2017-18 WHAC

MEN’S SOCCER HANDBOOK

Updated 6/24/17

Chair: David Bokhart, Indiana Tech Rater: Joe Veal, Aquinas

I. Season Defined

A.  The WHAC Soccer teams will follow NAIA Guidelines regarding:

1.  Number of contests allowed (18).

2.  Number of scrimmages allowed (2).

3.  Three additional scrimmages allowed only during spring term played on Saturday and Sunday only.

B.  Participating members: Aquinas, Concordia AA, Cornerstone, Indiana Tech, Lawrence Tech, Lourdes, Madonna, Marygrove, Rochester, Siena Heights, UM-Dearborn and UNOH

II. Conference Schedule

A.  The conference scheduler prepares the schedule for dissemination by the Commissioner.

B.  The schedule is a single round-robin format.

C.  Conference games are on a Tuesday/Saturday schedule.

D.  Game times will be as outlined in the WHAC Administration Handbook

III. Officials

  1. Each regular season WHAC contest will be officiated by one referee and two assistant referees
  2. Officials will be assigned by Kim Viera ( or 513.253.9595).

1.  Referees - $200 per game

2.  Assistant Referees - $130 per game

IV. Championship Defined

A.  Regular season conference champion is WHAC champion.

1.  Regular season champion is determined by point system

a. three (3) points for win

b.  zero (0) points for a loss

c. one (1) point for a tie.

2.  Only records in league games will determine WHAC standings.

B. In the case of a tie, the following criteria used as a tiebreaker:

1. Head-to-head competition between tied teams.

2. Record in WHAC games against highest seeded teams starting with first through 11th.

3. RPI rating as defined in the current NAIA Coaches Handbook.

4. Total season goal differential in WHAC play.

a. The formula will be (total league goals for) – (total league goals against) = goal differential.

b. The team with the highest differential will be league champion.

  1. If more than two teams are tied, once one team is eliminated based on tiebreakers, revert back and start process again from number one with remaining tied teams

V. Postseason Tournament

A.  Top eight (8) teams will qualify for the postseason tournament.

B.  Teams will be seeded #1 through #8 based on regular season finish and tie breaking procedure listed in Section IV.

C.  The higher seeded team always hosts the lower seeded team. Tournament format is:

1.  Quarterfinals, Saturday, Nov. 4; #1 hosts #8, #2 hosts #7, #3 host #6, #4 hosts #5.

2.  Semifinal matches, Wednesday, Nov. 8: winner #1/#8 vs. winner #4/#5, winner #2/#7 vs. winner #3/#6 at highest remaining seed.

3.  Championship, Saturday, Nov. 11 at highest remaining seed.

D.  All playoff games must start no later than 2 p.m. unless agreed upon by both institutions and a lighted field is used.

E.  The WHAC Regular Season Champion earns the first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

F.  The WHAC Conference Tournament Champion earns the second automatic bid (if the two champions are the same, the tournament runner-up is awarded the second bid).

VI. Contest Procedures

  1. Host teams are responsible for the conduct of their fans.
  2. The WHAC requires a painted restraining line at least 10 yards from the touchline on the spectator side and intended to serve as a neutral area between the field and the spectators.
  3. It is highly recommended that a fence or rope also be along the restraining line.
  4. Game officials should be reminded of the WHAC restraining line and encouraged to enforce the neutral area at all times.
  5. A minimum of 45 minutes for warm up is required between doubleheaders.
  6. Ball chasers are required for conference games.
  7. Official Ball for all WHAC games is the NAIA Select America Game Ball.
  8. Suspended Games the following will take place if a contest is suspended (due to elements or other causes) during tournament play.

1. If a contest does not start on time, it may be started at any time on the same day.

2. If a contest has started but has not progressed to 70 minutes it may resume at any time on the same day. Under NCAA Rule 7.5, If not resumed the same day, it is a no contest and must start over and be played in its entirety.

3. If a contest has progressed to a minimum of 70 minutes, it is considered complete. The team leading at the time of the suspension will advance.

a. If the score is tied at the time of the suspension the NCAA tiebreaker procedure of taking kicks from the penalty-kick line or spot shall be used to determine advancement once conditions permit.

