Question Number: 24094

Law 5 - The Referee 10/6/2010

RE: varsity High School

Rob Rosen of farmingdale, new york nassau asks...

does the goalie have to come out after a injury? the coach did come on the field.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
For a team to play it must have a goalkeeper. As part of the Law in respect of an injury to a goalkeeper there is no requirement for him/her to leave the field if play for treatment. Any player injured at the same time is also not required to leave the FOP.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I have looked through the current NFHS Soccer Rule book and the only places I can find injuries mentioned is Rule 3 Article 1 c and there is no mention of the keeper being treated differently than any other player and under Management Of Concussions likewise the same. Of course, if the keeper leaves, he must be replaced as there has to de a designated goalkeeper during play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The high school rules are different from the laws of the game.

Any player, including the goal keeper, must leave the field if either (a) treated on the field by the trainer/medical team/coach or (b) is considered injured by the referee.

The team may substitute for the injured player who leaves the field. (Either team may also substitute an unlimited number of players who checked in before play was stopped at the same time.)

I prefer TLOG exception for goalkeepers to be treated on the field. One way I honor the high school rule but still permit the trainer to check on the keeper (who is up and saying 'I'm fine') is to have the keeper step off the field (while play is stopped) and have the trainer examination occur there. If the trainer then says, "ok to play" then I conclude that the keeper is not injured. (Of course, not all high school matches have trainers.)

Unlike the LOTG, stopping play under NFHS to check on the status of a player does not require the player to leave the field if the referee concludes that the player is not, in fact, injured.