Question Number: 19827

League Specific 8/27/2008

RE: High School High School

steven of east hartford, ct usa asks...

I am constantly reviewing the rules book due to the fact I ref under High school rules as well as Fifa.
My only confusion is not where and when but how does the yellow,then red or yellow then yellow red work regarding when you can sub and when you cant?
No where I have looked either online or in publications explain the carding system

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What you ask refers to American high school matches played under the umbrella of NFHS soccer rules. The Laws of the Game have been altered to suit the fancy of thirteen otherwise rational human beings who find themselves wanting to justify their existence.

Firstly a cautioned player must leave the field of play and may be replaced by a substitute. If he is not substituted at that time a substitute may not enter until the next legal substitution opportunity. The cautioned player must remain off the field until the next legal substitution opportunity [except in Pennsylvania where he must remain off the park for 5 minutes].

If a player receives a subsequent caution in the same match he is disqualified from further participation and is replaced by a substitute. This is signified by the referee holding the yellow and red card together.

There is one other event where a player is disqualified but may be replaced, excessive celebration of a goal. Again the referee signals this by holding both yellow and red cards together.

Explanations of these may be found in the NFHS Soccer Rules Book, Rule 12, Section 8, Articles 1 and 2.

This applies to American high school matches played using NFHS soccer rules ONLY.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

And just to add, because I find this particular disqualification offense definition absolutely rediculous.

12-8-2:
A player shall be disqualified (yellow and red card) and the number of players on the field shall not be reduced for:
a. any delayed, excessive or prolonged act(s), by which a player(s) attempts to focus attetion on himself/herself and/or prohibits a timely restart of the game.
b. subsequent caution.

Again, this is NFHS in US high schools only. This is not in college or USSF, or any place else in the world.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

A disqualified player cannot be replaced. A yellow carded player must leave the field and can be replaced. A player that receives to cautions is disqualified, but may be replaced. This is high school and not USSF.

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

See Question: 19997