Question Number: 16718

Law 3 - Number of Players 9/16/2007

RE: High School Adult

C Carter of Hasting, Michigan United States asks...

Recently, at our high school game, the team changed goalies in the middle of the half. They exchanged the jersey in the box. Later, another parent said this is cause for a (red!) card. I think the refs had been notified that a change was going to happen.
Is there a rule and what it is?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Gotta love parents! Nope, not even in the hallowed halls of US High School soccer where rules are made that make no sense is this a sending off offence. If a keeper change is made without the referee's knowledge, both players are cautioned and shown the yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I don't ordinarily disagree with Ref Contarino but in this case I relish the chance because US High School in the form of NFHS High School Rules has done something stupid again. No you don't send them off, he's right there -- but you don't caution them either!!?! You warn them not to do it again.

This is probably because they made it a rule when a player is cautioned he is REQUIRED to leave the field until the next legal substitution opportunity.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

I don't see a caution here either, the two players were already on the field of play, so no one left or entered the field of play without the permission of the referee. It's a little more worrying that a referee didn't notice players changing tops as a goalkeeper must be identified by a different jersey. Had this happened to me, and I hope it never would as I don't think I would be allowed to officiate again over in England the way things are going here (a timely comment!!!), then I would have a word with both players and say "lads just make me aware if you are changing next time)

Regards