Question Number: 19984

League Specific 9/18/2008

RE: Competive High School

John of River Grove, IL USA asks...

I had a couple of questions regarding calls made at the HS level. All of these plays were separate US high school boys games with a 2-man system (which I personally dislike). Some information was seen at the game, some information was obtained by other parents/players at a later date. I am not sure if the rulings on the field are correct.

1. In a typically physical high school game one player is consistently called for fouls, 4-5 in the first half. In the second half, he continues this type of play. After another foul, the referee blows the whistle, calls the boy over and walks him off the field. He is not given any card, but the referee tells the boys coach that he is too rough and he needs to sit. The coach sits the boy, and replaces him with a sub (unlimited at this level of play). The boy sits for approximately 20 minutes and then is subbed back in, no further call. I cannot believe this type of referee power is allowed, but I am more than willing to be educated.

Thank you for your advice; this is my favorite soccer site.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Thank you for your questions and support of our efforts.

NFHS retains the FIFA caution for persistent infringment. This is what should have happened to the player somewhere around the 4th or 5th foul - or sooner if the fouls came close together in time.

Some state implementations of NFHS rules allow for a 'cool-down' substitution of a player that has been cautioned. Perhaps this is what the referee wanted. The ref may have also been giving the player and the coach a bit of advice - if the player sits and cools down, the ref won't have to resort to a disqualification (red card) for serious foul play or violent conduct, which is where the ref thought his behavior was headed. Still, using the approved tools of the competition - the PI caution - would have gotten the same message across. As the ref reported to the benches why he was cautioning (another NFHS quirk) he could have made the comments to the coach about the player getting out of hand.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Well the rules of highschool are different than FIFA and creative refereeing to solve issues are not always bad ideas if they work.

As a referee in a high school match I turned around and saw two opposing players squaring of in the push shove grab mode ready to do battle. I stopped play and loudly suggested to the coaches now might be a VERY good time for a substituition as they looked very tired since they needed to hold each other to stand up. It got a laugh and the coaches immediately grasped at the straw I had thrown them. I restarted with a drop ball and those two eventually were resubbed in later in the match thoughtful and less inclined to do battle. Yes a caution even a send off argument could be made but my .actions solved a problem and it worked thus I emerge as a hero. They go off and fight at the touchlines or later I might look goatish. Tis the chance we take when we fudge the laws.

There are rule interpreters within the NHSF highschool soccer system who are likely better suited than I to answer this question. Admittedly I have poked fun and been at times thoughlessly disstainful at the unneccesary changes but any referee must obey the laws of the competetion if he accepts an assignment whether or not he thinks they follow FIFA protocall.
There are soft reds and timeout yellows where no suspension or a substitution and a bit of bench warming time is manditory.

In this case we have what on the surface looks to be persistant infringment. The referee would be correct to caution show a yellow card for either the PI or if the latest tackle was USB on its own.