NFHS rules writing committees consist of experts in the given sport.  Each committee member is nominated by state associations, as is the chairperson, who guides the members through their work.  Each of the NFHS’s eight sections are represented on the given rules committee.  To allow for equal representation, there is also a member of the NFHS Coaches Association and the NFHS Officials Association on each rules committee.  Each committee member serves a four-year term.

The NFHS is pleased to welcome four new members of the Soccer Rules Committee: Bob Cavanagh, Mohan Telfer, Brad Alford and Zac Stevenson.

Bob Cavanagh, Section 1, is in his seventeenth year as Director of Boy’s Soccer for The Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL). Beginning in 1975, Cavanagh soccer for 33 years in the RIIL. He retired after 26 playoff appearances, six state finals, two state championships, and two NSCAA New England Coach of the Year awards.

Cavanagh is the past president of the RI Soccer Coaches Association (RISCA), past vice president of the RI Athletic Directors and past president of the South County Youth Soccer Club. He is also the current New England Chairman of the USC high school boys coaching awards committee.  Cavanagh has been recognized in The RIIL Hall of Fame, New England Soccer Hall of Fame, RISCA Hall of Fame, The RI Interscholastic Soccer Referees Hall of Fame and The RI Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame.

He is a Community Scientist for the RI Department of Environmental Management in Fish and Wildlife. He and Lynda have been married for 49 years and have two sons, two granddaughters and a grandson.

Mohan Telfer, Section 2, is a soccer coach with experience at both the varsity and youth levels. He currently serves as the head coach for the Maret School boy’s varsity and middle school soccer teams and has led them to multiple MAC Championships.

Brad Alford, Section 3, Assistant Commissioner for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, oversees the day-to-day and championship operations for baseball, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and swimming & diving while serving as the compliance liaison for 442 member schools relative to rules and regulations.

Alford joined the NCHSAA staff in August 2010. He served the NCHSAA as the Assistant Director of Sports, Director of Sports and Championships, and Senior Director of Sports and Championships until July 2022, when he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner. Committed to professional development, he is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and a Level 3 Coach through the NFHS. 

Zac Stevenson, Section 6, is currently in his fourth year at the New Mexico Activities Association serving as the Director of Officiating Services.  His additional duties include overseeing the state tournaments for Basketball, Golf, Marching Band, Concert Band and Choir.  Stevenson also serves as the Director of the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association (NMADA) and is a member of the NFHS Music Committee.  He is actively involved in the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), serving on the National Legal Faculty, vice-chair of the Credentials Committee, and frequent presenter at the NADC.  Prior to joining the NMAA, he served as an athletic director for twenty years combined in Michigan and New Hampshire, served on the MIAAA Executive Board, taught Physical Education K-12, and coached and officiated Varsity Basketball and Varsity Soccer.  Zac continues to serve as an active official in New Mexico and oversees the officials training and education program.

The Soccer Rules Committee Meeting will take place February 10-12, 2025, in Indianapolis, IN.