BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
Another big rule change is coming to the UIL high school soccer season in 2024-2025.
In an addition to the new playoff format, the UIL announced that it will have a mercy rule for Texas high school soccer games. The playoff format – which is for all team sports and mirror football, has a divisional spilt based on enrollment sizes. Four playoff teams from each district will continue to earn a postseason spot whereas the two largest schools will be D1 while the lower two will play in the D2 bracket.
Which means instead of 6 state champs in April (3 boys, 3 girls) – that will double to 12 total (6 boys, 6 girls). Rather than the normal state tournament (final four) in Georgetown, only the state championship matches will be held at Georgetown.
As for the mercy rule, the UIL stated that if a team is ahead by at least 8 goals at the midway mark of the second half, the game will be stopped and declared as final. “The UIL has engaged in extensive conversations with several stakeholders over the past year regarding the possibility of implementing a soccer mercy rule for all classifications and all levels of play.”
Several organizations along the UIL has reached out to coaches and team members for feedback.
A survey was conducted in August with over 800 coaches from across the state and it was overwhelmingly supported for the rule with 73% of the coaches in favor for the mercy rule. Majority of the coaches felt that eight goals was the best number applied in the second half.
The rule specifically applies to a team up 8+ goals at the 20 minute mark of the second half.
The UIL doesn’t normally implement a rule this close to the season, but after discussions, all organizations felt that it was best to have the rule change for the 2024-2025 season – at all levels and all classes – for every game, preseason, district and playoffs.
First day of practice is Dec. 2.
First scrimmages take place Dec. 13 and first official games of the regular season is Dec. 30.
The state championship games are April 10-12 in Georgetown.
Last season’s winners included Katy Seven Lakes (boys), Midlothian (boys), San Elizario (boys), Prosper (girls), Frisco Wakeland (girls) and Celina (girls).
