Question Number: 19996

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/19/2008

RE: Competitive Under 15

John of Norton, MA USA asks...

I was the AR in game when two players jumped to head the ball. They may have (probably) bonked heads and one of them stopped playing and stood rubbing his forehead. The CR allowed play to continue. The coach of (possibly) injured player immediately started yelling for a stoppage to treat a head injury. He was yelling that it is mandatory stoppage if a player has a head injury. Is there such a mandate?

The player was actually standing right in front of the coach along the sideline, so the CR said go ahead and help him, but allowed play to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Head injuries are certainly things to be considered seriously! It is unwise not to consider them seriously but there are minor knocks that seem innocuous. I tend to stop if there is a clash where it appears to be any sort of a dazed effect or if they go to ground. Blood or unconsious is a no brainer. A referee can authorize a player to leave the field to be treated but he cannot invite a coach or trainer on to treat during play. Then the player requires permission to reenter.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I'm not sure that rubbing your head would indicate to a referee that you have a head injury, much less a serious head injury. Stoppages in the game are mandated only for serious injury, as determined by the referee.

What constitutes severe injuries are pretty clearly seen. The appropriate thing to do here was what the referee did - allow the player to step off, since he was ambulatory, and have his coach take a look at him.

What is not appropriate is to have a coach yelling at the referee and demanding he or she do something because it is 'mandatory'. While most of us will consider the source and the circumstances and ignore a good bit of this kind of behavior, at some point it crosses a reasonable line and must be dealt with or the coach will get worse and/or get dismissed.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I wonder if this coach's view of what is serious changes in accordance with who has possession of the ball? Naah, couldn't be.

My colleagues have good answers regarding the treatment of players who can get themselves safely off the field.