MIDVALE – On Thursday afternoon the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) announced it was placing all of high school boys soccer on probation for three years and limiting the number of games that can be played in the sport. The probation affects all boys’ soccer programs throughout the state, regardless of classification or region.
According to a release from UHSAA, the Executive Committee is making a stand against sportsmanship issues in the sport. The organization states that there has been a rise in ejections related to unsportsmanlike conduct. In response, the organization will remove two games from the total number allowed to be played from 16 down to 14.
The sport will remain on probation for the next three years, with the Executive Committee conducting an annual review of the sport’s progress in improving sportsmanship issues.
The announcement affects 116 high school soccer teams throughout the state.
On May 11, the Ridgeline boys soccer team competed in their second straight 4A soccer championship. In 2021 they defeated Stansbury 2-1 as an underdog, but this year finished as a runner up after falling to Crimson Cliffs in the final minute of overtime 1-0.
Dont forget to mention the unsportsmanship coming from the psrents in the stands…..soccer families are the worst
Punishing all teams seems like a way to solve a problem. Why not do this for teams that have more then others. It would be interesting to see a break down of red cards given by teams. Refs need to better trained as well. They were all over the map on calls. Some were fantastic but they were over shadowed by the ones that ref with a grudge and don’t protect players. Sad all the way around. The sport can do better but don’t see how this is going to change it.