VII. Awards

  1. All WHAC Postseason Awards are submitted via an online nomination process as described in Appendix B.
  2. The All-Conference Team will be selected as follows:

1.  Each head coach will nominate any number of their own players they feel are worthy of All-Conference accolades via an online submission form.

a.  Players are to be nominated by the following positions: Forward, Midfielder, Defender, Goalkeeper

2.  All-Conference Team will consist of 26 field players and two (2) goalkeepers by provided deadline.

a.  Coaches are to rank every player nominated in each position.

  1. The ranking outcome is used to select the All-Conference teams.

b.  13 field players and one (1) goalkeeper awarded First Team honors.

c.  13 field players and one (1) goalkeeper awarded Second Team honors.

d.  Coaches are NOT allowed to vote for their own players.

e.  Conference Commissioner and SID reserve the right to disqualify any ballot that is inappropriate.

3.  Failure of a coach to rank/vote for required awards will result in a warning for the first offense and a two-game suspension for the second offense. Such suspension may be applied to following season if all current regular season games are completed.

4.  Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year selected.

a.  Coaches are allowed to nominate one player per award.

b.  Coaches then vote online for the awards.

5.  Newcomer of the Year selected (must be new to conference in sport) via online submissions and online vote.

6.  Coach of the Year selected at the end of season coach’s meeting.

  1. Newcomer Team

1.  Coaches will nominate any number of their own players they deem worthy of recognition via online submission. Coaches will vote for 11 players online.

  1. Champions of Character Team/Coach of Character

1.  Each coach nominates one player from their roster who best exemplifies the NAIA Champions of Character initiative to be a member of the team.

2.  Champions of Character Coach award to be voted on online from a pool of all head coaches.

3.  Must be submitted via online submission by Oct. 15, 2017.

  1. All-Academic Team

1.  Junior or above in academic standing.

2.  Cumulative GPA 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

3.  Must be attendance one-full year at nominating school.

4.  Must be submitted via online submission by Oct. 15, 2017.

  1. Trophy Breakdown

1.  First Team All-Conference receives plaque (14 total).

2.  Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive POY, Newcomer of the year each receive plaques (3 total).

3.  Coach of the Year receives plaque (1 total).

4.  Second Team, All-Academic, Newcomer team receive certificate and the Champions of Character team receives medals. (12 total medals)

5.  WHAC Regular Season Champion and WHAC Tournament Champion receive championship trophies (2 total).

  1. Team and individual awards distributed following TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

1.  Host of tournament championship game is responsible to distribute awards after final round.

2.  Awards supplied by WHAC office and distributed to host of event.

3.  Special attention should be paid to announce ALL award winners, starting with All-Academic Team and moving up.

4.  Script for awards ceremony will be supplied to host school by WHAC office prior to event


APPENDIX A

2017 WHAC Men’s Soccer Conference Tournament
8-team single-elimination tournament
All rounds played at higher seed site
Saturday, Nov. 4 / Wednesday, Nov. 8 / Saturday, Nov. 11
#1
2 p.m.
#8
2 p.m.
#5
2 p.m.
#4 / Tournament Champion
(earns automatic bid to NAIA Nationals)
2 p.m.
#3
2 p.m.
#6
2 p.m.
#2
2 p.m.
#7


APPENDIX B

WHAC Men’s Soccer Postseason Honors Procedures

Postseason Honors Awarded

Team Awards

All-Conference Team

First Team – 14 players, 1 goalkeeper

Second Team – 14 players, 1 goalkeeper

Newcomer Team

11 - players

All-Academic Team

Indefinite number of players named

Junior or above in academic standing

Cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale

Must have been in attendance one-full year at nominating institution

Champions of Character Team

One player from each team who best exemplifies the five core character value of the NAIA’s Champions of Character initiative.

Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year

Newcomer of the Year

Coach of the Year

Champions of Character Coach

Nomination Process

1.  Visit www.whac.net/admin.

2.  Register for an account if you do not already have one.

3.  Log in using your username and password.

4.  From Dashboard- click on Nominate/Vote For Awards

5.  Select the appropriate award

6.  Select appropriate player to nominate and add additional information that might help other coaches understand said player’s contributions.

7.  Confirm your nomination.

8.  For All-Conference nominations - rank your players in order descending order with #1 being your best player, #2 being your second-best player and so on.