
4—THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
New Decision of the International F.A. Board
Decision
1
USSF Advice
to Referees: "Advertising" is not meant to include simple displays of
a manufacturer's name or trademark. Referees are not authorized to sanction players
who violate this Decision, only the competition organizer may do so. In order
for this to
occur, however, referees are advised to include information about
any such violations in their game reports. The requirement that "jerseys
must have sleeves" precludes player efforts to alter the jersey in any way.
WHAT
IS A SLEEVE?
Your question:
The USSF memo says that shirts
must have sleeves. Might be picky but what is a sleeve. A shirt coming to the
shoulder then having a seam with a 1 inch sleeve on it (called a cap sleeve I
think) is that a sleeve? In other words just what is a sleeve? My team uses shirts
like this and are they no longer ok?
USSF answer (June 18, 2002):
A sleeve must be recognizable as a genuine extension of the armhole of the
garment being worn, something that would be acceptable as a sleeve in any setting.
The sleeve must be long enough to perform its intended "sleeve
"function,
covering the shoulder and far enough down the arm that the armpit cannot be seen.
Decorative additions extending only one-inch from the armhole would probably not
qualify.
Please remember that the requirement for sleeves is now (as
of 1 July 2002 or the start of a new season after that date) a part of the Laws
of the Game. Members of the United States Soccer Federation have no choice but
to comply.
