Question Number: 22143

Law 4 - Players Equipment 10/3/2009

RE: Rec & comp Under 11

hank Healey of milford, CT USA asks...

In a Connecticut high school game. If a player has unsafe items on them (earrings) what is the proper call?

Earrings is not the issue. Player shouldn't have them. Does the player leave the field of play or simply remove earrings? Does anyone receive a card?

thanks for the help
Hank

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

NFHS has some strange rules. Since the coach is responsible for player's equipment, any player found on the field with ANY improper equipment is told to leave the field at the next stoppage to correct the equipment. Then the coach is cautioned and shown the yellow card. If this happens again with ANY player, the player receives the caution not the coach

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
I am aware that games played under NFHS has their own specific rules and Referee Voshol has referrred to that in his detailed answer. Under the Laws of the Game the player is asked to leave the field of play and remove the offending item. It is not caution although if I insepcted the player's equipment before the game, asked him to remove the earring and then found him playing with it then that is a caution
Law 4 Laws of the Game
'Caution the player if he wilfully refuses to comply or, having been told to remove the item, is discovered to be wearing the item again'

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 4 covers players' equipment and tells what is to be done for violations (quoted below). If it is something that can be simply and quickly removed or fixed while the player remains on the field, that player does not have to leave the field. But if it cannot be fixed by the time of the next stoppage, the player must leave the field to correct the issue, and cannot return to the field until the referee has an opportunity (at a stoppage) to inspect and ensure the player is now legal.
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In the event of any infringement of this Law:
? play need not be stopped
? the player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the field of play to correct his equipment
? the player leaves the field of play when the ball next ceases to be in play, unless he has already corrected his equipment
? any player required to leave the field of play to correct his equipment must not re-enter without the referee's permission
? the referee checks that the player's equipment is correct before allowing him to re-enter the field of play
? the player is only allowed to re-enter the field of play when the ball is out of play
A player who has been required to leave the field of play because of an infringement of this Law and who re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission must be cautioned.
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However, since you reference a high school game, there are other procedures followed (of course). Prior to the game the referee asks the coach if all players have proper equipment. After that, if improper equipment is found, the coach is given a caution for the first instance. Any instances after that, the players are cautioned.

And states are free to accept or modify portions of the NFHS rules, so check what is implemented in your area.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Hank, nobody receives a card. The truth is the referee should have checked all the players and substitutes for earrings prior to start. However, if jewelry is noticed on a player he must leave the field of play and can only come back on during stoppage, when the referee signals it is OK to do so. At that point, the ref checks the player and play is continued. It is treated the same way as a player with blood showing.