Question Number: 20921

League Specific 3/2/2009

RE: Varsity High School

Carlos Costa of Woonsocket, RI Providence asks...

Hello Mr. Ref.,

I make my incoming substitutes wait for the substituted player to exit the field of play before they enter. The officials have threatened to card me if I keep doing it. They say the in-coming player must enter the field when beckoned by them. I don't see how I'm doing anything wrong. Either way the game would not be resumed until the player had exited the field.

Thank you,

Calos

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Kudos to you for respecting the tradition of the game, sir. However, in high school, the rule on substitutes is slightly different than in the world game we know and love.

In HS, once a substitute is beckoned on by the referee, he becomes the player and the exiting player is no longer a player - whether or not he has left the field.

So do yourself a favor, and don't insist on your players waiting. It slows down the game, and referees in HS cannot add time like they can in world soccer for such things as substitutions that take too long.

All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

While this time honored method of waiting until the player exits the field of play BEFORE the substiute can enter, apparantly in USA high school once the substitute is waved in by the referee the substitute must enter ASAP reguardless of the position of the exiting player. They often have a running clock so time is not added for the substitution opportunities.
Thus our advice in a high school match do what the high shool referees ask.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No matter what code of Laws or rules govern the competition, one would be well advised to follow the instructions of that day's referee.

As noted, HS has a different mechanic for substitutions.

If a USSF referee wishes to ignore the proper mechanics spelled out by Law and Guide to Procedures, the consequences of that decision will be his problem when troubles occur.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Wow. A coach that wants to follow the rules of Law 3 and a referee won't allow him to! Wish you were coaching USSF sanctioned matches! But... as pointed out HS rules are different and you must abide by them. When the referee beckons them on, they should go. Sooner or later there will be an instance where a goal is scored and the attacking team has 12 players due to just this procedure.

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

See Question: 20938