Question Number: 16424

League Specific 8/25/2007

RE: High School Under 17

Alex Pantani of Seattle, WA United States asks...

Today, in a High School game, I asked for a sub at a goal kick at the tail end of the First Half. The ref waved me off by making a throat slash signal and indicating that there was no time left. "How long left" I asked. He said "30 Seconds". I replied, "well if it's 30 seconds" I want to sub. (the rules allow for substitutions on throw ins and goal kicks). The ref proceeded to allow play to go on for 1 minute and after the other team scored, blew the whistle to end the half. I was very displeased that he had disallowed a substitution AND allowed play to continue for a minute after the restart.

His response after the game was: With less than a minute to go in a game, I don't allow subs as it's pointless. I said to him, "if you don't allow a sub then you need to blow the whistle immediately after the ball re-enters play. Time is either over (no subs allowed) or it's not over (in which case, allow subs).

Was I right to be livid? And to suggest that either time is up and he should have blown immediately that the ball was kicked back in, or he should have let the sub in on the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Coach you have the right to feel any way you want. The referee was incorrect in his reason to refuse the substitution. BUT correct to refuse.

You were incorrect in your method of substitution. You said you asked for a substitute at a goal kick. Unless you had your substitute[s] report to the scorer or the nearest match official prior to the dead ball situation you may not substitute on this goal kick. [NFHS 3-4-1(d).

Before you come all unpuckered you might want to know the rules.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Mr. Fleischer is correct in that the sub needs to report to the score official or match official PRIOR to the ball going out for a goal kick. If he was not ready to go, then the referee was correct to refuse. Under no curcumstance should a sub be disallowed because of time.