Question Number: 21201

League Specific 4/27/2009

RE: Select Under 14

Allen Wynn of Snellville, Georgia USA asks...

Georgia youth soccer does not allow hard casts. I have a player who recently broke her arm near the wrist and was in a hard cast for several weeks, at which time she did not play. Her cast was recently removed and the doctor put her in a soft removable arm brace which included flexible metal inserts for stability. At our most recent game, we wrapped pre-wrap around the brace and taped it. The center referee checked out the brace and cleared her for the game. She played the entire first half. My team manager was concerned about potential lawsuits if an opposing player was injured by my player's brace, so she consulted with our club president, who said she could not play the second half. Was this the correct decision?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Allen. Since I referee in Georgia I have a strong opinion. GYSA not only disallows hard casts, they disallow soft braces with metal parts. The referee should NOT have allowed the player to participate with a wrapped brace with metal parts. I doubt your team could have been sued but the referee sure could have.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

This is the determination of Georgia Youth Soccer Association and by that account, the correct decision was made. However neither FIFA nor the international community would necessarily agree. The Laws of the Game simply state that players may not wear anything that is a danger to others or themselves. Equipment that is dangerous must be made safe. Taking the equipment off is one way of making it safe. Padding it is another. If a player decides they want to use their cast/brace, whatever as added armament against their opponent, they are now creating a danger for the other players and now that danger must be made safe (e.g. remove the player from the field). Pre-wrap, in my opinion, is NOT making it safe. Pre-wrap is quite flimsy and not very padded at all.