Question Number: 17195

League Specific 10/8/2007

RE: High School

Steve of St. Louis, Missouri USA asks...

I recently reffed a high school game where the keeper stayed down after a collision. I whistled for the foul and went over to check on the keeper. He said he was fine and did not need the coach to check on him. I wasn't so sure as he was a bit unsteady so I stopped time and beckoned for the coach. After a brief visit, the keeper seemed fine and we were ready to play.

I know by rule the injured player must leave the field but that seems strange with the keeper in this case. He was fouled AND he has to leave the game? They were defending a 1 goal lead and they did not have a back-up keeper dressed. His coach wanted him to stay and the opposing coach wanted him out. I allowed him to stay in explaining that with the foul they would simply play short and kick the ball out of bounds to gain the sub.

It seems odd that the team that commits the foul that causes the injury should gain an advantage. Any comments you have on how I might have handled this better would be greatly appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Keepers are exempt from being forced to leave for treatment!
Only a player has to leave then be allowed via permission of the referee to reenter later. If a player and keeper are both hurt at the same time and require treatment then the player does not have to leave as the keeper being treated at the same time means no play will commence. A team must have a keeper present and able to fullfill his role. Mind you I see you are involved with USA highschool so I have some trepidation that perhaps there is non FIFA sanctioned actions at play here? Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Only if High SChool rules demand the keeper leave must he. In the rest of the world, the keeper is the sole exception and may be treated on the field and allowed to stay on the field after treatment.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but someone has to be... The 13, otherwise rational, humans who rewrote the Laws of the Game into the mish-mash that are the NFHS High School Soccer Rules have in Rule 3, Sect 3, Art2, b, 2. determined:

Quote

The player[s] who is injured and attended to on the field or who is deemed injured by the referee shall leave the field and may be replaced. Should the team with the injured player[s] elect to play shorthanded, the injured player may not be replaced until the next legal substitution opportunity for that team.

End Quote.

You'll note nothing about the player being an outfield player or the goalkeeper is mentioned. It is written, therefore, the goalkeeper must leave if attended to on the field. There is a Latin saying covering how I feel about this one, Une Crockus Shittus.

So, to handling this one better, what can you do? Where do you look?

Aha, there it is, buried in Rule 5, Sect 3, Art 2, g.

Quote

have the power to make decisions on any point not specifically covered in the rules;

End Quote..

You make the decision; the keeper stays. Done, frigging deal. If the opposing coach wants to have an early bath, accommodate his wishes.

One other thing that may be done is wish that there was just the one set of Laws of the Game to deal with in America. Of course that'll happen just after the bridge to Hawaii is built...

Regards,