Question Number: 12929

Law 3 - Number of Players 6/1/2006

RE: Select Under 13

steve of acton, ma usa asks...

I was center ref for a GU12 game at a competitive tournament recently, with unlimited substitution rules.

At a goal kick, I looked up and saw players for one team standing at the centerline, so I signaled them on for a substitution. The coach said "I don't want a sub now". I asked him to move his players away from the centerline until he wanted a sub, and he replied to the effect of "They can stand where they want, I'll yell when I want a sub."

The "technical area" was not marked in any way.

In this tournament, the rules were strict that the referee could not add time for any reason, in order to stay on schedule. If his team had been behind, I could have simply waited for him to comply with my instructions, leaving the clock ticking. If I could have added time, I would have simply waited for him to comply with the instructions.

Assuming that the score was tied or the offending coach's team was ahead, how would you deal with this situation?

Thanks for your input!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You requested a simple thing from the coach. He refused. This, from Law 5 may offer an avenue in dealing with a recalcitrant coach:

takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds

Yelling "HeyRef Sub" tells me that at the next opportunity one team or the other wants to make a substitution. I tell the coaches that at the beginning of the match and I stick to it throughout the match. Problem with doing substitutions in accordance with Law 3 is that few referees care about the finer points of The Game. It makes you look bad when you do. A vulgar phrase is fighting to get out now...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
I am in complete agreement with my colleague. The coach will get a simple warning for the players not to go to centre unless they wish to sub. The reason why technical areas or at least a team bench allows this excuse of no lines to see, to go the way of the do do bird something the coach is likely to emulate unless he is prepared to act in a responsible manner. If the players try to follow the coach's example of defiance as you request they sit down or sub you could caution the players for dissent. The only exception for substitution not at centre BEFORE the stoppage is injury replacement. If all referees followed the proceedure of substitution in a straight forward manner what an easy time could be had by all. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You told the coach what you wanted. He refused and was openly rude. I don't care what the tournament rules state, you stop play, go to the coach and tell him he'll keep his players off the midline and do as asked or he can go home. Like my fellow referees here, I tell coaches at the beginning of each match that I'm not a mind reader and if I don't hear "Ref, Sub Please", I assume nothing. But I'm not you. You don't want the players at the centerline, then you enforce it.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Only players that want to enter the game at next subst. opportunity should wait at the half way line. Otherwise they should be in their teams designated area. Enforce this with the coach before the game and continually throughout game. As Always,