Question Number: 23371

Law 3 - Number of Players 5/25/2010

RE: Select Under 16

Fred Landau of Harrisburg, PA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23349

When leagues adopt rule modifications that the teams don't like it is up to the teams/clubs who make up the league to voice their opinions and have the modification reviewed and changed. Here in Central PA we also have a league that has gone to unlimited substitution on any stoppage. The intent was to keep the match moving. The result has been the opposite. While refereeing these matches I have heard a steady stream of complaints from coaches about how disruptive this is. My response can only be that I must follow the established league rules and the next league meeting is the place to address their concerns.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct, 'sub at any stoppage' can be exploited for unfair purposes. Teams (and leagues, when the rule is implemented by the state youth association) should make their feelings known about it.

But the wise referee can minimize the disruptions. We play with the standard set of substitution opportunities - goal kick, kickoff, injury, throw-in, etc. But sometimes when the ball goes out for a throw, a player will pick it up and put it back in to play almost immediately. Even if there were substitutes for his team waiting to go in, I wouldn't interrupt that quick restart.

Similarly, I wouldn't interrupt a quick free kick for substitutions. 'Quick' meaning more than just 'not ceremonial': the ball is placed and off we go, no time to think about it.

I recall a U10 game I did a while back; it was the last day of the spring season and the teams would advance to U11/12 in the fall. At that time our U10 rules specified substitutions were allowed on either team's throw-in. The ball went out, and the team not taking the throw called for subs. The other team groaned when they couldn't take a quick throw (quick being a relative term in U10). I told them, 'Next year they won't be able to do that.' Then I looked at my watch. 'In fact, in 5 minutes they won't be able to do that anymore.' Everyone laughed.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As Ref Voshol notes, the referee can do a few things to mitigate the delays when unlimited substitution games can sub at any stoppage. In the world game, there are a limited number of subs, so the maximum number of times a team can substitute (normally) is from three to six. That is a maximum total of 12 players over the course of 90 minutes. Not very disruptive, but when a team can sub at every stoppage it ruins the flow of the game, attacking opportunities, etc.

Part of that is coaches learning how to use subs more appropriately in an unlimited, any stoppage game, and part is referees learning how not to allow subs unless they are already up and ready to go at the stoppage (no waiting or halting restarts because the coach suddenly decides to 'Sub, Ref, Sub!' even though he hasn't a sub up at the halfway line), and not stopping if play is restarted quickly (read almost instantly). If the sub isn't at the halfway line before the stoppage, assuming it is not an injury stoppage, the referee is free to ignore and should ignore such requests.

Beyond that, the teams only recourse is to go to the league and request changes.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Landau
You are indeed correct and it is up to clubs to voice their displeasure to the League Administrators on 'local rules' that are being exploited by unscrupulous coaches.
My advice is to state to the coaches the terms that you as a referee will allow substitutions ie, sub ready at the half way line, at a stoppage, player out clearly identified. I would also suggest that in order to keep play moving that you will expect multiple substitutions at one time by both teams rather than stopping the game every minute