Question Number: 19800

League Specific 8/21/2008

RE: Middle School up through College NCAA Div. 2 College

Bill Fisher of Allentown, Pennsylvania USA asks...

Help. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Assoc. (PIAA) has adopted a new rule related to yellow cards for the Fall 2008 Season. Prior to this season, a player that was cautioned, had to leave the field, and was allowed to re-enter at the next appropriate substitution opportunity. Now, that player will not be allowed to re-enter the match until 5 minutes have elapsed on the game clock. (We are now hockey referees.) The time clock will be monitored by the official score keeper at the match. In most HS level matches, this is a youngster who also acts as the manager for the team. In the absence of an appropriate score keeper, opposing coach will monitor the clock. It is my understanding that this rule was developed by PIAA Administrators who felt that the 'caution' should amount to a 'time out' for the misbehaving player. And, that the yellow card, itself, was insufficient. The vote at the PIAA State Level was 11-1 in favor. The one vote opposed was cast by the only 'soccer person' on the committee.

Does this rule exist anywhere else? And, if so, is there any data on how it has worked, or how it has been received?

Amongst my respected colleagues in Eastern PA, there is unanimous opposition from officials and coaches. Of course, our input was not solicited.

Thanks,
Bill Fisher

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I am so sorry. High school organizations are known for narrow thinking and fixing things which were unbroken until they messed with it. To the best of my knowledge, that is a first on the 'stupid tricks' menu. Some schools have gone berserk over red cards, but to impose a hockey penalty on a yellow card in a soccer game is so foolish as to boggle the mind. The fact that a player already has to sub out on a yellow in HS should have been more than enough. Jeez.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Given the attitude of the PIAA regarding how Football [Soccer] should be played one wonders whether or not the referees who usually officiate their matches should find themselves very busy on match days. The NFHS establishes the inane way a high school soccer match should be played in this country and that should be enough. But no, another committee has found it necessary to justify its existence by adding yet another layer of bovine feces on top of what the rest of the country and rest of the world consider good enough. With holding services will snap them into focus soon enough, that is of course if all referees feel strongly enough about what PIAA have legislated. At least that's my humble opinion and I am unanimous in that...

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19808