Question Number: 17201

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/8/2007

RE: Select to High School Under 15

Franco of Bloomington, USA asks...

FIFA states that the substituted player must exit before the sub is allowed on the field. Referee should not give permission for the sub to enter until the player substituted one has COMPLETELY exited the field of play.

USSF Advice to referees backs this up and even goes further and states that any deviation from this, regardless or reasoning, is inviting a lot of trouble that the Laws of the Game cannot save you from.

I saw a youth referee follow this to a tee and both team's fans, both coaches were either mad or behind his back ridiculing him for slowing the game down. Even other refs were not happy about it.

Do you follow this rule as stated in the Advice to the Referee? It is somethng that I rarely see happen at any level from rec to high level select or to high school.

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes Franco I absolutely follow Law 3 to the letter and I tell each team and coaches that's how subs will be done during this game. I understand it slows things down a little but I have yet to allow 12 players on the field and have yet to have anything occur not covered in the Laws. Most of my referee friends do NOT follow Law 3 and think I'm a bit weird to do so but most of them have had problems at one time or another.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A referee who does not follow Law 3 will live to regret it, assuming he doesn't quit after his first weekend of games. There are just too many things to go wrong. The coaches are usually good sports if one takes a moment before the game to go by and let them know you will let subs in as soon as possible when they are at the halfway line before a stoppage, and then DO IT. It only takes once when the subs aren't ready for the coach to get the message, and if either coach complains about the time, that's easy, too. Hey, coach, I can add time lost for substitutions. 'Nuff said? And if they give me a hard time, I simply ask them which other Laws they wish for me to ignore, or do I get to pick? After they mull that over for a minute or two (depends on the coach), they sit back down. Oh, and aren't we charged with enforcing the Law as written, not as we want it to be? What is your argument here, Franco?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In Michigan we generally do not follow the procedures. Fortunately for me, I haven't had any problems with it, except for an occasional extra player that was quickly resolved. I don't know why whe don't follow the procedure, but we just don't. I'm not in a position to make that change. Those that are - SYRA, SDRI, etc. - are all doing games just the same way. They teach it correctly in the certification classes, and then say, "But in youth games ..." I don't know what they do in their upper level games.

Yesterday I had a team visiting from Windsor. Their first substitution, the players stayed on the sideline when I motioned them on. Later I realized, oh, they're waiting for the players to come off. Just before the start of the second half, I spoke to the players on the bench and told them not to get ruined with our crappy Michigan techniques. Their OFA refs do it correctly.

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Youth have unlimited substitutions in theory at every stoppage. This simple fact with so MANY exchanges there is a high probability of a mistake.

Law 3 is in fact adjustable according to FIFA to bend to the needs of youth matches but the way it which it is done is not.

By following procedure we minimize mistakes and in truth prevent a waste of play time.

If the substitute is AT the midline BEFORE the next stoppage as referee we can SEE that an exchange is being requested. Our ARs and or 4th will help direct our attention and then the ever present "SUB REF!" cry follows if we in fact do not pay attention.

Leagues will impose a "two player at a time" or a "on their possession only" restrictions so referees need to be aware of the alterations if in fact there are any.

Players who leave the field in elite matches generally jog over and high five their replacement where the exchange at midline occurs. In fact there is no law that states a player must leave at the midline only that the substitute MUST enter from there. Given the fact that 30 or so seconds are added at every sub and that only 3 possibly 7 in exhibition sub opportunities occur for each team. Time added is always available where in youth tournaments and tightly scheduled fields youth referees are under pressure to not add very much even none at all!

Players who are scheduled to be replaced can step out at the closest exit point to touch or by line as long as the referee can SEE this has occurred. Generally we ask the leaving player raise his hand to show he is the player being replaced and he is in fact can be seen when he is OFF The FOP. The referee can then WAVE in the replacement substitutes to become players. Those leaving and those entering should do so expediently and be brought to task (warned/cautioned) if they fail to do so in a reasonable manner.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When the majority of referees do not follow the procedure listed in Law 3 those that do look like they are doing it wrong. What needs to be done is schedule referees applying the Law correctly as referees and the others as Assistant referees. Then tell them why they don't get referee assignments. Guess what will happen? It follows the same for any other short-cuts "referees" take with the Laws. Know the Laws of the Game COLD then enforce the Laws as written, without deviation from what is written. When you are capable of doing that you understand what the Laws say and may, then, apply the Laws as necessary to ensure the players are safe and can have fun in their match.

It is impossible to referee a match correctly without knowing the Laws absolutely COLD. You can run around, blow a whistle, get yelled at by parents and coaches but until you understand the Laws absolutely you aren't a referee, you're a guy or gal in shorts, a yellow shirt and long socks. And that's my humble opinion...